Music, laughter and conversation filled Langston University-Tulsa’s front lobby on the Tuesday of Homecoming Week as students, faculty, staff, alumni, community members and their families flocked to the campus for its annual Homecoming Block Party on Oct. 7. Sitting at a table in the middle of the lobby, happily chatting with anyone who wanted to stop by, sat 98-year-old Ozetta Parker (née Walker).
As Parker looked around at all the activity, it amazed her how much things had changed at Langston University since she was a student in 1946.
Parker grew up on a farm near Tulsa in the 1930s as one of nine kids. She enjoyed farm life, especially the big homemade meals her mother would prepare, but education was always a major focus in her community. So when her older sister Pauline moved to the city, Parker began staying with her during the school year so she could attend Booker T. Washington High School.
Parker enrolled at Langston University in 1946 with a major in home economics.
In the city, Parker and her siblings walked everywhere they needed to go, and they didn’t go out at night. They lived in a tight-knit community where everyone looked out for one another. Her teachers were strict, but Parker could tell they cared. When Parker graduated from high school in 1946, Pauline encouraged her to attend college and study home economics.
“She liked my cooking,” Parker laughed.
Langston University didn’t have a campus in Tulsa back then, so Parker made her way out to Logan County. She lived in Sanford Hall–which was a women’s dorm at the time–and studied home economics.
Life at LU was different than what Parker was used to. The rural campus felt almost isolated from normal society, and Parker thought her dorm room didn’t have much space. She especially missed her mother’s cooking. But there was a lot about life at Dear Langston that she loved, too.
The university offered plenty to do as far as providing students with social activities. Students went to sporting events and church regularly, and when there were dances, they were well attended. Parker met a lot of people and made a lot of friends.
“They had entertainment for us,” Parker said. “They had a little place where you could go dance. I don’t know what they called it … but you go there and socialize when you had the time.”
Although Parker spent a lot of time studying in her room or in the library, she said she enjoyed her classes. Her home economics courses taught her about a variety of things, including cooking, proper housekeeping and sewing. She learned she really enjoyed sewing. She loved drawing her own designs and then using them to create items like aprons and dresses.
Parker passed her love for Dear Langston down to her children, and she brought them to Homecoming every year.
Parker loved her time at LU, but she had to leave after two years. She moved to Oklahoma City, found work, got married, started a family and moved back to Tulsa, but she never forgot about her time at Dear Langston.
For years, Parker would return to LU with her family for every Homecoming. She loved connecting with old friends and seeing how much the campus and university continued to grow. But as she got older, the trip out to Langston became harder to make, and she stopped going.
This year, her son saw an advertisement for the Homecoming Block Party at LU-Tulsa, and they were both excited to attend their first Langston University Homecoming celebration in several years.
This provided her the opportunity to remember not just what Langston University meant to her, but what it can mean to everyone.
“Education is what’s going to help us make this world a better place,” Parker said. “(Langston University) is a good place to go to learn and socialize and entertain and leave a legacy for the children behind us to go as high as they can.
It takes a lot to be a successful agribusinessman.
From hard, physical labor to the complexities of proper natural resource management, there’s more to it than most people would think, and no one knows that better than Cleaon Bradford.
A native of Boley, Oklahoma, Bradford has been in the agribusiness industry his entire life. He has spent countless hours meeting with people, learning about best practices and available resources, and doing whatever was needed to build a thriving cattle farm in his hometown. Throughout it all, he has also spent his 21-year career with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) helping other Oklahoma farmers do the same.
“Just as I was able to receive it, I want those individuals to be able to have those opportunities as well,” Bradford said.
Like most Oklahomans, Bradford was exposed to Oklahoma’s thriving agriculture industry at a young age. Photo credit: Michael Flippo/AdobeStock.
Like most Oklahomans, Bradford was exposed to Oklahoma’s thriving agriculture industry at a young age. He came from a family of farmers, and he was active in 4-H. He knew he wanted to own his own farm one day, so he took every opportunity he could to learn more about the industry.
His senior year of high school, as the president of his local 4-H club, Bradford attended the Retired Educators for Youth Agriculture Program at Oklahoma State University. Through his participation in the program, he was able to secure an internship with the USDA.
