Liz Donnelly

Liz Donnelly, associate vice president of student affairs at Oklahoma City University, once dismissed a sophomore athlete for beating up someone in the community, his third violation of the school's conduct code.She readmitted him six months later, after he met the school's requirements, including counseling for alcohol abuse.

"At the time of dismissal, he thought it was horribly unfair," Donnelly said."But he looks back now and knows it was a learning opportunity that turned his life around," she said.

When he returned to school, he became a student leader and mentored other students on similar issues.Today, he's excelling at a major corporation.

Donnelly views her job as a community builder."I facilitate an environment that is free of distractions, so students can focus on their academic studies.Providing a student dining hall, for example, takes away students' worry about grocery shopping or preparing meals," she said.

Elizabeth Donnelly, Oklahoma City University

Liz Donnelly, Oklahoma City University

OCU last competed in volleyball in 1984 under coach Liz Donnelly, currently OCU's Dean of Students.

Liz Donnelly

Elizabeth Donnelly Oklahoma City University Dean of Students

Elizabeth Donnelly, Coordinator for Institutional Research, Oklahoma City University; and

Liz Donnelly Oklahoma City University

Elizabeth Donnelly has three rules for Christmas, and one of them is to take a weekday off from work to do her shopping.The dean of students at Oklahoma City University awakens early and gets it done so she doesn't have to go on the weekends, when the malls and stores are more crowded.

Her second rule is to not expect too much from herself.Rather than worrying about getting the perfect gift, she buys gift certificates.If she doesn't have time to make a dish for a potluck, she buys one.The latter goes along with her third rule: Don't worry about baking during the hectic holidays.

She sometimes conspires with a friend when she knows she will need extra dishes for gatherings.They double their three best recipes and swap the second batches, so they each end up with six dishes and less work.

"I just try to make my priorities," Donnelly said.

The Oklahoma City resident is involved in Leadership Oklahoma City and coaches volleyball at Christ the King Catholic Church.Her children, Mary, 13, and Will, 11, will have holiday parties at school, and she has work-related Christmas plans.

Donnelly tries to preserve the week between Christmas and New Year's Day as family time and limits their activities.

"We get invited to so many parties, but you have to say no sometimes," she said.