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1960s
Davy Mudd (BA 鈥�60) cofounded the Bridge of Northeast Florida, which provides comprehensive educational, social and health programs to youth in need, where she spent 32 years as the president and CEO. She has received honors including the 1997 Governor Lawton Chiles Heartland Award and the 2008 Women of Color Education Award.
Linda Twine (BM 鈥�66, HD Music 鈥�94), a conductor, composer and music director, was an honoree at the Black Theatre United鈥檚 Generations of Excellence Gala in September. Twine was the conductor of Broadway shows 鈥淭he Color Purple,鈥� 鈥淐aroline or Change,鈥� and more.
1970s
Leona Mitchell (BM 鈥�71, HD Music 鈥�79) performed live in April at the St. Jean Theater in New York. She has been inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Women鈥檚 Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame along with receiving a Grammy for Best Opera Recording for her role as Bess in the recording of 鈥淧orgy and Bess.鈥�
Ralph Venezia (BME 鈥�71) was inducted into the National Bugler鈥檚 Hall of Fame Class of 2022, which recognizes people who have not only earned prestige with the bugle instrument but also have given considerable time and talent toward the music that has been influenced by the bugle and achievement in the pageantry arts.
Phil Busey Sr. (BA History/Political Science 鈥�74, JD 鈥�77), chairman of Delaware Resource Group, was named an honoree to the 野狼社区 Public Schools Foundation Wall of Fame and received a Statesmanship Award from the Cherokee Nation. He and his wife, Cathy, founded the Delaware Resource Group and the non-profit organization El Sistema Oklahoma after-school program. He is on the OCU board of trustees, has been inducted into OCU鈥檚 Oklahoma Commerce and Industry Hall of Honor and recognized in the top 1% of attorneys in the nation by Martindale-Hubbell as an AV-rated attorney.
Tom Morris (BSB 鈥�74) recently celebrated the Shoppes at Northpark鈥檚 50th Anniversary in 野狼社区, which is owned by Tom Morris Enterprises Real Estate Group where he serves as president and owner.
Ron Raines (BM 鈥�75, Honorary MM 鈥�14, Honorary DM 鈥�21) is in the cast for 鈥淛erry Herman: The Broadway Legacy Concert鈥� that was performed at 野狼社区 Community College. Raines received a Tony Award nomination for 鈥淔ollies鈥� and three Emmy and Soap Opera Digest Award nominations.
Security consultant Bruce Wimmer (MCJ Criminal Justice Administration 鈥�79) was included in Marquis Who鈥檚 Who. He founded the Business Stratagem Support Group in 2004. His book 鈥淏usiness Espionage: Risks, Threats and Countermeasures鈥� was published in 2015 after spending 22 years in the U.S. Air Force, primarily as a special agent in the Air Force Office of Special Investigations.
1980s
Wade Brawley (MBA 鈥�82), owner and chief executive officer of Land Information Services LLC, has been honored by Marquis Who鈥檚 Who for his expertise in management counseling. He previously worked as vice president of land administration at Chesapeake Energy Company. Brawley is also a recipient of the 鈥淚nspiring Hope鈥� award for his civic work.
Janie Simms Hipp (JD 鈥�84) was appointed by President Joe Biden to the advisory committee to the U.S. Department of Treasury鈥檚 community development financial institutions fund. Additionally, she has been named to the U.S. Department of Treasury鈥檚 community development advisory board and the EPA鈥檚 farm, ranch and rural communities federal advisory committee. Hipp is the founding chief executive officer of Native Agriculture Financial Services and the founding chief executive officer of Native American Agriculture Fund. She previously served as the general counsel of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is a member of the Chickasaw Hall of Fame.
Kerriann Kelly (JD 鈥�86), major crime bureau chief for Suffolk County in New York, was awarded the 2024 Prosecutor of the Year Award for Trial Advocacy at the District Attorneys Association of New York鈥檚 annual summer conference. She previously served as chief of the special investigations bureau, the homicide bureau and the felony offense bureau with the Suffolk County District Attorney鈥檚 Office.
Tony Mastin (JD 鈥�86) of the McAfee & Taft law firm received top marks in the 2024 edition of the exclusive Chambers USA Guide to America鈥檚 Leading Lawyers for Business in the tax category. He previously served as executive director of the Oklahoma Tax Commission and received the Harley T. Duncan Award from the Federation of Tax Administrators.
Janice Purcell (JD 鈥�86) was sworn in as the Cherokee Nation鈥檚 fourth district court judge in January 2024. As an attorney, she has argued before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals and previously served as the executive director of the Cherokee Nation Gaming Commission.
David Horton (BA Religion 鈥�87, BA Liberal Studies 鈥�12) was named Penn State鈥檚 new vice president for information technology and CIO. Before moving to Penn State, he served as chief information officer at the University of Oklahoma. He co-leads the IT optimized service team workstream at Penn State.
