“Culture” … ORU’s Karysha Naomi Martinez Diaz Gets It
Karysha Naomi Martinez Diaz
Hometown: Jenks, OK
Field of Study: Finance
If you’ve never heard of “arepa,” it’s a cornmeal flatbread that can be made sweetened
or unsweetened. To those who are unaccustomed with it, arepa might sound generic,
consisting of the same taste, smell, and recipe wherever it’s served. But for ORU’s
Karysha Naomi Martinez Diaz, arepa is more than just bread; it is something that unlocks
culture and breaks down the barriers between people.
“If I meet an international student from Colombia,” Karysha said, “and they say their grandma makes the best arepa, I'm going to try that recipe because Puerto Ricans, Colombians, and Venezuelans all cook it differently. Trying things helps me learn about these different cultures, and I want to see why they think their arepa’s the best.”
A Campus That’s 24/7 Culture
Karysha, who was born in Puerto Rico, believes there’s more to learning than just books and classrooms. She believes culture is an important teacher too and that students should step outside themselves, ask questions, and learn from the different people around them. According to Karysha, these opportunities are everywhere on the ORU campus, which she describes as “24/7 culture.”
“There are students from all over the world at ORU,” Karysha said. “It’s a community that’s accepting of so many different nationalities. On campus, you’re going to meet students who speak different languages, who grew up with different foods and different traditions. It’s a multicultural campus, and we’re multicultural learners. Our differences actually bring us together because when you’re curious about an international student’s prayers, perspectives, and passions, you’re asking about things that are meaningful and important.”
Culture—and the learning that comes from it—is central to life at ORU. ORU welcomes a large international community of learners, with students from over 140 nations represented. This growing international enrollment contributes to ORU’s diversity, which has been recognized nationally. For 2024, Niche ranked ORU one of the Top 25 “Most Diverse Colleges in America,” along with Stanford, NYU, MIT and Harvard.
“Because the campus is so diverse,” Karysha said, “I can talk easily about Puerto Rico; I can talk about my childhood and my traditions. Here, more people understand me because so many students come from different places themselves. They’re interested in what makes me who I am, and I’m interested in what they’re passionate about. You can never learn enough about someone’s culture, and this type of learning is what makes ORU such a close community.”
"It’s a multicultural campus, and we’re multicultural learners. Our differences actually bring us together because when you’re curious about an international student’s prayers, perspectives, and passions, you’re asking about things that are meaningful and important.”
Going to the Uttermost Bounds of the Earth
Karysha has found a cultural education in the students who do life with her. It’s an education that ranges from something as simple as arepa (and how it’s baked) to something more complex like differing viewpoints and opinions. But Karysha’s education doesn’t end there. She believes that a deeper understanding of culture requires you to step outside of your comfort zone; it requires you to experience new places and new nations.
At ORU, Missions is an opportunity to actively experience cultures from around the world while helping people and communities in need. Last year, Karysha joined an ORU Missions team, stepping away from a typical summer and into a summer of international travel and global ministry. In fact, Karysha did something few college students ever do … instead of just one missions trip, Karysha took four missions trips.
“I went to Brazil, Peru, and Romania with one ministry,” Karysha said, “and I also went to El Salvador with ORU Missions. When I was in El Salvador, our contacts did a wonderful job teaching us the history of the people and the country. When you join ORU Missions, you get a whole new perspective on the world; it encourages new ideas and knowledge. Living in another country, you learn not to stereotype; you question cultural assumptions and learn directly from the people themselves. ORU Missions offers a spiritual opportunity to give back, but in addition, it also offers an incredible opportunity for cultural growth.”
UNIVERSITY BRIEF
ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 15 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor’s level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 151 nations (from 2019 to 2023) to be whole leaders for the whole world.
The Wall Street Journal ranked ORU as the #8 university in the nation for student experience and one of America's Best Colleges (2024). This new category rates the best colleges in the U.S. to have a great experience while attending. This ranking is powered by one of the largest ever independent surveys of verified college students and recent graduates in the United States. Niche recognizes ORU as one of the top 25 most diverse colleges in America, # 1 best Christian college in Oklahoma, and # 1 in Oklahoma for diversity. Princeton Review ranked ORU as the best regional college, and College Raptor ranked ORU as a Hidden Gem in the Southwest.
ORU has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as:
- #1 in Undergraduate Teaching
- #2 in Most International Students
- #3 in Best Value
- #6 in Best College for Veterans
- #7 in Best Regional Colleges in the West
For more information, visit www.oru.edu.