J Hall, Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) dean of Social Sciences, is now a twice-published author.
On March 5, Hall released his second book, “College Unpacked: A Practical Guide to Choosing, Preparing For, and Excelling in College.”
Hall, who has worked in higher education since 2009, is well-versed on the college process. As a parent, he’s been through it four times with his own children. He describes “College Unpacked” as a guidebook for students and families as they navigate the higher education journey — from choosing a school through college graduation.
“I want to help students and their families to be confident as they approach the college journey. I want them to know what to expect and where to look for answers to whatever questions they might have,” Hall said. “I want to encourage students to own their educational journey, to understand the academic side and to be comfortable asking questions and interacting with faculty and administrators, so that they can make wise and informed decisions. Ultimately, I want students to be successful.”
At OCCC, Hall leads the Social Sciences Department. Before working in higher education, Hall spent 15 years in professional ministry.
Hall also produces the Okie Bookcast, a podcast dedicated to connecting curious readers with their next great read.
“The Okie Bookcast has been a labor of love for the past 3.5 years,” Hall said. “I’ve had the chance to interview dozens of authors and storytellers connected to Oklahoma — from independent authors just getting started, to NYT bestsellers and winners of major national and international awards, including OCCC’s own Jeff Provine. I love getting to shine a spotlight on the incredibly talented and diverse literary community that exists in Oklahoma.”
Hall said one of his favorite things is getting feedback from his listeners about the books they have found and loved because they heard the author on the podcast.
“As an author, I’m very aware of the challenge for writers to get the word out about their work,” he said. “Publishing is a noisy and crowded space, dominated by a relatively small handful of voices, so I love having a platform where I can support and amplify authors that might otherwise not be discovered by my audience.”
Hall’s first book, “God Help Me! I’m a Young Dad: 10 Essentials for Becoming the Dad Your Kids Need,” was published in 2023. He currently is working on book No. 3.
“There’s something encouraging about finishing a second book and knowing that the first one wasn’t the only idea I have,” he said. “There’s also a diminishing learning curve — I’m better aware of how I write and what the whole process looks like from start to finish now. I’m excited about both books I’ve produced and how they have impacted readers, and I’m already at work on the next.”