Denise Hannah (BS Criminal Justice 鈥�89) was hired as the new St. Andrews University head women鈥檚 basketball coach. During her time on the OCU basketball team, she was a three-time NAIA All-American, Sooner Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, and still holds the OCU school record in rebounding. She has previously coached at St. Thomas University, Thomas University and The College of Coastal Georgia.
Lynne McGuire (JD 鈥�89) has been appointed to serve as a Cleveland County district judge. She has served as a special judge for Oklahoma County since 2009 and previously worked as felony prosecutor, youthful offender prosecutor and felony team leader of the Oklahoma County District Attorney鈥檚 Office. In 2003, she was named chief of the Oklahoma County District Attorney鈥檚 Office criminal division.
1990s
A recent episode of 鈥淩oadfood鈥� on PBS included a trip to a ranch in El Reno, Oklahoma, run by brothers Steven Jensen (MBA 鈥�90) and Peter Jensen (MBA 鈥�90). The television show looks at America鈥檚 regional culture through its iconic dishes.
Kendall Qualls (MBA 鈥�90), faculty-in-residence at Crown College in Minnesota, joined the advisory board for the National Medal of Honor Center for Leadership. He is the founder and president of nonprofit foundation TakeCharge and serves on the president advisory board for the Heritage Foundation and the Board of Hope Farm School. Qualls is also the author of 鈥淭he Prodigal Project: Hope for American Families.鈥�
Kat Rummell (BSB Marketing 鈥�90) has been named the Alamo Letter Chair for Montgomery County, Texas, by the Alamo Letter Society. She is an executive with Productioneered Parts.
Ramona Tumblin-Rucker (MBA 鈥�90), director of construction management at M Property Services in O鈥橣allon, Missouri, was inducted into the Missouri S&T Women鈥檚 Hall of Fame. She is a member of the National Society of Black Engineers, the American Society for Healthcare Engineering and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
Singersroom included Kristin Chenoweth (BM Musical Theatre 鈥�91, MM 鈥�93, HDHL 鈥�13) and Kelli O鈥橦ara (BM Vocal Performance 鈥�98, HDHL 鈥�15) in its list of 鈥�15 Best Broadway Singers of All Time.鈥�
Ken Jacome (BS Physical Education 鈥�91) was named athletic director for Pima Community College in Arizona. He was the head coach for the Pima Community College baseball team and previously coached at El Paso Community College, where he led his team to three Western Junior College Athletic Conference titles.
Jennifer Callahan (MSA Accounting 鈥�92), attorney and director at the McAfee & Taft law firm, was unanimously approved by the Oklahoma Senate to serve on the Board of Regents of the Oklahoma Agricultural & Mechanical Colleges. She is a founding member and co-leader of the McAfee & Taft agriculture and equine industry group and was honored as the Oklahoma Agricultural Woman of the Year at the 2020 Diamond Hats Gala. Callahan is a member of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau and the Oklahoma Cattlemen鈥檚 Association.
Kyle Golding (BA Mass Communications/Public Relations 鈥�92) was recently named director of corporate relations and special projects for the Meinders School of Business. Along with his work at OCU, he is the owner and founder of Share Furniture Company, co-founder of the Golding Group and co-founder of Vorttx Training.
Damon Akins (BA History 鈥�93) was named Lincoln Financial Professor of History at Guilford College in North Carolina. He has served as chair of the History Department, clerk of the faculty and coordinator of the college鈥檚 quality enhancement plan.
Aqil Mohamed Jawad Habib Jaffer Ali (MS Computer Science 鈥�93) was nominated as deputy chairman of the board for Al Anwar Ceramic Tiles Company SAOG based in Oman. He currently serves as chairman of Conformity Compliance Solution.
Jodi Fenner (BSB Accounting 鈥�93) was named vice president of execution and growth for TCARE, a support company for caregivers. She previously served as the director of the division of developmental disabilities for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and the senior director of specialty programs and populations and medicaid strategy and development at Elevance Health.
Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia has named Nathan Goss (BSB Marketing 鈥�93) vice president of marketing and enrollment management. He has been with the school since 2005, previously serving as executive director for enrollment partnerships. Goss oversees undergraduate and graduate admissions for all campuses and online programs.
Chris Harrison (BA Mass Communications 鈥�93, HD Fine Arts 鈥�15), former host of 鈥淭he Bachelor,鈥� is set to host a weekday morning talk show as well as a reality dating series on Merit Street Media, a new cable broadcasting and streaming network from Phil McGraw. He has previously hosted 鈥�Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?,鈥� 鈥�Designers鈥� Challenge鈥� and 鈥�Mall Masters.鈥� He was nominated as Outstanding Game Show Host in both 2018 and 2019.
Jill Jennings (BS Psychology 鈥�93), chief operating officer for Tressler Law Firm, was honored as being on the organization鈥檚 all-woman administrative leadership team. She previously served as the director of legal operations and director of recruiting and professional development for the firm.
Gilbert Squires (JD 鈥�93) joined Miami-based JAMS, the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution services. He co-founded the Miami International Arbitration Society and previously served as the president of the Miami-Dade Bar Association and the Miami Beach Bar Association.
