Alumna Brittany Novotny Calls Running for Office a Great Experience

Calling running for public office “one of the best experiences of my life,” Brittany Novotny, a 2002 sociology graduate from the University of Science and Arts, came back to the college in the fall to speak to USAO students during the first in a series of alumni speakers this fall.

Novotny said she wanted to be an active part in politics from a very young age. “I ran for office because, when I was seven, I got to see the Constitution.  It went on tour and came to Oklahoma. I found the Constitution fascinating.  Reading a document that looked out for the rights of the individual inspired me.

 “Running for office was one the best experiences of my life.  I loved going door to door, knocking and talking to people . . . and really listening to what they had to say,” Novotny said.

In 2010, Novotny ran for public office against Rep. Sally Kern for the House District 84 Seat. Despite coming up short in the election, she raised awareness all over the country with her pro-Oklahoma campaign. She was the first transgender person to run for public office in Oklahoma.

Novotny first ran for office while at USAO. “I ran for student president one time.  It helped make me more aware of what people felt about me.”

Novotny said she was excited to return to the college. “When I graduated in 2002, I never thought they would invite me back as an alumni speaker.”

After graduating from USAO, Novotny went on to earn her Juris Doctorate from the University of California -- Hastings in 2005. She was admitted to the Oklahoma Bar Association in 2005 and started her own law practice in Oklahoma City in 2008.

“In so many ways, Novotny is a pioneer in Oklahoma,” said Eric Feuerborn, director of alumni development at USAO. “My hope is that our students can leave this University with that same pioneering spirit and the willingness to change the world around them.”

In addition to running for office and choosing a career as an attorney, Novotny talked to students about her time at USAO.   

“Having the IDS core at USAO, I grasped the idea that you cannot really separate the disciplines.  The world is a complex place and you need to be versed. In my opinion, liberal arts universities make you a well-rounded thinker.

“USAO has great professors and one of the most awesome things about going to a small school is that I got to know my professors.  My sociology professor would have us over for dinner at his house.  We could hold adult conversations and discuss how what we learned in class played into the real world.”

“Sociology really deals with how human beings work together, and having that basis is a really great background to have. Being able to understand where people are coming from makes me a better lawyer,” Novotny said.

“The USAO experience is critical. Some of my best friends in my life I met as USAO.  They were some of my first supporters.”

Novotny’s advice to students included the importance of working in a team. “You should never go into a position thinking that you have all the answers.  Learn teamwork.”

During the 2010 campaign, Novotny was known for her use of social media and is active daily on social media sites. She can be followed on Twitter @BrittanyOKC.