Oklahoma City University named three finalists today in its presidential search. The university’s search committee, led by Board Chair Ronald Norick, is recommending the finalists 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 she served as senior vice president of human and corporate resources at Chesapeake Energy Corporation. She is very active in civic and professional organizations as well as statewide initiatives. She has a long history with Oklahoma City University, receiving her MBA from OCU in 1992 and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the university in 2012. She currently serves as a trustee and chair of the audit and finance committee. Burger is co-founder of Amethyst Investments LLC and a member of the board of directors of Tapstone Energy.
Pope has spent more than 25 years working as a higher education administrator, supervisor and educator. He has served as vice president for student affairs at the
University of Central Oklahoma for the past five years. He is a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma and Salt and Light Leadership Training Inc. He serves on the boards of the Urban League, the Edmond YMCA, the Oklahoma Blood Institute, the Institute for Evidence Based Change, It’s My Community Inc. and the advisory board for the Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools.
He holds a B.A. in history, an M.A. in higher education administration and an Ed.D. in higher education administration, all from the University of Alabama.
Chesney has led Brookhaven College in Farmers Branch, Texas, since 2011. His experience in leadership at higher education institutions includes positions as associate provost for student success and assessment for the University of Texas at Dallas, vice president of academic affairs and provost of Collin College and additional administrative and faculty roles at the University of Texas at Dallas, Pennsylvania College of Technology, Texas Wesleyan University and Whitman College. 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 B.A. in Spanish from Washington University, an M.A. in creative writing from Minnesota State University and 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,” Norick said. “I am proud of the work of the President Search Committee and the process we have followed.”
Oklahoma City University’s Board of Trustees Executive Committee plans to recommend a finalist candidate for confirmation by the board at its next meeting, scheduled for April 25.