Thai Beverage Public Company Limited appointed Kosit Suksingha (MBA 鈥�93) as president and group chief operating officer for their Thailand business.
John Chancey (MBA 鈥�94), a long-time regulatory veterinarian and current executive director of the Oklahoma Racing Commission, was appointed to the board of directors of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, where he also serves as the chair of the drug testing standards and practices committee.
Hong-boon Goy (MBA 鈥�94) was named chairman of SCC Holdings Berhad in Malaysia.
Jeff Tebow (MBA 鈥�94) was elected as first vice president of the American Quarter Horse Association executive committee. He has served as an AQHA director since 2011 and is a current member of the AQHA executive committee. He is the chief executive officer of Heritage Place Inc. and the managing partner at Andreini and Co. of Oklahoma.
Amir Farzaneh (JD 鈥�95) and Katelyn Wade (JD 鈥�21) have joined the Doerner, Saunders, Daniel & Anderson, LLP law firm. Farzaneh has more than 27 years of law experience and named twice as a 鈥淟awyer of the Year鈥� by Best Lawyers in America. Wade previously worked with the U.S. Department of Labor, United States Immigration and Citizenship Services and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Lana Ross (BS Physical Education 鈥�95) was named head coach of the Kansas City Community College softball team. She had been honored as Coaching Staff of the Year by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association in 2013 and is a five-time Region XI Coach of the Year.
Lance Sandage (JD 鈥�95) was named to the Forbes Advisor list of 鈥淏est Criminal Defense Lawyers Kansas City, MO of 2024.鈥� He previously worked for the Jackson County Prosecutor鈥檚 Office and is recognized as an ACS-CHAL forensic lawyer-scientist by the American Chemical Society.
Stacy Smith (MPA Drama 鈥�95) was selected to head the One Act Play Program at Dublin High School in Texas. He and former director Pam Kasinger led the One Act Play program to regionals twice in his four years with the program.
Forbes Advisor included Eric Bartlett (JD 鈥�96) on its list of Best Workers鈥� Compensation Lawyers in Kansas City. He has been named in the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and as an Outstanding Young Lawyer by KC Magazine. He is a member of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Loren Lampert (JD 鈥�96) won a recent election for a district judge seat in Louisiana. He previously served as chief of the Alexandria Police Department for more than six years and is currently the executive director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association.
Tracy Weaver (BS Psychology 鈥�96, MA Counseling Psychology 鈥�00), executive director of Saranam, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families end their homelessness, received the 2024 Jennifer Riordan Women of Influence Community Impact Award in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has worked with Saranam since its founding in 2004, overseeing all program activities and strategies, including their Westside expansion project.
Erica Elliott (MBA 鈥�97) was recently hired as a marketing professor at Taylor University in Indiana. She previously worked as vice president of marketing at SPIETH America, including contracting with Olympic gymnast Simone Biles. She also worked as instructor and program director of digital marketing at Grace College and as vice president of marketing for Indiana Wesleyan University National & Global.
Khalid Hussein (BS Professional Law Enforcement 鈥�96, MCJ Criminal Justice Administration 鈥�97, JD 鈥�03) is the new commander of Oklahoma鈥檚 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team with the Oklahoma Army National Guard. He brings extensive experience to this role he took over in June, having served in numerous staff and command positions previously. He has been deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq and support operations during Hurricane Katrina.
Brent Greenwood (BFA Studio Art 鈥�97) was recognized as the 2024 Red Earth Honored One during the 38th Annual Red Earth Festival in June. He currently serves as the fine arts director for the Chickasaw Nation. In 2023, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from OCU Petree College of Arts & Sciences and will be the featured artist at the 2025 Sovereignty Symposium this summer.
Mohd Jasmin Bin Julpin (BSB 鈥�97, MBA Information Systems Management 鈥�98), chairman of Sabah Ports Authority in Malaysia, received the BrandLaureate Entrepreneur Award. This honor is given to successful entrepreneurs who have contributed to the country鈥檚 economic growth.
Michael Lopez (BA Psychology 鈥�97), vocational rehabilitation specialist, recently joined the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services. He previously worked as the program director for the Substance Abuse Treatment Program at Mable Bassett Correctional Center for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and as a juvenile justice specialist for Canadian, Grady and Oklahoma Counties for the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs.
Chris Miciotto (JD 鈥�97) was named one of SB Magazine鈥檚 (Shreveport/Bossier City) Top Attorneys for 2024. He has been named one of SB Magazine鈥檚 top lawyers for multiple years and serves as a member of the board of directors of the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling.
Marcel Wilson (BPA Dance 鈥�98) and his brother, Kevin Wilson, directed, choreographed and performed in 鈥淐irque Dreams Holidaze鈥� in Philadelphia recently. They founded Mister Wilson Entertainment in 2010 and have choreographed for concerts, television and cruise ship shows as well as received a World Choreography Award for Outstanding Choreography in a concert for their work on Cher鈥檚 world tour.
