EQUAL - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Coordinator of Orange Strides

Job Titles:

• Scholarship Chair

Job Titles:

• Coordinator for the OSU Student Support Services TRIO
• Student Support Services Coordinator
• Student Support Services Coordinator / Department of TRIO and Sponsored Research / Division of Institutional Diversity

Ashley Steiner is a Coordinator for the OSU Student Support Services TRIO program. Ashley was born and raised in Southern California before earning her Bachelor's degree in child and adolescent development from San Francisco State University. After completing her Bachelor's degree, Ashley completed her Master's in primary and secondary teaching at the University of California, Irvine. Before holding her current position, Ashley worked as an English teacher for six years in California and Texas. Ashley enjoys spending time with her family, fishing, and traveling outside of work.

Job Titles:

• Coordinator of Orange Strides
• Orange Strides Coordinator

is a recent graduate of Oklahoma State University. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Sociology with an emphasis on Crime, Law and Social Justice. In her free time, Beverly enjoys spending time with her friends, playing board and video games, and watching crime dramas with her dog. Beverly worked with Upward Bound throughout her undergraduate career which sparked a love for working with TRIO Programs and their students. Beverly loves working with students to find ways in which they can achieve a college degree and is excited to start her career with Orange Strides.

Job Titles:

• Secretary
• Global Programs Coordinator, Center for Global Learning / Treasurer Jeff Simpson

Job Titles:

• Associate Vice President
• Associate Vice President for Institutional Diversity and Director of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program at Oklahoma State University

Dr. Clyde C. Wilson Jr. is the Associate Vice President for Institutional Diversity and Director of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program at Oklahoma State University. Wilson obtained his Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Higher Education Administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He also holds a Master of Arts in International Studies, a Masters in Business Administration, and a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Administration. Wilson has held administrative positions at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, North Carolina State University and Bethune Cookman University. He has served on multiple committees and has received numerous awards and recognition for his contributions to those institutions. Within the McNair Community, he served on the Organizational Committee, which created the McNair Association of Professionals (MAP) organization and currently chairs the Governance Committee. In the greater TRIO Community, Wilson currently serves as the Past-President of the Oklahoma Division of Student Assistance (ODSA) and sits on the Southwest Association of Student Assistance Programs Board. Wilson is passionate about increasing opportunities for underrepresented, underserved and marginalized students to engage in undergraduate research actively. He prides himself on his ability to inspire students to accomplish the unthinkable in their pursuits of life. As Maya Angelou once said, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." In his free time, Wilson can be found hanging out with his family, picking up new hobbies, and sitting back taking in life as it may come.

Job Titles:

• Consultant
• Vice President
• OK - LSAMP - Principal Investigator
• Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer
• Vice President, Institutional Diversity