He spent the summer working for the local USDA office where he learned about natural resource conservation. He decided that was what he wanted to do with his life, so he began making plans for after high school.
Growing up in Boley, Bradford was familiar with Langston University and the opportunities it could provide, especially in the realm of agricultural research and education. So when he received a national scholarship from the Bureau of Reclamation, it was an easy decision to go to LU to study natural resource management.
“It was the college to go to,” Bradford said. “People spoke highly of it. It was a school where you were going to not only get your education, but you’d kind of feel like people cared about you and wanted you to succeed.”
Although he was getting ready to move for school, Bradford still hadn’t given up on his dream of owning his own farm. Actually, he was more motivated than ever. Not long after his high school graduation, 18-year-old Bradford secured a loan to lease land and purchase his first cattle stock, marking the beginning of his cattle production operation in Boley.
In addition to raising the livestock, he also grew and bailed hay with which to feed the animals in the winter. It was hard work, and he wouldn’t have been able to do it without the help and support of his family. He relied on that help even more when he began at Langston University in the fall of 2000.
Bradford was very involved with SAAS as a student, and to him, SAAS felt like its own club. He applied what he learned in class to his own farm throughout school.
Bradford was dedicated to his farm, but he was even more dedicated to his studies. He wasted no time when he arrived on the Langston Campus, determined to get involved in the School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences (SAAS) every chance he had. For him, going to classes and attending events wasn’t just about getting a degree; it was about learning concepts and skills that he could turn around and apply on his farm.
“For me, it was just very encouraging that the things I was learning, I was able to use that on my own operation,” Bradford said. “That desire to learn and be successful in agriculture is one of the things that just really drove me.”
To anyone who met him, Bradford’s motivation to learn inside and outside the classroom was evident. Sherman Lewis, the LU alumnus and former USDA employee for whom SAAS is now named, worked at Langston University when Bradford was a student. He said Bradford’s potential was evident from the beginning.
According to Lewis, young Bradford had a strong work ethic and even stronger moral character. He knew Bradford would be successful in whatever career he chose, so he tried to encourage and support Bradford throughout their shared time at Dear Langston.
“He’s an outstanding young man,” Lewis said. “His work is always above and beyond any reproach, he’s always been a very hard worker, and he’s committed to doing what is necessary to make sure he gets the job done. And you know, he’s been that way from the day I met him.”
Bradford said the support he received from Lewis and the other faculty and staff in SAAS is part of why he thrived in college. From the beginning, SAAS felt like its own club where everyone wanted one another to succeed, and he had it drilled into his mind not to waste the opportunities LU provides.
He attended the semiannual career fair his freshman year where he spoke to recruiters from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) in Oklahoma. They told him about the USDA Student Career Experience Program, now called the Pathways Internship Program, which is a year-round paid internship for students that offers a guaranteed full-time job upon graduation to those who complete a minimum number of hours in the program.
Bradford interned with the USDA throughout college and accepted a job offer from the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service after graduation. Photo Credit: jetcityimage/AdobeStock
He applied and, having already completed a USDA internship in high school, was readily accepted to the program. He was grateful for the experience and extra income the internship provided, but balancing his classes, his job and his farm was challenging.
“I was a very busy student,” Bradford said. “People used to say to me, ‘Man, you’re just real serious.’ And I’d say, ‘You know what? I am.’ I really took things serious, and I really wanted to take advantage of my time out there and really be successful.”
Bradford graduated in 2004 and accepted a job offer from NRCS as a Soil Conservationist in Wewoka, Oklahoma. He later became a district conservationist and served in roles as a supervisor and a team lead. Now, he’s the Outreach Coordinator for NRCS Oklahoma.
A large part of his job boils down to making sure Oklahoma’s producers are aware of the resources available to them through NRCS and helping them take advantage of what’s there when they need it. From guiding them to NRCS’ technical support to educating them about financial assistance programs, Bradford spends his days trying to help Oklahoma’s farmers.
As with many aspects of the agricultural industry, the work may not be glamourous, but Bradford said it’s rewarding. In every position he has held with NRCS, he has always enjoyed the outreach aspect of the job. He likes going out into the field and being with the farmers. He likes talking with them, working through their problems, and knowing at the end of the day he is helping people become successful agribusinessmen/women.
