OxStars: Abby Gray
Abby Gray joined Oxford College’s Office of Enrollment Services just over two years ago. Starting as an Administrative Assistant and advancing to Business Manager, Gray has managed a wide range of tasks, from greeting students and families with her exceptional people skills to overseeing budgets and events.
Tucked behind the spreadsheets, schedules, and planning logistics was a skill no one saw coming, least of all in a role built on routine and structure. Creativity. This skill became central to her journey here at Oxford.
This was not the kind of creativity you’d expect in a role like this one, but the kind that brings color to a black-and-white process. The kind that turns basic ideas into moments of connection and remembrance. Throughout her time here, that creative spark didn’t just enhance her work; it became its defining feature and something that many sought out.
Her creativity emerged out of necessity. While studying psychology in college, she took a course on the effects of art therapy on mental health. “It started as an escape. A way to add color to life during dark times,” she explains. A small moment became a lasting influence. She carried it into her life, weaving it into her work today.
Rather than simply adding creativity to her work, she took the initiative and asked to lead the monthly newsletter. She recalls starting at Oxford in 2023 as the only person in the office daily, watching her colleagues reconnect after long periods of remote work. The interactions she observed inspired her to create a themed monthly newsletter to connect with others in the office. This would be a space where her colleagues could share updates, photos, and accomplishments, all while staying connected during an isolating time. “It was a fun way for us to keep up, see what’s going on, and decorate it to match the theme,” says Gray.
Through each edition of the newsletter, Gray wasn’t just sharing updates—she was helping build a workplace culture where people felt seen, included, and celebrated. And in doing so, she found her own sense of belonging grew as well.
"With Oxford College, it starts and ends with community,”
Whether it’s how she creates a welcoming environment for everyone that crosses her path, adds joy to daily tasks, or helps others feel seen and connected, Gray’s creativity isn’t just a nice touch; it’s part of what makes her work meaningful.
Gray’s work demonstrates that when staff can bring their whole selves to work, they create experiences that exceed expectations. “When you're given a skill or you find that you're good at a specific skill, like me with creating objects and doing things with my hands, it is fun to do it for yourself,” says Gray. “There's plenty of art that I have at home, but it's so much more rewarding being able to use your skills to send out into the world.”
For Gray, it all comes back to intentionality. She focuses on showing up and finding ways to contribute that feel true to her and her motivations. “Intentionality was the most important for me as far as diving into the Oxford community, being a part of it, trying to use my skills wherever I could,” she says. “The way to be a part of the community is being in the community. And so that was my intention, and it’s been very rewarding. I feel closer than ever.” That closeness and sense of belonging didn’t just happen. She built it, creative step by creative step.
If she could speak to her younger self, Gray would say: "You’re living the dream. You have a wonderful job where you can be creative every day and belong to a community that gives back what you contribute."
Abby Gray didn't just find a job at Oxford; she found a supportive community that recognizes, welcomes, and celebrates creativity as a vital part of its success.