On July 1, 2001, Tom J. McDaniel became the sixteenth president of Oklahoma City University. McDaniel came to OCU from a position as president of Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, OK. He had previously retired from a successful career as an attorney in private practice and as an executive with Kerr-McGee Corporation.

McDaniel holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Northwestern Oklahoma State University (1960) and a Juris Doctor from the University of Oklahoma Law School (1963).

McDaniel, a lifelong United Methodist, has taught Sunday School at Nichols Hills United Methodist Church, where he and his wife, Brenda, attended. The McDaniels have three grown sons, Randy, Lance, and Mark (who, with his wife, Stacy, has three children, Cole, Joshua and Meghan).

"Tom is a proven manager, who has worked for a company with international stature. He has an exemplary record of community involvement and service, and he has strong business and social connections. Any of these attributes would be a valuable asset for OCU."

-- Bill Shdeed, chairman, OCU Board of Trustees

"I want Oklahoma City University to set the standard by which private, church-related universities are measured. We will do this by focusing on student success and welfare, quality education that encourages spiritual nurturing and service, involving the University in the economic development and health of our neighborhood and community in a global context, and providing a cultural center for the community and state."

-- Tom J. McDaniel