Chris Lipasek (BA Advertising 鈥�98) joined the client solutions team in Houston for Lifting Solutions, a manufacturer and distributor of artificial lift products. He previously worked as the business development manager of production systems at Tally Energy Services and senior account manager at TK Elevator.
Steven Akinnfest (MBA Information Systems Management 鈥�98) has released his latest book 鈥淎nimalistic Negotiaboo鈥� after his first published book, 鈥淒r. Plaboo鈥檚 Expedition,鈥� in 2022.
Janna Allison (JD 鈥�98) has been named chief public defender and is among the first staff in a new public defender鈥檚 office in North Carolina. She has served as an assistant public defender in Buncombe County since 2010 and is a board-certified specialist in state criminal law while serving as associate counsel on the Capital Roster.
ZeeVee, a global provider of AV distribution products, has hired Michael Burton (BM Music/Emphasis in Business 鈥�98) as central U.S. regional sales manager. He previously worked as the regional sales director for the south central and southeast U.S. regions at SAVI Controls and regional sales director at Mersive Technologies.
Texas State Senator Brandon Creighton (JD 鈥�98) was appointed to the Education Commission of the States. He is the current chair of the senate education committee and the senate subcommittee on higher education. Creighton previously served in the Texas House of Representatives from 2007 to 2014.
Jana Etheridge (MBA Finance 鈥�98), senior vice president and chief of staff for Capital One, has been named governance committee chair for the Texas Women鈥檚 Foundation board of directors. She also serves as the co-chair of the Texas Women鈥檚 Foundation Economic Leadership Council, and in 2020, she was a Women in Business honoree by the Dallas Business Journal.
Elisabeth Brodt (BM Instrumental Education 鈥�99) was appointed as the new principal of Obra D. Tompkins High School in Katy, Texas. She is a certified principal EC-12 and music education PK-12 and was previously named Secondary Teacher of the Year.
Nicole Emmons (BA English 鈥�99, MLA 鈥�03) was named assistant vice president and manager of marketing communications for Tinker Federal Credit Union. She previously worked as an editor and publications coordinator for the 野狼社区 Museum of Art. She has been a member of the American Marketing Association for 12 years and served on the board for five years.
Brenda Fitzpatrick (JD 鈥�99) joined the Stange law firm in 野狼社区 as a senior associate attorney serving in their family law office. She brings 25 years of experience in divorce and legal separations among other family law matters.
John Gall (BS Physical Education 鈥�99) was named assistant coach of the Football Club Dallas soccer team. He previously served as the FC Dallas youth boys coaching director and has coached the FC Dallas youth boys U-12, U-13 and U-19 teams. He won the 2019 Dallas Cup with the U-13 team.
Carey Hipp (JD 鈥�99) was appointed to serve as chief judge of the 20th Judicial District in Kansas. She currently serves as Barton County counselor and a city attorney/prosecutor for three counties in the state while partner at Sherman, Hoffman & Hipp, LC.
Andrea Vaughan (BA Public Relations 鈥�99) became the first Rogers State Hillcat softball coach to win 300 career games. She is also the first coach in RSU athletics history to win a national championship. Vaughn won a NAIA national championship in 1997 as part of the OCU softball team.
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education elected attorney Courtney Warmington (JD 鈥�99) as vice chair. She has served a four-year term as an administrative law judge for the Oklahoma Department of Labor and is former general counsel for the 野狼社区 Human Resources Society and the Oklahoma Human Resources State Council.
2000s
Justin Rosser (BME Vocal Education 鈥�01) director of choral activities for Broken Arrow Public Schools, was awarded the Exemplary Teacher Award at the Oklahoma Music Educators Association Winter Conference. He was selected as Broken Arrow鈥檚 Teacher of the Year in 2010 and has served as the fine arts department chair and the Oklahoma Music Educators Association Women鈥檚 All State chair.
Erin Adams (BPA Dance 鈥�01) was promoted to director of development and engagement for Southwestern Oklahoma State University鈥檚 Office of Institutional Advancement. She previously led the Clinton Public Schools Foundation and the Clinton Chamber of Commerce.
During OCU鈥檚 2024 Homecoming, David Crooch (BS Physical Education 鈥�01) served as this year鈥檚 Legacy Speaker. This annual event features a servant-leader and alum who exhibits outstanding leadership skills and often serves as a guide or facilitator to inspire others to give back in meaningful ways to OCU, our local community and beyond. Crooch offered remarks in conjunction with this year鈥檚 homecoming theme 鈥淎 Week Under the Stars.鈥�
As a proud OCU grad, Crooch鈥檚 entrepreneurial spirit and astute business skills have cemented him as a prominent figure within the beverage distribution industry. He now serves as vice president and general manager for the non-alcoholic sector of international beverage corporation, Diageo. As a husband and father of three, he also manages his family鈥檚 third generation farm in Oklahoma.
