UCO-Based Educators' Leadership Academy Welcomes 2026 Higher Education Department Chair Academy Class
Aug. 3, 2026
The University of Central Oklahoma-based Educators’ Leadership Academy (ELA) welcomes 23 higher education professionals from throughout the state to the 2026 Higher Education Department Chair Academy (Chair Academy).
Established in 2009, the Chair Academy provides practical and detailed training essential to overseeing academic departments, department chairpersons, school directors, deans and core curriculum coordinators who are relatively new in the position. The workshop-style approach takes place over five, multi-day sessions throughout the summer and fall.
Participants are provided leadership development opportunities to manage programs, personnel and advancement of their respective departments. Additionally, the Chair Academy involves small-group discussions, peer-to-peer collaboration and transformative learning experiences.
"My experience in the Educator’s Leadership Academy has been truly transformative. The program’s thoughtful design, expert speakers and relevant topics provided both reassurance and practical tools for success," said Beckie Doyle, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology at Northeastern State University (NSU). She also serves as coordinator for the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Bachelor of Science degree program and for the Certificate of Emergency Management and Planning program.
Those participating in the 2026 ELA Chair Academy and their institutions are:
- Breeman Ainsworth, Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City (OSU-OKC)
- Sophia Clark, Ph.D., UCO
- Megan Cox, Ph.D., UCO
- Vickie Crouch, DNP, RN, Northern Oklahoma College (NOC)
- Beckie Doyle, Ph.D., NSU
- Kim Dyce, Ed.D., Rogers State University (RSU)
- Amy Evans, J.D., RSU
- Cassie Freise, M.A., NSU
- Susan Goldsmith, M.S., RN, Tulsa Community College (TCC)
- Connie Harris, Ph.D., RN, UCO
- Patty Johnson, MBA, RT, TCC
- Luke Kruse, NOC
- Alex Lopez, Ph.D., RSU
- Stacey Michie, TCC
- Lori O'Malley, Ed.D., RSU
- Hossein Najmi, Ph.D., UCO
- Alissa Nephew, Ph.D., OSU-OKC
- Catherine Pankonien, DNP, MSN, Ed., Midwestern State University (MSU)
- Julie Scott, DNP, RN, Connors State College
- Emil Suder, Ph.D., Ed.D., Upper Iowa University
- Jill Taylor, M.Ed., TCC
- Cynthia Vleugels, OSU-OKC
- Mikayla Werth, Oklahoma City Community College
ELA Chair Academy Faculty and Advisors:
- Bob Brennan, Ph.D., MSU
- Katrina Lacher, Ph.D., UCO
- Elizabeth Maier, Ph.D., UCO
- Luis Montes, Ph.D., Rose State College
- Scott Newman, Ed.D., OSU-OKC
- Lauri Jones, Ph.D, RN, CCRN, TCC
- Amanda Waters, Ph.D., ELA Advisor, University of Oklahoma
For more information about ELA’s Chair Academy, visit go.uco.edu/chairacademy.
For more information about Central, visit uco.edu.
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Cutline: The University of Central Oklahoma-based Educators’ Leadership Academy welcomes 23 higher education professionals from throughout the state to the 2026 Higher Education Department Chair Academy. Pictured, left to right, Julie Scott, DNP, RN, Connors State College; Catherine Pankonien, DNP, MSN, Ed., Midwestern State University (MSU); Lauri Jones, Ph.D., RN, CCRN, Tulsa Community College (TCC), ELA advisor; Amanda Waters, Ph.D., UCO, ELA advisor; Alex Lopez, Ph.D., Rogers State University (RSU); Kim Dyce, Ed. D., RSU; Mikayla Werth, Oklahoma City Community College; Beckie Doyle, Ph.D., RN, Northeastern State University (NSU); Sophia Clark, Ph.D., UCO; Susan Goldsmith, MS, RN, TCC; Alissa Nephew, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City (OSU-OKC); Hossein Najmi, Ph.D., UCO; Cassie Freise, M.A., NSU; Breeman Ainsworth, OSU-OKC; Vickie Crouch, DNP, RN, Northern Oklahoma College (NOC); Cynthia Vleugels, OSU-OKC; Megan Cox, Ph.D., UCO; Katrina Lacher, Ph.D., UCO, ELA faculty; Luis Montes, Ph.D., Rose State College, ELA faculty; Jill Taylor, M. Ed., TCC; Patty Johnson, MBA, RT, TCC; Bob Brennan, Ph.D., MSU, ELA faculty; Amy Evans, J.D., RSU; Lori O'Malley, Ed.D., RSU; and, Emil Suder, Ph.D., Ed.D., Upper Iowa University.