Dr. Jason F. Kirksey is the Vice President for Institutional Diversity and the Chief Diversity Officer at Oklahoma State University (OSU). He also holds the rank of Associate Professor in the OSU Department of Political Science. Dr. Kirksey serves as the principal investigator (PI) for the Oklahoma Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (OK-LSAMP) Program, which is a $3.9M, five-year National Science Foundation (NSF) grant designed to increase underrepresented minority science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) graduates at twelve higher educational institutions across Oklahoma. He also served as the PI for the previous five-year phase of this program, which was a $3.4M sponsored grant from NSF. Dr. Kirksey also serves as the PI for the OK-LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate Program at OSU, a $1.1M two-year NSF grant that provides graduate school funding for twelve LSAMP Scholars. Over the past decade, Dr. Kirksey served as PI for approximately $10M in total NSF funding at OSU. During his tenure as Vice President, Dr. Kirksey also had administrative oversight of an additional $10M in NSF and U.S. Department of Education funding. Since January 2014, he has also served as an appointed member by the chairman of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to the statewide Oklahoma NSF Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Committee. Dr. Kirksey brings over 25 years of experience teaching, researching, and active engagement with diversity, equity, and inclusion issues. His expertise includes minority politics; race, politics, and sports; and public policy, emphasizing African Americans, Native Americans, and women in the American political system. Dr. Kirksey's published research has appeared in the National Political Science Review, Women and Politics, the Voting Rights Review, Focus on Law Review, and Oklahoma Politics. In addition to his published articles, Dr. Kirksey has written several book chapters focused primarily on the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Additionally, he has served as a federal court-certified expert witness in voting rights cases in Alabama, Arkansas, and New Mexico. Under the past 14 years of Dr. Kirksey's leadership, OSU has emerged as one of the nation's leaders in diversity and inclusion. Since 2009, OSU has experienced a 111% increase in the enrollment of students of color (African American, Latino, Native American, Asian American, and Biracial/Multiracial students) and a 222% increase in first-generation students of color. Most importantly, since May 2010, OSU has had a 106% increase in students of color earning a bachelor's degree. Also, over the past decade, more Native Americans have earned a college degree from OSU than any other institution in the nation. OSU has also experienced over a 90% increase in African American, Latino, Native American, and biracial/multiracial faculty in classrooms across the institution since 2010. Throughout Dr. Kirksey's tenure, the number of U.S. Department of Education TRIO programs housed within the Division has increased to four. In addition to the Student Support Services Program directly serving OSU students for the past eight years, in August 2017, the Ronald McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program also referred to as the McNair Scholars Program, was awarded to the Division. Additionally, two pre-college TRIO programs, Upward Bound and Talent Search, are also housed within this executive-level unit. Dr. Kirksey is a highly sought consultant and speaker and serves on several diversity-related boards and councils, including the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice (OCCJ), the KIPP Tulsa Board of Directors (elected Vice Chair 2020-2021 and elected Board Chair beginning July 2021and Governance Committee Chair 2020-2021), and the KIPP Oklahoma Board of Directors since 2021. Most recently, Dr. Kirksey was selected to serve a three-year term on the Board of Trustees of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of USA Taekwondo from 2018-2022, the Oklahoma Policy Institute Board of Directors from 2017-2019, the Stillwater Public Schools Long Range Facility Planning Committee from 2014-2016, and coached youth basketball, softball, and baseball in Stillwater for over ten years. Dr. Kirksey is also a past President of the Stillwater Big Brothers/Big Sisters Board of Directors (1999-2001) and a former Executive Committee member of the Board of Directors for the Stillwater Family YMCA (2006-2014). He has given countless diversity and inclusion presentations and workshops across the state and nation. Previously, Dr. Kirksey served as the Director of the OSU Center for Africana Studies (2007-2011), President of the Oklahoma Political Science Association (2002), and he held the Hannah D. Atkins Endowed Chair for Political Science and Government Information in the OSU Department of Political Science (1995-2010). Dr. Kirksey is also president of JFK Consulting, LLC. Dr. Kirksey is a native of Denver, Colorado. He and his wife Kim, also an OSU alum, have two children, Kaitlyn, a 2020 OSU graduate and Garrett, a 2023 OSU graduate. Dr. Jason F. Kirksey Vice President Institutional Diversity 408 Whitehurst 405-744-9154 diversity@okstate.edu The Division of Institutional Diversity is committed to providing results-oriented, engaging, invigorating, and inspiring opportunities for all students, faculty, staff, and administrators to create a better and brighter future at OSU.

Job Titles:

• Program Director
• Director of the Oklahoma Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation
• OK - LSAMP Program Director

Gina Miller is Director of the Oklahoma Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation program (OK-LSAMP). In her role, she supports a consortium of twelve Oklahoma colleges and universities working to increase the number of underrepresented students graduating with STEM degrees. Gina uses her education and communications background to advocate for underrepresented, underserved, and marginalized students (UUMs) on Oklahoma's higher education campuses. She attended OSU as a first-generation, non-traditional student and received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with a Public Relations emphasis. Since graduating in 2005, she has dedicated herself to improving educational experiences for students. In 2009, she began her service at OSU as the Outreach Coordinator for a National Science Foundation-funded grant award, where she worked until joining the Division of Institutional Diversity team in 2023. Gina's viewpoint is well-expressed by author Mike Jung, who states, "What diversity advocates are working for is an industry that honestly, accurately and equitably represents the world we live in," in his book, "Unidentified Suburban Object." Gina firmly believes UUMs deserve equal representation in the country's burgeoning STEM fields and is working toward that goal with her colleagues at OK-LSAMP and the Division of Institutional Diversity.