Ryan Jackson (JD 鈥�01), vice president of federal affairs for the American Chemistry Council, was selected as one of Washingtonian magazine鈥檚 鈥淲ashington, D.C.鈥檚 500 Most Influential People of 2024.鈥� He previously worked as the chief of staff for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the staff director for the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. He also led the government and political affairs shop of the National Mining Association.
Lakshmi Manchu Prasanna (BA Theatre 鈥�02) has a new series, 鈥淵akshini,鈥� that was released in June. She has appeared in films such as 鈥淕undello Godari鈥� and 鈥淒ead Air鈥� as well as having received two Filmfare Awards South.
Kyle Dillingham (BM Instrumental Performance 鈥�02) & Horseshoe Road, which includes OCU music professor Peter Markes (BME Instrumental Education 鈥�01), performed as part of the Chisholm Trail Arts Council Live! series in Duncan, Oklahoma. Dillingham and Horseshoe Road participated in the American Music Abroad tour in their 2018-2019 season. They represented the United States at the International Expo in China during their third Silk Road and the Fiddle Tour in 2019.
Louise Malcolm (BA Political Science 鈥�02) was named partner in the Miller Simons O鈥橲ullivan firm in Turks and Caicos. She serves as a member of the Turks and Caicos Islands Bar Association, the Intellectual Property Caribbean Association and the Law Society of England and Wales.
Ashley Murphy (BSB Finance 鈥�02, JD 鈥�05) and Kami Huddleston (BFA Graphic Design 鈥�03) recently expanded their company Wed Society, formerly Brides of Oklahoma. They help engaged couples simplify their wedding planning in Oklahoma, North Texas, Austin and Houston.
Alice Azumi Iddi-Gubbels鈥檚 (BA Prior Learning & University Studies 鈥�03, ME Early Childhood/Montessori 鈥�04) PAMBE Ghana store benefitting her school in Ghana opened Nov. 1 in 野狼社区.
Ben McBride (History/Political Science 鈥�03, JD 鈥�06) received the Ozarks Technical Community College鈥檚 2024 Distinguished Alumni award during its commencement ceremony. He is the executive director of nonprofit organization I Pour Life and a municipal judge for the city of Republic, Missouri. He previously owned and operated his own law firm, McBride Law.
Maya Raviv (BM Vocal Performance 鈥�03, MM Music Composition 鈥�07) is offering Psalms project meditation sessions for free for bereaved families, survivors and others impacted by recent wars at mayaraviv.com. She has released three albums of prayers: 鈥淭o The Eagle鈥� (2004), 鈥淓chad鈥� (2017) and 鈥淭filati鈥� (2019). Raviv also became the first woman to sing prayers at Israel鈥檚 National Memorial Day ceremony in the National Memorial Hall in Jerusalem in 2022.
Rick Rose (JD 鈥�03) was recently appointed as director of the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services. He previously served as the chief of staff and senior counsel for House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka.
Melissa Ford (BPA Dance 鈥�04) was appointed as the chief advancement officer at Park University in Missouri. She previously served as the director of philanthropic giving for the University of Missouri 鈥� Kansas City School of Science and Engineering.
Brandon Long (JD 鈥�04), employee benefits attorney and director at McAfee & Taft law firm, was inducted as a fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel at their 24th annual meeting and induction ceremony. He is one of only four Oklahomans to be inducted into the counsel. He has been recognized in the Chambers USA Guide to America鈥檚 Leading Lawyers for Business, Oklahoma Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America.
Lamont Nguyen (BSB International Business 鈥�04) has been appointed to California鈥檚 Emergency Medical Services Commission. He is a member of the California State Firefighters鈥� Association and the Long Beach Firefighters Local 0372 while serving as a Long Beach Fire Department firefighter and paramedic since 2018.
Beau Jennings & the Tigers will soon release their album 鈥淎merican Stories Major Chords,鈥� recorded, produced and mixed by Michael Trepagnier (BA Liberal Studies 鈥�04). He is the founder and chief executive officer of Cardinal Song Recording Studio. He previously served as an instructor for the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma and has worked with artists such as Coldplay, Counting Crows and more.
Kate Dodoo (JD 鈥�05) received the 2024 Leadership in Law Award presented by the Journal Record and the Oklahoma County Bar Association as well as being elected a shareholder of McAfee & Taft law firm. She has been named in The Best Lawyers in America in commercial litigation and as one of The National Black Lawyers Top 100 along with being recognized as an 鈥淥klahoma Shero鈥� by the State of Oklahoma. She leads the firm鈥檚 appellate group and immigration and compliance group and previously served as the assistant city attorney to the City of Enid and an assistant chief counsel in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Custom Enforcement鈥檚 Office of the Principal Legal Advisor.
Oklahoma State Senator Carri Hicks (BA Broadcasting/Political Science 鈥�05, MLA 鈥�09) was named a recipient of the National Foundation for Women Legislators鈥� Elected Women of Excellence Award. She has worked as an adjunct professor for OCU and was named a Gaylord-McCasland Education Fellow by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2019.
