The Regional University System of Oklahoma is conducting a national search for the 21st president of the University of Central Oklahoma located in Edmond, Oklahoma. UCO President Don Betz will retire June 30, 2019.
“President Betz has done an outstanding job growing the engagement of UCO’s students, faculty alumni and donors. His forward thinking, collaborative research and increasing STEM graduates is evidenced with the new Interdisciplinary STEM Teaching and Research Center,” said Mark Stansberry, RUSO regent chair. “We anticipate the next president will continue building on this innovation for the future of our students and the state’s workforce.”
The regents have appointed a presidential search advisory committee and will advertise the position nationally in higher education trade publications, traditional media and online platforms.
“The best group to help us find the next UCO president represents diverse constituencies committed to the success of the university and higher education,” Stansberry added. “The search committee reflects this goal with a distinguished group of regents, UCO employees, students, alumni and community leaders.”
Committee members are:
RUSO Regents:
Jeff Dunn, Committee Chair
Amy Anne Ford
Connie Reilly
Susan Winchester
UCO Faculty:
Kristi Archuleta, Faculty Senate, College of Education and Professional Studies
Amy Johnson, College of Fine Arts and Design
John Wood, College of Liberal Arts
UCO Administrators:
Wei Chen, Dean, College of Math & Science
Bucky Dodd, Chief Learning Innovation Officer, Center for eLearning and Connected Environments
Jeff King, Executive Director, Transformative Learning
UCO Staff:
Jarrett Jobe, Executive Director, Leadership Central
Liliana Renteria Mendoza, Director, Cultural Competencies
UCO Students:
Jordan Medaris, President, President’s Leadership Council
Remington Dean, President, University of Central Oklahoma Student Association
Community/UCO Alumni:
Peggy Kates, Owner, Midwest Wrecking Company, Alumni
Michael Carolina, Executive Director, Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology
Steve Hill, Chief of Staff, Oklahoma City Mayor’s Office
Leigh Goodson, President, Tulsa Community College
Phil Muir, Assistant Athletic Director & Dean of Students, Holland Hall, Alumni
UCO is one of the state’s oldest institutions of higher learning, founded in 1890 as the Territorial Normal School. Today, it is a regional institution enrolling nearly 16,000 students in 121 undergraduate areas of study and 74 graduate majors. From its main campus in Edmond and facilities throughout the metro area, UCO is recognized nationally as a military-friendly school and for its high student engagement through service-learning and volunteerism and its workplace environment. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. For more information about UCO and Edmond go to www.uco.edu and www.edmondok.com.