Job Titles:

• Director of the Upward Bound
• Director of Upward Bound
• Upward Bound Director

Hieu Lê is the Director of the Upward Bound program. Hieu began his academic and professional career at the University of Irvine, California. He later obtained his master's degree in Social and Cultural Analysis at the California State University of Long Beach. Hieu is a first-generation, low-income college graduate who grew up in a family of five, where he is the oldest son. His family immigrated to the United States when he was ten years old. Aside from his regular full-time job, Hieu is in the process of creating a nonprofit to support the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) in the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The nonprofit's mission is to provide critical tools to the APIDA community to combat institutional and systematic oppression. Therefore, he's made it his priority to continue to advocate and create policies that can further provide equitable support to not only the APIDA community but also to all communities of color. Hieu enjoys working out, meditating, and taking long walks in his free time.

Job Titles:

• Executive Administrative Assistant

Job Titles:

• Secretary
• Global Programs Coordinator, Center for Global Learning / Treasurer Jeff Simpson

Job Titles:

• Director of Student Support Services
• Director of Student Support Services / Department of TRIO and Sponsored Research Programs / Division of Institutional Diversity
• Director of TRIO Student Support Services

Jennifer Privett is the Director of TRIO Student Support Services. Jennifer was born and raised in Norman. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies with an emphasis on Human Sexuality and a minor in Religious Studies from California State University, Northridge. Before deciding to pursue a Master's degree, she worked at a group home in Orange County, CA providing educational opportunities for young people whose families could not do so. Jennifer has earned two Master's degrees - a Master's in Social Work from New York University and a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma. Jennifer has worked with diverse first-generation students across the country. She began her TRIO journey at OCCC in 2018 as the Upward Bound Advisor before moving to Student Support Services. Jennifer enjoys supporting women's athletics, spending time with her family, and listening to audiobooks.

Job Titles:

• Vice Chair

Job Titles:

• Coordinator
• Coordinator for Asian American Affairs

Job Titles:

• Events Chair

Job Titles:

• Coordinator for Women 's Affairs at Oklahoma State University

Kaylie Brown is the Coordinator for Women's Affairs at Oklahoma State University. Kaylie received her Baccalaureate degree in Psychology and a Master of Science in Counseling from Oklahoma State University. During her time as a student on campus, you could find Kaylie working in ResLife, participating in Student Government, as well as the Multicultural Greek Council. Prior to her current role, Kaylie served students at Northeastern State University as a Career Counselor and at Tulsa Community College as an Academic Counselor for TRIO Student Support Services. Additionally, Kaylie has led numerous professional development training on topics that include Financial Literacy and Financial Aid, Career Success, Marketing and Communication in the Digital Age, and Imposter Syndrome. Kaylie believes that education is one of the most critical opportunities that all people should have access to so we, as a global community, can thrive and make the world a better place. Furthermore, Kaylie is passionate about helping students explore their potential through academic success, leadership, and career development. As a First-Generation student, Kaylie knows first-hand how overwhelming it can be to navigate going to college/university for the first time and hopes to be a place of support and guidance to all students. When she's not working, Kaylie spends time with her friends and family, listens to music, watches OSU and Denver Broncos football, and spoils her cat, Bubbles.

