Brice Harader-Pate Alumni Spotlight

Brice Harader-Pate began her remarkable journey in healthcare and leadership at Cowley College, where she graduated in 2005 with an Associate of Science degree in Biology. A native of Arkansas City and proud first-generation college student, Brice began taking classes at Cowley in 2003 while still attending Arkansas City High School. Choosing Cowley was both a practical and personal decision—close to home, financially accessible, and rich with opportunity.

In 2004, she officially enrolled as a full-time student at Cowley on a theater scholarship, blending her passion for the arts with a strong academic focus. Brice quickly became a dynamic presence on campus, deeply involved in student leadership and service. She was a member of Student Government and was elected President in the spring, though she graduated early due to already having completed enough credit hours.

Brice also served as a student worker in the President’s Office, participated in Science Club, and worked as a tutor for TRIO and Upward Bound—further demonstrating her commitment to mentoring others.

One of her most distinguished accomplishments as a Cowley student came through her involvement with SkillsUSA, a national organization focused on career and technical education. As a National Officer, Brice traveled the country representing students and advocating for vocational training. In September of her term, she was honored to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, escorted by the ceremonial guards. Even more memorably, she was invited to give a speech at the JFK gravesite—a location typically reserved for silence—an experience she considers one of the greatest honors of her life.

After Cowley, Brice went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Northeastern State University in 2007 and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Oklahoma in 2011. She worked as a trauma nurse in Tulsa, Oklahoma from 2011 to 2015, earning national certification as a Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN), volunteering with the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps, and completing three medical mission trips to Peru.

In 2015, she received her Master’s in Nursing from OU as a Family Nurse Practitioner and worked at Bristow Medical Center as an ER NP. That same year, she was honored with the TRIO Achiever Award for Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska. In 2017, she earned a Post-Master’s Certificate in Acute Care and Emergency Nurse Practice from Vanderbilt University and was named Cowley College’s Young Achiever Award recipient in 2018.

Brice achieved her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from OU in 2021. From 2017 to 2024, she served as a Nurse Practitioner at Saint Francis Hospital in both the ER and ICU, traveled six times to Kenya and Togo for medical missions, responded to hurricane disaster zones in Florida on two deployments, and trained physicians nationwide in bedside ultrasound techniques.

In 2024, she joined Advanced Wound Therapy full-time as a Nurse Practitioner. In 2025, she relocated to Ponca City with her son and returned to serve her hometown region by accepting a part-time ER provider position at SCK Health in Arkansas City.

Brice Harader-Pate’s path—from an engaged and passionate student at Cowley College to a nationally recognized healthcare leader—is a shining example of resilience, service, and dedication to lifelong learning. Her journey reflects the incredible value of a community college education as a launching pad for success, offering access, opportunity, and a strong foundation for those willing to dream big and work hard.

Hunter Ferguson | Integrated Communications Specialist
Cowley College
125 S. 2nd Street
Arkansas City, KS 67005
hunter.ferguson@cowley.edu