OCU cuts presidential search to 3
Oklahoma City University’s presidential search committee named three finalists Tuesday for consideration by the executive committee of the OCU Board of Trustees.
The candidates are Martha Burger, Myron Pope and Thom Chesney.
Burger is a former executive in the energy industry, most recently serving as senior vice president of human and corporate resources at Chesapeake Energy Corp. She is active in civic and professional organizations as well as statewide initiatives. She received her MBA from OCU in 1992 and an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2012. Burger is co-founder of Amethyst Investments LLC and a member of the board of directors of Tapstone Energy.
Pope, vice president for student affairs at the University of Central Oklahoma, has 25 years of experience in higher education as an administrator, supervisor and educator. He serves on the advisory board for the Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools and on the boards of the Urban League, Edmond YMCA, Oklahoma Blood Institute, Institute for Evidence Based Change and It’s My Community Inc. He holds master’s and doctoral degrees in higher education administration from the University of Alabama.
Chesney has led Brookhaven College in Farmers Branch, Texas, since 2011. His experience includes leadership roles at higher education institutions in Texas, Pennsylvania and Washington. He serves on the board of the Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce and Metrocrest Services advisory committee, on the American Council on Education Spectrum Aspiring Leaders Program and on the American Association of Community College’s Commission on Economic and Workforce Development. He holds a Ph.D. in English Literature from Florida State University.
“Each of these candidates has demonstrated exceptional leadership and experience that would serve Oklahoma City University well,” board Chairman Norick said in the announcement.
The Board of Trustees executive committee plans to recommend a finalist for confirmation by the board at its next meeting, scheduled April 25.