Job Titles:

• Director of Orange Strides: a TRIO Talent Search Project
• Director of the TRIO Orange Strides
• Orange Stride "Talent Search" Director

Kaylie Keckler is the Director of the TRIO Orange Strides: Talent Search program and has held this position since December 2022. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at the University of Central Missouri. Kaylie then received her Master of Science degree in Experimental Psychology from Oklahoma State University. Kaylie is a proud alumnus of OSU and the TRIO Ronald McNair Scholars program. She understands the unique challenges and circumstances that low-income first-generation students face, as she was the first in her family to graduate college and/or receive an advanced degree. She derives a deep sense of purpose in providing resources and knowledge to a population who may not otherwise gain access to the information that will set them up for success. Although no one else in her immediate family has a college degree, they always emphasized the importance of getting a college degree as a means to a better life. Kaylie aims to provide that foundation of encouragement and empowerment for every student participating in our program. In her free time, Kaylie enjoys spending time with her family, friends, dog, and her tortoise. She particularly enjoys music, coffee, outdoor activities (when it's not 100+ degrees), and seeking out novel experiences.

Job Titles:

• Chairman

Job Titles:

• Senior Administrative Support Specialist
• Senior Administrative Support Specialist / Department of TRIO and Sponsored Research Programs

Job Titles:

• Student Support Services Coordinator
• Student Support Services Coordinator / Department of TRIO and Sponsored Research / Division of Institutional Diversity

Madalyn Hess is and Academic Coordinator for TRIO Student Support Services. She was raised in Garvin, OK. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in entrepreneurship from East Central University in May 2023, and she plans to pursue a Master's Degree in Business Administration and Information Technology at Oklahoma State University. Previously, Madalyn was an administrative assistant at East Central, and looks forward to a career helping students succeed at OSU. She enjoys reading, art, and spending time with her husband and cat.

Job Titles:

• Assistant Director for Inclusive Excellence Support and Engagement

Maura Loyola is the daughter of Mexican immigrants and has been with the Division since 2019. She was a RISE Scholar during her freshman year at OSU and credits the program and her coordinator for where she is today. She is a first-generation graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from OSU and a Master of Social Work from the University of Oklahoma. Out of the office, she enjoys baking, spending time with friends and family, and listening to true crime podcasts.

Job Titles:

• Assistant Vice President
• Assistant Vice President for Institutional Diversity / Division of Institutional Diversity
• Assistant Vice President for Institutional Diversity at Oklahoma State University
• Assistant Vice President of Institutional Diversity

Nate C. Todd is the Assistant Vice President for Institutional Diversity at Oklahoma State University. Todd oversees the Inclusive Excellence, Support and Engagement unit within the division, which includes the Retention Initiative for Student Excellence Program (RISE), the Inclusion Leadership Program (ILP), and the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA). Todd has served as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion administrator and practitioner at three higher education institutions across the state of Oklahoma. He has successfully developed and sustained best practices and policies that foster an environment where students, faculty, and staff can all thrive. Todd has developed recruitment strategies, retention resources, and alumni engagement efforts that have contributed to robust academic programming and stimulated research. In collaboration with community stakeholders, he has secured endowed scholarships and sustainable career pathways for underrepresented, underserved, and marginalized students. Additionally, Todd has experience establishing and implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, including Safe Zone Initiatives for our LGBTQA+ community and allies. He has worked with external and internal industry partners in developing training and benchmarks to facilitate inclusive cultures to assist companies in increasing employee retention and sustainable recruitment pathways. Todd previously served as Dean of Student Success and Equity, responsible for implementing student services across multiple departments. Todd has also served as ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Compliance Coordinator and a Designated School Official (DSO), which handles the F-1 visa category for international students to enter the United States. One of the many highlights of his tenure at TCC is establishing a strong "deaf culture" for the domestic and international student community. This meaningful culture shift was fostered to celebrate, welcome, and support our deaf and hard-of-hearing student community by developing relevant resources. Todd firmly believes in community and interdepartmental collaboration to cultivate supporting environments for students. Todd has worked with many businesses on talent recruitment and retention of diverse employees, including launching a multi-state recruitment and sponsorship initiative, where students received an education sponsored by the company. As a community member, Todd understands that student success does not stop at the college door but extends into the community. He has served as a board member for the City of Okmulgee Chamber of Commerce and Tulsa Reading Partners. Nate Todd holds a BA in Political Science from Cameron University and an MS in College Student Personnel Services from Arkansas State University. Currently, he is a Doctoral Candidate at Oral Roberts University in High Education Administration. Nate is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and a Fellow of the African American Leader Academy Tulsa. He is married to Marcia, an OSU alumnus. They have three brilliant children--Luke, Emilia, and Paul.