Schuyler Adkins (MM Music Theater 鈥�05) was named executive director of fine arts for Claremore Public Schools. Within the school district, he was previously principal of Westside Elementary and assistant principal of Claremont Elementary.
John Cunningham (JD 鈥�07) was appointed as a judge to the State Court of Coweta County in Georgia. He serves as a municipal court judge for the City of Franklin and as a partner for the Newnan firm of Thompson, Wallin & Cunningham. He serves on the board of Joseph Sams School.
Hollye Hunt (JD 鈥�07) was appointed as the University of Oklahoma鈥檚 new vice president of executive affairs and chief of staff. She previously worked as OU鈥檚 chief government affairs officer and the vice president of external affairs at OU Health
City of Yuma, Arizona. Deputy attorney Rodney Short (JD 鈥�07) was selected as a Flinn-Brown Fellow by the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership at the Flinn Foundation. He is a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, member of Caballeros de Yuma and serves on the board of directors for the Yuma Community Food Bank.
Briggitte Biffle (JD 鈥�09) was appointed chief public defender of Oklahoma County. She has worked at the Public Defender鈥檚 Office for more than 12 years and was named interim chief in January 2024.
Anthony Bullock (BFA Theatre Design and Production 鈥�09) was the production stage manager for the world premiere of 鈥淗ester Street鈥� at Theater J in Washington, D.C. He has worked as an actors equity association stage manager for more than a decade and the resident production stage manager for Theatre J for the last four seasons.
Naif Edrees (MS Accounting 鈥�09) was promoted to partner in the audit division for KPMG Saudi Arabia, a tax and audit advisory service. He has worked with KPMG for 15 years and is a TAQEEM-certified valuer.
Charlie Ludden (BSB Marketing 鈥�09) was named director of development for Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma. He previously worked as the development manager for 野狼社区 Ballet and development manager for Court Appointed Special Advocates of Oklahoma County.
Heath Satterfield (MBA 鈥�09) will be inducted into Oklahoma State University鈥檚 Management Science and Information Systems Cloud of Honor. He currently serves as the chief information officer at Devon Energy and is on the boards of Goodwill of Central Oklahoma and Special Care Inc.
Sean Spivey (JD 鈥�09) joined the Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP law firm as a partner for the Washington, D.C., office. He previously served as senior policy advisor in the Office of Spectrum Management at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. He also worked as chief of staff and senior counsel of the Federal Communications Commission broadband data task force.
2010s
Oklahoma Bar Association Executive Director Janet Johnson (JD 鈥�10) was honored with an Oklahoma Bar Association President鈥檚 Award. She previously served as the director of educational programs for the state bar association and as an attorney for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.
Brett Butner (JD 鈥�11) has been appointed by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt to be a district judge for the state鈥檚 22nd judicial district. Previously, he served as an associate attorney at Colclazier & Associates, specializing in civil litigation, criminal defense and family law. Additionally, since 2018, he was an associate judge in Seminole County.
Alix Orza (MBA 鈥�11) has been promoted at SeneGence, a manufacturer of beauty products, to senior vice president of human resources. She previously served in various HR positions at Heartland, Chesapeake Energy and Target.
Fareshteh Hamidi (BS Kinesiology & Exercise Studies 鈥�12) joined the business litigation practice group for Steptoe & Johnson PLLC鈥檚 野狼社区 office. She serves on the 野狼社区 Museum of Art鈥檚 moderns board and the Oklahoma Bar Association鈥檚 diversity committee. She is a member of the Robert J. Turner American Inn of Court.
Adam Rainbolt (MBA 鈥�12), senior vice president for BancFirst Insurance, was ranked third in OKC Friday鈥檚 Most Powerful Young Professionals poll. Clay Taylor (JD 鈥�14), principal lobbyist for the Taylor Group, is tied for fourth. Rainbolt previously served as a legislative correspondent for Senator James Inhofe and as a community relations representative at SandRidge Energy. Taylor is a member of Rotary Club No. 29 and serves on the boards of Infant Crisis Services and the Men鈥檚 Dinner Club.
Elhrick Cerdan (JD 鈥�13) takes on a new role as assistant special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations. At HSI, he previously served as resident agent in charge and national program manager.
Daniel Gerber (JD 鈥�13) joined the Champion law firm鈥檚 corporate transactions group in Dallas. He is a member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals and the Society of Human Resources Management. Gerber previously served as associate general counsel of Ventra Health.
Joshua Hughes (BME Vocal Education 鈥�13) recently performed in the Opera Southwest production of 鈥淢atilde鈥� in Albuquerque. He previously played Masetto and the Commendatore in 鈥淒on Giovanni鈥� for West Bay Opera in California.
Elizabeth Isaac (JD 鈥�13) joined the Spencer Fane LLP firm as counsel attorney in the intellectual property practice group. She is the president of Oklahoma Bar Association intellectual property law section. She previously served on the board of directors for the Oklahoma County Bar Association young lawyers division.
