UCO-Based Educators’ Leadership Academy Celebrates 2025-26 Transformative Leadership Academy Class
April 7, 2026
The University of Central Oklahoma-based Educators’ Leadership Academy (ELA), now in its 28th year, will celebrate 23 education professionals from across the state at its graduation ceremony for the 2025-26 Transformative Leadership Academy, Thursday, April 9, at the UCO Boathouse at the Oklahoma River.
Founded in 1998, the academy is dedicated to developing leadership skills that empower professionals to drive transformation within their academic organizations. By focusing on motivation and building meaningful connections with employees, colleagues and students, participants gain the tools to lead effectively. The academy covers a wide range of essential skills, including emotional intelligence, cultural competence, leadership theories, negotiation strategies and Oklahoma higher education governance.
"Attending the Transformative Leadership Academy with ELA has been one of the most valuable professional experiences I’ve had,” said Sydney Dorrough, director of student success and associate professor at Oklahoma Baptist University and 2024-25 graduate.
“Each session was thoughtfully designed, offering practical tools and relevant information that I’ve consistently found myself referring to in my daily work. The academy is exceptionally well organized, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to grow as a leader and expand their professional community."
Those participating in the 2025-26 Transformative Leadership Academy and their institutions include:
- Nesreen Alsbou, Ph.D., UCO
- Anne Brooks, Eastern Oklahoma State College
- Yvonne Chambers, APRN, FNP-C, Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC)
- Andrew Duncan, East Central University
- Darcy Duncan, DNP, RN, CPN, East Central University
- Scott Erickson, D.M., UCO
- Jeremy Fineman, MFA, OCCC
- Nora Gayzur, Ph.D., UCO
- Misty Gray, DNP, MSN/Ed., RN, Southeastern Oklahoma State University
- Beth Hawkins, UCO
- Danielle Herrington, DMA, UCO
- Janaki Iyer, Ph.D., Northeastern State University
- Dana Kahl, PT, DPT, Ed.D., Arkansas Colleges of Health Education
- Marinda Ledbetter, UCO
- Lauren Loucks, Ed.D., UCO
- Mars Mack, UCO
- Jesse Miller, MFA, UCO
- LiErin Probasco, Ph.D., OCCC
- Raja Shekar Rachakatla, Ph.D., Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Michelle Robertson, Ph.D., UCO
- Kerry Schubert-Frank, Ph.D., UCO
- John Shackelford, Rose State College
- Shelly Troxel Tevis, OCCC
The ELA Transformative Leadership Academy Advisors and their institutions include:
- Hardeep S. Saluja, Ph.D., D.Ph., Southwestern Oklahoma State University
- Mark Walvoord, Ph.D., UCO
The ELA Transformative Leadership Academy Faculty and their institutions include:
- Nicole Warehime, Ph.D., UCO
- Carrie Bentley, Ph.D., UCO
- Mackenzie Murphy-Wilfong, J.D., University of Oklahoma Board of Regents
- Jarrett Jobe, Ph.D., Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
- Jeanetta Sims, Ph.D., UCO
- Amy Jo Ellefson, Ph.D., University of Nebraska Omaha
For more information, contact Mary Howard, director of ELA, at 405-974-5561 or mhoward28@uco.edu.
For more information about ELA’s Transformative Leadership Academy, visit go.uco.edu/ELA-Academy.
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Cutline: The University of Central Oklahoma-based Educators’ Leadership Academy (ELA), now in its 28th year, will celebrate 23 higher education professionals from across the state as part of the 2025-26 Transformative Leadership Academy. Pictured, front row, left to right, Nesreen Alsbou, Ph.D., UCO; Janaki Iyer, Ph.D., Northeastern State University; Mars Mack, UCO; Dana Kahl, PT, DPT, Ed.D., Arkansas Colleges of Health Education; Anne Brooks, Eastern Oklahoma State College; Beth Hawkins, UCO; Michelle Robertson, Ph.D., UCO. Back row, left to right, John Shackelford, Rose State College; Mark Walvoord, Ph.D., UCO; Scott Erickson, DM, UCO; Nora Gayzur, Ph.D., UCO; Jesse Miller, MFA, UCO; Raja Shekar Rachakatla, Ph.D., Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine; Lauren Loucks, Ed.D., UCO; LiErin Probasco, Ph.D., OCCC; Kerry Schubert-Frank, Ph.D., UCO; Yvonne Chambers, APRN, FNP-C, OCCC; Hardeep S. Saluja, Ph.D., D.Ph., Southwestern Oklahoma State University; Marinda Ledbetter, M.Ed., UCO; Danielle Herrington, DMA, UCO; Darcy Duncan, DNP, RN, CPN, East Central University; Andrew Duncan, M.S., East Central University; Misty Gray, DNP, MSN/Ed., RN, Southeastern Oklahoma State University; Shelly Troxel Tevis, OCCC.