Job Titles:

• Coordinator of Orange Strides
• Orange Strides Coordinator

Nick Mizell graduated in December of 2021 from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. Nick's first experience with TRIO was while he worked as an instructor for Upward Bound's summer program, and now he enjoys helping students find their path as a coordinator for Talent Search. For hobbies, Nick enjoys fitness and exercise, science fiction movies, and outdoor activities.

Job Titles:

• Administrative Assistant

Nico Carey recently graduated from Oklahoma State University and earned a B.A. degree in History with an emphasis in Politics and two minors. As an OSU alum, they work to maintain an inclusive and inviting atmosphere for OSU's students and visitors. Nico endeavors to help give students the resources they need to succeed in their college careers while letting them feel heard and represented. Nico plays tabletop role-playing games with friends in their free time and is a comic and illustration artist.

Job Titles:

• Assistant Director of McNair Scholars Program
• Assistant Director of McNair Scholars Program / Department of TRIO and Sponsored Program / Division of Institutional Diversity
• Assistant Director of the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Scholars Program at Oklahoma State University

Nicole Stevenson is the Assistant Director of the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Scholars Program at Oklahoma State University. Nicole has a Master's in Human Development and Family Science from Oklahoma State University and a Bachelor's in Kinesiological Sciences from the University of Maryland at College Park. Nicole has experience providing both community and educational resources to diverse populations. As a McNair alum, Nicole is passionate about helping students reach their full potential by pursuing higher education. The McNair Scholars Program has open numerous doors for students over the years, and it is exciting to witness current students access similar opportunities. One of Nicole's favorite quotes is, "You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take."--Wayne Gretzky. Nicole enjoys painting on canvas, art, spending time with family/friends, and watching action movies.

Job Titles:

• Communications Chair

Job Titles:

• Administrative Assistant

Job Titles:

• Coordinator for LGBTQ Affairs at Oklahoma State University

Tyler J. Price serves as the Coordinator for LGBTQ+ Affairs at Oklahoma State University. In his role, Price oversees programs specific to LGBTQ+ students through the Office of Multicultural Affairs, including serving as an advisor for Oklahoma State Queers and Allies student organization on campus. Price obtained his bachelor's degree in agricultural education and agricultural communications from Oklahoma State University. After graduating with his bachelor's, he worked as a school-based agricultural education (SBAE) teacher and FFA advisor in Texas for seven years. While teaching, he completed his master's degree in agricultural education and communications through the University of Florida. While serving in his coordinator position, Price is also working on completing his doctorate in agricultural education, communications, and leadership at Oklahoma State University. His work and research in teacher preparation are focused on creating inclusive classroom environments in SBAE for LGBTQ+ youth. Tyler is dedicated to ensuring preservice and in-service teachers are prepared to effectively support LGBTQ+ youth to ensure they feel welcome in the agriculture industry. He aims to help students reach their full potential and create inclusive educational spaces for all students.

Job Titles:

• Program Coordinator for the Upward Bound
• Upward Bound Coordinator
• Upward Bound Coordinator / Department of TRIO and Sponsored Research / Division of Institutional Diversity

Valeria Perez is the Program Coordinator for the Upward Bound program. Valeria was raised in Amarillo, TX. She earned a bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication from West Texas A&M University and a Master's degree in Human Development and Family Sciences with a concentration in Youth Development from Texas Tech University. She began her work with Upward Bound at West Texas A&M University, serving as an Outreach Coordinator for the program. Through her experiences and work, she has fallen in love with assisting youth and providing them with the resources they need to succeed. One of her favorite quotes is, "We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future." - Franklin D. Roosevelt. She looks forward to new experiences at Oklahoma State University and serving the communities in Oklahoma. She enjoys working out, outdoor activities, reading, and spending time with her cat in her free time.

Job Titles:

• Coordinator for Hispanic / Latinx Affairs