Headshot of a Woman

Meet Southwest Tech’s new Career Guidance Specialist, Joela Reilly. No stranger to the classroom, Reilly joins the Southwest Tech staff with a vast knowledge in helping individuals become successful. 

Joela is wrapping up her first full week as the Career Guidance Specialist and is anxious to get classes started and meet the students who make up the Southwest Tech student body.

Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Joela completed college at Incarnate Word University in San Antonio, TX earning her B.A. in Communications Arts/Journalism and M.A. in Communication Arts/Media Studies. 

After graduating with her .B.A., she began working as a financial aid advisor at Incarnate Word University in 2010. Being an active duty military family, Joela moved frequently working as an enrollment counselor for Western Governors University, as a college advisor for Project Stay Inc., a non-profit organization. Then for University of Maryland Global Campus in Ramstein, Germany as a senior academic advisor. Due to limited faculty in the area, she then transitioned to instructor. Seeing students' confidence in their knowledge, their voice, their abilities increase by the end of each course is when she realized her deep passion for the classroom. Since Fall of 2018, she has taught for the University of Maryland Europe, University of Maryland Stateside, and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. Joela says that her inspiration came when she was a student herself. Her instructors, advisors, and overall school staff made a big impact on her experience. Their support and encouragement helped her to succeed in her studies as well as life. What she enjoys most about teaching and students, is knowing that she can be that support and encouragement to them.

Now residing in Olustee, OK, Joela enjoys life with her husband and three daughters, spending time with her horse and farm animals, arts, crafts, and watercolor painting. Joela and her husband, Brendan  just recently celebrated their ten year anniversary. After moving all over the states and Europe, Brendan is retiring from the military after 20 years and they have decided to settle in quiet and calm Olustee, OK. They enjoy family karaoke days and spending the summer weekends outside to watch the sun go down.

Joela describes herself as caring, understanding, and comical. A fun fact about Joela is she can play the piano and sing, but only in the absence of an audience. 

Southwest Tech is thrilled to welcome Joela Reilly to the campus, please help us welcome her into her new role as Career Guidance Specialist.