Lindsey Miles (MS Energy Management 鈥�13), vice president of land and regulatory at Devon Energy, was appointed to the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board. She is the second vice president and chairman of the Landman Scholarship Trust for the American Association of Professional Landmen and the AAPL director of the 野狼社区 Association of Professional Landmen.
Livia Rusli (BA Liberal Studies 鈥�13) is part of a duo launching Counsely, an online platform intended to help freelancers find work in Indonesia. She previously served as director of operations at Seaweed Sukses Sejahtera and the marketing development lead at GoWork.
Mark Auten (JD 鈥�14) joined the Clark Hill law firm鈥檚 tax and estate planning team in Frisco, Texas. He was named a Super Lawyer Rising Star in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and is on the leadership board for the nonprofit organization Altruistic.
OCU English professor James Cooper (MFA Creative Writing 鈥�15) recently released his debut historical fiction novel 鈥淢oonlit Massacre鈥� and was named 鈥淩ebel鈥� grand marshal for the 2024 PrideFest. OCU trustee Lance McDaniel (MLA 鈥�07) was named 鈥淟egend鈥� grand marshal. Cooper is an 野狼社区 councilman and a trustee on the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority Board of Trustees. McDaniel is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker and the chief executive officer of McDaniel Entertainment.
Isaiah Bailey (BM Vocal Performance 鈥�14) and Eryn LeCroy (BM Vocal Performance 鈥�14) were guest performers in the St. Luke鈥檚 on Broadway production of 鈥淭he Prince of Egypt鈥� in August. Bailey has performed in the first national tour of 鈥淏eautiful: The Carole King Musical,鈥� the Off-Broadway production of 鈥淩evelation: The Musical鈥� and the national tour of 鈥淭he Lion King.鈥� LeCroy has performed as Martha Jefferson in 鈥�1776鈥� at American Airlines Theatre, Christine Daae in 鈥淭he Phantom of the Opera鈥� at Majestic Theatre and Johanna in 鈥淪weeney Todd鈥� at Barrow Street Theatre.
Patrick McGough (DNP Nursing 鈥�15), chief executive officer and chief health officer of the 野狼社区-County Health Department, has been elected as the vice president of the National Association of County and City Health Officials board of directors for the 2024-25 term. He has worked with the 野狼社区-County Health Department since 2008 and became CEO in 2020. In 2017, McGough was named an Emerging Leader in Public Health by the Kresge Foundation.
Nate Graham (MS Energy Management 鈥�16) was appointed chief technology officer of Leeward Renewable Energy. He previously served as vice president of information technology and chief information officer at EnLink Mainstream. Graham also worked as chief information security officer at Enable Midstream Partners.
Jordan Jacobs (BFA Acting 鈥�17), Ryan Lambert (BM Music Theater 鈥�17) and Meghan Rooney (BM Music Theater 鈥�21) performed in 鈥淕otta Sing with Kenneth Gartman鈥� in June at the Green Room 42 in New York City. Recently, Jacobs held the role of Charlie in 鈥淜inky Boots鈥� at Lyric Theatre. Lambert performed in the first national tour of 鈥淔unny Girl鈥� and in multiple shows at 鈥淭he Muny.鈥� Rooney has been in regional productions of 鈥淪weeney Todd,鈥� 鈥淭he Hunchback of Notre Dame鈥� and 鈥淐ourtship.鈥�
Country artist Emily Myers (BM Music Business 鈥�17) recently released her latest single, 鈥淥lives,鈥� following her debut EP in March 2023. She has released three other singles, 鈥淲allflower,鈥� 鈥淪kyline鈥� and 鈥淏are Feet.鈥�
Solveig Neseth (BM Vocal Performance 鈥�17, MM Opera Performance 鈥�19) played the title role in Painted Sky Opera鈥檚 production and in London鈥檚 Brent Opera West Hampstead鈥檚 production of 鈥淟ucia di Lammermoor.鈥� Additionally, she recently performed as the lead role in the world premiere of 鈥淭he Vaudevillian鈥� by Thomas Pasitieri.
Zack Travers (BBA Business Administration 鈥�17) joined the Hudson Ferris fundraising firm in New York as associate director of account services. He serves as the board chair of the New York City chapter of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network and is an active member of the OCU Alumni Advisory Board.
Ali Funkhouser (BM Music Theater 鈥�18) is starring in the Green Room 42 production of 鈥淜nock 鈥楨m Dead!鈥� in New York City. She has performed in regional productions of 鈥淟egally Blonde,鈥� 鈥淣ewsies,鈥� 鈥淪omething Rotten!鈥� and more. She has directed 鈥淭he Wolves鈥� and 鈥淭arzan鈥� at the Franklin Performing Arts Company and 鈥淛ames Rose: Men I鈥檝e Had鈥� at 54 Below.
Jackson Paul Walker (BM Music Theater 鈥�18) is directing Kev Berry鈥檚 鈥淲e Had Not Ceased Desiring鈥� at the Tank in New York City. He has previously directed 鈥淧lume,鈥� 鈥淐onstellations鈥� and 鈥淭he Baseball Play.鈥� He is the associate producer of the Lyrics and Lyrists series at the 92NY.
