Osha Davis will be featured in a soon-to-be-released documentary titled “Fighting More Than Fires,” which will showcase the living history of Black firefighters in Tulsa. (Photo provided by Keith Daniels)
Tulsa, Okla., boasts a sprawling diverse community of all backgrounds, cultures, and so much rich history, and Tulsa Community College (TCC) is no exception.
The campus, whether it be Metro, Northeast, Southeast, or West Campus, boasts a unique local, out-of-state student and teacher body comprised of theatre actors, artists, entrepreneurs, lawyers, doctors, and people who work in self-sacrificing public service. Osha Davis is one example of a unique individual. He is a firefighter and an adjunct professor at the Northeast campus.
During an interview with the “TCC Connection,” Davis discussed his background, inspiration, firefighter life, teaching at TCC, managing balance and impact, the community, and his future.
Background & Inspiration
TCC Connection: What inspired you to become a firefighter?
Osha Davis: My inspiration came from meeting a retired firefighter named Charlie McGee, while I was working as a used car salesman. He was kind, easy-going, and spoke passionately about his career. Before that, my mother would often tell my brothers and me that one of us would become a firefighter one day. At the time, I had no interest, but after meeting Charlie, I started researching the fire service and realized it was a selfless act of service - helping people in their moments of greatest need.
TCC Connection: Did you always see yourself working in public service?
Osha Davis: No, I didn’t. In high school, my interests were music, poetry, acting, and public speaking. Public service wasn’t something I initially pictured for myself.
TCC Connection: Who were your role models growing up?
Osha Davis: My role models were Will Smith, Barack Obama, Frederick Douglass, and Tupac Shakur.
Firefighter Life
TCC Connection: What does a typical day look like for you at the firehouse?
Osha Davis: A day at the firehouse feels like a mix between a family household, a gym, a classroom, and a 911 dispatch center with a big red truck parked in the garage. The crew starts with roll call, checking gear, and making sure the trucks and equipment are ready to go. After that, it’s chores, yes, firefighters mop floors, clean bathrooms, and cook meals because everyone lives together during the shift.
When there’s no emergency, we spend time training, working out, or handling paperwork. Meals are a big deal we eat together like a family. But the day can flip in an instant. When the alarm sounds, everything stops whether you’re eating dinner, lifting weights, or showering and the team gears up and rolls out in under a minute. Calls can be anything: a house fire, a car wreck, a medical emergency, or even a false alarm. Nights are “sleep time,” but it’s light at best because tones can drop at 2 a.m., and you’re out the door again. In short, we live together, train together, eat together, clean together, and run out the door whenever the community needs us. I work a 24-hour shift, then I’m off for 48 hours.
TCC Connection: What has been one of your most memorable or challenging experiences on the job?
Osha Davis: The biggest challenge is the time away from family. I often miss holidays, birthdays, and other important events. When I come home, I’m sometimes exhausted from the shift before. The lack of sleep, along with witnessing traumatic events, can take a toll on (one’s) mental health.
TCC Connection: How do you handle the physical and emotional demands of firefighting?
Osha Davis: My faith plays a huge role. I pray, meditate, work out, and continually learn ways to stay grounded and stable. I also see a therapist at least once a month, which has been a tremendous help for my mental well-being.
Teaching at TCC
TCC Connection: What motivated you to start teaching part-time at TCC?
Osha Davis: My teaching journey started with CPR and First Aid classes. I quickly realized I had a passion for teaching because it allowed me to give back and share the knowledge and skills I had gained in the fire service. Along the way, I met Chief Donnell Campbell while looking into getting my associate’s degree. In 2019, he challenged me to pursue more courses and eventually (to get) my degree. Since then, I’ve earned my master’s degree and was recently accepted into a doctoral program. I knew that if I wanted to teach advanced courses, earning a terminal degree made the most sense.
TCC Connection: What subjects or courses do you teach?
Osha Davis: I currently teach Principles of Fire and Emergency Services and Water Supply Hydraulics and Protection.
TCC Connection: Do your experiences as a firefighter influence how you approach teaching?
Osha Davis: Absolutely. My experience helps me bridge the gap between the textbook world and real-life application. I remind students that while they must succeed in their assignments, they should also understand how the subject matter applies in real situations. I want my students to leave class knowing not just the theory but how it matters in the field.
Balance & Impact
TCC Connection: How do you balance both firefighting and teaching professions?
Osha Davis: Since I work 24 hours on and then have 48 hours off, I dedicate my days off to teaching, pursuing additional education, and earning certifications. I also study ways to improve as a learner so I can better teach my students. Professors must recognize that what we know isn’t automatically what our students know, so teaching has to be treated as both an art and a philosophy, constantly improving for the benefit of the students.
TCC Connection: What do you hope your students take away from your classes?
Osha Davis: I stress that textbooks are tools, but experience solidifies what works and what doesn’t. I also emphasize that intelligence is not fixed. There aren’t simply “smart” or “dumb” people. Everyone can grow and improve in different areas, and intelligence comes in many forms. By finding and developing their strengths, students can unlock their hidden power and passion.
TCC Connection: What lessons from firefighting apply to life outside the firehouse?
Osha Davis: Firefighting has taught me that life is unpredictable, and you must be ready to adapt. Teamwork is everything. You can’t do this job alone, and the same is true in life. Whether it’s family, friends, or coworkers, we all need people we can rely on and who can rely on us. It also (has) taught me humility. No matter how strong, smart, or experienced you are, there will always be situations that test you. The key is staying calm under pressure, thinking clearly, and never giving up. Most importantly, it has reinforced the value of empathy. When we show up on calls, it’s often the worst day of someone’s life. A little compassion goes a long way, and that applies outside the firehouse, too. Treating people with respect and kindness, even when it’s inconvenient, is one of the most powerful things you can do.
Community & Future
TCC Connection: What does serving Tulsa mean to you?
Osha Davis: Serving Tulsa means giving back to the community that shaped me. It’s about taking care of people on their worst days, being their calm in the storm and reassuring them that we won’t quit until the job is done. Service is rooted in empathy and an unshakable drive to help others.
TCC Connection: What advice would you give students who want to go into public service or teaching?
Osha Davis: Examine your heart and mind. Ask yourself: Are you truly willing to put your life on the line? At 3 a.m., when you’re exhausted, will you treat someone’s loved one as a burden or with the compassion they deserve? Are you willing to train, learn, and keep growing? Public service is not a shortcut around education. It’s a lifelong commitment to learning, because lives, including your own, may depend on it.
Davis states that in the next 5-10 years he sees himself as a fire captain while continuing to teach college-level courses. He also states that he plans to start his own health and safety consulting company.
