The Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges (OACC) has named Northern Oklahoma College President Emeritus Dr. Cheryl Evans as interim executive director.
The OACC is an organization committed to supporting Oklahoma’s twelve two-year colleges. The nonprofit’s mission is to advocate for the enhanced quality, accessibility, and affordability of educational opportunities provided by these institutions.
Dr. Evans brings decades of experience working in Oklahoma public higher education. She started at Northwestern Oklahoma State University as a faculty member and concluded her career as President of Northern Oklahoma College after ten years of service.
She is excited to join the OACC and work on behalf of the colleges. She believes in the mission of the group’s member institutions and values the work of the Council of Two-Year College Presidents. She wants to help increase awareness of the vital role that the state’s community colleges play in developing a strong prepared workforce in Oklahoma.
“I’m happy to reconnect with an important organization that not only advocates for the two-year schools, but also provides professional development opportunities to all of the member’s employees and fosters valuable partnerships throughout Oklahoma,” Evans said. “The first order of business is to work with our team to host an outstanding learning and networking event for the faculty and staff of our colleges on Oct. 3 on the campus of Oklahoma City Community College. The OACC annual conference not only provides excellent sessions for employees, but also honors those who have excelled at serving students and their schools at the luncheon.”
OACC Council of Presidents Chair and NEO President Dr. Kyle Stafford stated, “I am very pleased to welcome Dr. Evans into this interim leadership role. Her experience as a college president, her long-standing commitment to higher education in Oklahoma, and her proven ability to build relationships will provide steady guidance for our association during this transition. The board is confident that she will help us continue advancing the mission of community colleges and strengthening our voice at the state level.”
Evans is President Emeritus of Northern Oklahoma College located in Tonkawa, Enid, and Stillwater having served from 2011-2021 as the institution’s first female President. Prior to her position at NOC, Evans served 17 years at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva and as leader of the University’s Enid Campus.
She was raised in Cherokee, OK, and completed her B.A. in Mass Communications at NWOSU. She finished her M.A. in Communication at WSU, and her doctorate at Oklahoma State University. She completed Harvard University’s Middle Management Program and Oklahoma’s Educators’ Leadership Academy.
Evans is currently a member of the Leadership Oklahoma Executive Committee, the Oklahoma Historical Society board, NOC Foundation, the Standing Bear Museum board, and Autry LeadHERS Network. She has previously served as chair of the OSRHE Council of Presidents and the chair of the Oklahoma Association of Community College Presidents.
Her honors include graduating from Leadership Oklahoma Class XXI, Leadership Enid, Leadership Ponca City, Leadership Tonkawa, and being named a Journal Record’s Woman of the Year “50 Making a Difference” honorees and was inducted into the 2014 “Circle of Excellence.” She was named the 2015 Enid Pillar of the Plains, 2021 Enid YWCA Woman of the Year, and 2023 Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame Inductee and 2024 Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges Hall of Fame inductee. While in the college classroom, she was awarded the NWOSU John Sheffield Teacher of the Year in 2000 and the NWOSU John Barton Distinguished Teaching and Service Award 2004.
She is currently a Magellan Executive Partners Coach and Consultant, an advisor to Encompass Financial Services Inc. and a board member of Security National Bank in Enid.
