Octavia Reese Death: Miss Michigan: Our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and all who knew and loved Miss Michigan 2005, Octavia Reese. The Miss Michigan family was looking forward to her judging the 85th anniversary in just a few weeks. She will be deeply missed by us all. Octavia was at the intersection of data analysis, creativity, and humanitarianism. She was a digital healthcare solutions strategist with a Master of Science in Healthcare Informatics Administration from Northwestern University. I examine datasets to identify opportunities to reduce clinician error, improve patient outcomes, increase user engagement
Reese was an Artist in Residence (AiR) at Chateau d’Orquevaux in France and winner of the 2020 Denis Diderot AiR Grant. Reese was slated for the May 2023 session, which was postponed for three years due to the pandemic. Reese was a former beauty queen, former pastor’s wife, and current full-time working, city-dwelling mother of three, Reese had her hands extremely full with lots of emotional scars that needed healing. In order to juggle the weight of the world she took care of herself.
“And so, as I am learning to love myself, listen to my inner voice and be aware of my own needs, as I call, my Road to Recovery, I’ve also learned that there is a universal aching among women. I’ve learned that I’m part of a secret sisterhood of miserable beauties – drowning in unhealthy relationships, sinking in self-doubt and self-loathing, and barely keeping it all together, not only for ourselves but for our families, too. The only way to bounce back after extreme loss and emotional trauma, whether it is that of life or a relationship or a dream version of yourself, you have to regroup, reboot, and rebuild. And you will flourish.”
Octavia Reese accomplishments:
University of Richmond CX Advisory Council Member 2022-present
Harvard University GHLP 2024
Mauser Ecohouse AiR 2024
Chateau d’Orquevaux AiR 2023
Lurie Children’s Collaborative Technologies Governance Council 2021
HIMSS Member 2018 – 2021
Film Score featured at Indie Film Fest Hollywood 2020
Chicago Metropolitan Symphony Board, Executive Committee 2014 – 2015
Roseland Christian School Board 2010 – 2014
Miss America Candidate 2006
Miss Michigan 2005
Miss Wayne County 2004
Fulbright Fellowship Teaching Assistantship 2005
Hope College Covenant Scholarship 2001