Policy institute names new board members

Oklahoma Policy Institute announced Tuesday the appointment of three new members to its board of directors — Kara Berst, of Ada; Jason Kirksey, of Stillwater; and Erika Lucas, of Oklahoma City.

Berst is executive officer of business sustainability and auxiliary services for the Chickasaw Nation and is part of the Chickasaw Nation’s leadership team on water planning efforts. She received her bachelor’s degree in biology from East Central University and master’s degree in business administration from Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

Kirksey is vice president for institutional diversity and the chief diversity officer at Oklahoma State University, where he is also an associate professor of political science. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from OSU and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of New Orleans.

Lucas is the founder and CEO of StitchCrew, a consultancy and project management firm supporting technology startups in

the Midwest and venture capital firms looking to invest outside traditional tech hubs. Before launching StitchCrew, she led the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Trade for the state Commerce Department.

OK Policy is an independent, nonpartisan based think tank that promotes adequate, fair, and fiscally responsible funding of public services and expanded opportunity for all Oklahomans.