UCO Honors 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Nov. 4, 2025
The University of Central Oklahoma recently honored the recipients of the university’s Distinguished Alumni Award at the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards Banquet.
This year’s honorees are Tom Aldridge, Andrea Durbin, Barb Morgan, Mike Patterson and Jason Stephenson. The Central Beacon Award, presented posthumously, recognized James Machell, Ph.D., for his lasting impact on education and the university community.
Aldridge has spent nearly four decades advancing physical education programs both domestically and internationally. After earning his Bachelor of Science in Education in health and physical education and a minor in coaching from UCO in 1985, he taught in Oklahoma, Georgia, Germany and Florida, where he developed international curriculum standards and led programs for the Department of Defense schools. He now chairs the Tom S. and Marye Kate Aldridge Foundation, which supports education, humanitarian and child-enrichment initiatives.
Durbin has nearly two decades of experience shaping innovative, functional environments. As director of interior design and an associate at MA+ Architecture, she helped grow the firm’s interiors team from three to 10 designers. An Accredited Learning Environment Planner (ALEP) and national speaker on education-focused design, Durbin also serves as board president for the Edmond Fine Arts Institute. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in interior design with a minor in art history from UCO in 2008.
Morgan, now based in Dubai, serves as chief product and technology officer at Temenos, a global leader in banking technology. With more than 25 years of experience in product development and digital transformation across financial services and technology, she has held executive roles at the London Stock Exchange Group, Fidelity National Information Services, Capital One, Boeing and Lucent Technologies. Morgan earned a Bachelor of Science in computer science from UCO in 1997.
Patterson earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and MBA in finance from UCO in 1976 and 1993, respectively. He began his 42-year career with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation in 1977, advancing from comptroller to executive director and later serving as Oklahoma’s secretary of transportation. He now serves as vice president and national practice consultant for HNTB Corporation, advising transportation agencies nationwide.
Stephenson serves teachers and students across Oklahoma as program manager of secondary education for the State Department of Education. A former English teacher and curriculum coach, he led the 2020 statewide revision of the Oklahoma Academic Standards for English Language Arts, collaborating with educators across the state to strengthen literacy instruction. He remains active in professional development and mentorship, supporting English and library educators as they guide the next generation of learners. Stephenson earned a Master of Arts in English – 20th and 21st Century Studies from UCO in 2015.
Machell, former dean of UCO’s College of Education and Professional Studies, received the Central Beacon Award posthumously. A lifelong educator and advocate for teacher preparation, Machell began his career in Oklahoma City Public Schools and served as a faculty member and administrator at several universities before returning to his alma mater in 2005. He earned his Master of Education from UCO.
“These honorees represent the very best of UCO—individuals who have taken what they learned here and used it to create meaningful, lasting impact,” said Allen Wright, vice president for Advancement at UCO.
“As a UCO graduate and past Distinguished Alumni recipient, I know what a special recognition this is. It’s a celebration not just of professional success, but of the values and service that define our Broncho community.”
A committee selects the Distinguished Alumni Award recipients based on peer recommendations and their notable accomplishments in professional impact, community and university service. The UCO Alumni Association has presented the awards annually since 1952, except for 2020.
For more information on the UCO Distinguished Alumni Awards, visit centralconnection.org/About-DAA or contact UCO Foundation and Alumni Engagement at alumni@uco.edu.
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Cutline: The University of Central Oklahoma recently honored the recipients of the university’s Distinguished Alumni Award at the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards Banquet. Award recipients, pictured, left to right, are Andrea Durbin, director of interior design at MA+ Architecture; Tom S. Aldridge II, educator and philanthropist; Mike Patterson, vice president at HNTB Corporation; Barb Morgan, chief product and technology officer at Temenos; and Jason Stephenson, program manager of secondary education for the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