Jordan Kilgore (BFA Acting 鈥�19) is starring as Prospero in the Fultontown Theatre Company production of 鈥淭he Tempest鈥� in Maryland. He also has performed as Cliff Bradshaw in 鈥淐abaret,鈥� Justin in 鈥淗eroes of the Fourth Turning,鈥� and more.
Tessa McQueen (BM Vocal Performance 鈥�19) was a 2024 national finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition and one of 14 vocalists from around the world selected for the Metropolitan Opera鈥檚 Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. She made her Met debut this season as Countess Ceprano in 鈥淩igoletto,鈥� Sing the Priestess in 鈥淎ida鈥� and Cover Chloe in 鈥淭he Queen of Spades.鈥�
2020s
Kaitlin Allen (JD 鈥�20) joined the Lai & Turner law firm as director of the criminal defense division. She has also served as an assistant public defender at the Oklahoma County Public Defender鈥檚 Office.
Debra Chandler (MFA Creative Writing 鈥�20) was appointed as executive director of the Creek County Literacy Program in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. She has published four books: 鈥淏one Sliver,鈥� 鈥淣ova Wake,鈥� 鈥淪acrifice鈥� and 鈥淲eathered.鈥� She is the owner of Twisted Candle Media LLC.
The Tank NYC premiered a comedy 鈥淧lume鈥� in April, which was written by Adam LaPorte (BM Composition/Music Theater 鈥�20), directed by Jackson Paul Walker (BM Music Theater 鈥�18) and produced by Haley Fortune (BFA Acting 鈥�17).
Kelly Vincent (MFA Creative Writing 鈥�20) released the book 鈥淯gliest鈥� in August. They are the author of award-winning young adult novels and have released six books in total, including the trilogy of 鈥淯gly,鈥� 鈥淯glier鈥� and 鈥淯gliest.鈥�
Scott Campbell (MBA 鈥�21) was named a principal management consultant at M2 Strategy, a project management firm based in Virginia. He previously worked as a senior program manager for the State of Oklahoma.
Emory Osborn (JD 鈥�21) joined the Balekian Hayes law firm in Dallas. She has previously worked as a full-time attorney at the Devadoss law firm and division hub as a licensed attorney in both Texas and Oklahoma.
Christian Rinehart (JD 鈥�21) has been named deputy general counsel and Megan Buchanan (JD 鈥�23) as associate general counsel for the Oklahoma Municipal League.
Joey Derby (BFA Acting 鈥�22) performed in 鈥淐hristmas in Space! A Holiday Cirque Spectacular鈥� in December in Ontario, Canada. He previously performed as Billy Nolan in 鈥淐arrie: The Musical鈥� and Roswell in 鈥淪cream鈥檇: An Unauthorized Musical Parody.鈥�
Paige Kemper (JD 鈥�22) joined the Rose Law Group, Arizona鈥檚 largest woman-founded law firm, as an associate attorney in its litigation and equine practices. She received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Contract Law and Criminal Procedure. Additionally, Kemper has competed with the American Paint Horse Association and the Oklahoma State University Equestrian Team.
Allie McMurray (BA Philosophy/Youth Ministry/Religious Education 鈥�22, MA Religion 鈥�22) was recently announced as the next director of children鈥檚 ministry at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church in Tulsa. She previously worked as the children鈥檚 ministry assistant director for First United Methodist Church.
Erin Smith (JD 鈥�22) joined the First Liberty Institute鈥檚 legal team as associate counsel. She has worked for the Oklahoma Department of Education and the Oklahoma Attorney General鈥檚 Office previously.
Jonna Vanderslice (JD 鈥�22) has joined the McAfee & Taft law firm as a corporate attorney for the energy and natural resources group. She was named in The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch and serves on the Oklahoma Hall of Fame鈥檚 second century board and the YMCA of Greater 野狼社区鈥檚 downtown district advisory council.
Katherine Witzig (BA Spanish 鈥�22) was selected as co-chair of the Program for Cooperative Cataloging鈥檚 task group for metadata related to Indigenous peoples of the Americas. They currently serve as the Oklahoma Library Association鈥檚 chair for the committee of tribal libraries, archives and museums.
Jess Eddy (JD 鈥�23) was appointed to the Metro Tech Board of Education. He is the co-founder and director of operations of the non-profit organization LiveFree 野狼社区.
Nicholas Muery (PT 鈥�23) has been accepted into Oklahoma鈥檚 first onsite orthopedic physical therapy residency program at the 野狼社区 Veteran Affairs Medical Center.
Cody Walls (MA Nonprofit Leadership Arts Administration 鈥�23) was appointed as artistic director for the Great Plains Theatre in Kansas. He previously served as the director of theater for the Community School of the Arts in Arkansas and has received the Gail Burns Theater Educator of the Year Award.