“I can look back at the times we put on an outreach event or had something going on, and you hear from the producers about how you helped them, helped their operation,” Bradford said. “That’s always rewarding.”
Agribusiness is one of the largest industries in Oklahoma. Nearly 75% of the state is farmland, and it produces $1.8 billion in agricultural exports per year while being one of the nation’s top producers of beef and rye, according to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Having spent his own career in the USDA, Lewis knows the systems that support this high level of agricultural industry are themselves held up by the people who work for them. People like Bradford.
Lewis worked at the NRCS’ national office in Washington, D.C., not long after Bradford graduated from LU, and he kept tabs on Bradford’s progress through the organization. He spoke with people from NRCS Oklahoma and other agencies who all knew Bradford and spoke highly of him.
Bradford has dedicated his career to helping Oklahoma’s farmers. As a fellow farmer, Bradford works every day to uplift Oklahoma’s agriculture industry.
According to Lewis, Bradford excelled not only at the technical aspects of his job, but also the relationship-building aspects. As he moved through the ranks, he did what he could to help newer employees succeed so they could help their constituents succeed. He even served as the president of the Oklahoma chapter of the National Organization of Professional Black NRCS Employees, an organization dedicated to mentoring young professionals in the workplace.
The combination of his skilled fieldwork and successful professional relationships have allowed him to have a broad impact on NRCS and Oklahoma agriculture.
“Any time you’re out there on the ground, working with individual farmers and assisting them, educating them and conserving a natural resource base, you’re doing something for the overall health and welfare of agriculture here in the state of Oklahoma,” Lewis said. “That’s what Cleaon has been doing. He’s touched the lives of many, many farmers.”
Throughout it all, Bradford has continued farming.
Every day, he goes to work with NRCS, then drives to Boley to tend to his herd before going home to his wife and kids. Over the years, he bought land as it became available, and with the help of his family––especially his father––he continues to grow his cattle and hay operation.
The farm is important to Bradford for many reasons. It’s a way for him to connect with his children and teach them practical skills. It’s a way for him to provide for their future. It’s tangible evidence of the hard work he’s done over two and half decades. And it’s a way for him to show others that it’s possible to be successful in an industry that can sometimes feel like too much.
“I want to continue to grow and master being in the ag business,” Bradford said. “I want to be a successful agribusinessman and be able to show that success, shine a light on the potential, the possibilities, the opportunities and make sure I’m educating others.
“Throughout my life, I want to make sure I spread that knowledge and encourage the future for people who want to get involved with agriculture.”
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Legislative Black Caucus Chairwoman Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (D120) and the Texas Legislative Black Caucus announce Chelle Luper Wilson as Executive Director.
“We are thrilled to welcome Chelle Luper Wilson to the Texas Legislative Black Caucus (TLBC). As a leader focused on effective change, Ms. Wilson is dedicated to assisting the TLBC reach greater heights and fully supporting the TLBC’s top priorities moving forward,” said Texas Legislative Black Caucus Chairwoman Representative Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (D120).
Ms. Luper Wilson brings to the role a wealth of experience. In addition to her professional experience, she is an extraordinary communicator who brings great passion to this important work. Additionally, her professional background held in some of the nation’s largest advocacy organizations are a big asset to TLBC.
A third-generation HBCU graduate, Ms. Luper Wilson holds a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from HBCU Langston University, a M.A. in Multicultural Women’s and Gender Studies from Texas Woman’s University, where she is also a third-year doctoral student in the department of Language, Culture and Gender.
“I have been engaged in political advocacy my entire life and have seen up close and personal the tremendous leadership and impact TLBC has here at the state capitol and across the great state of Texas. As we write the next chapter of the TLBC story in this unique time in history, I am excited for the opportunity to lend my experience and passion for supporting the collective vision and important work of this storied Caucus.” – Chelle Luper Wilson
A dedicated community advocate and trailblazer, Chelle is a former member of the National Board of Directors of the NAACP, member of the National CROWN Act Collective Strategic Partnership Council, American Heart Association National Diversity Leadership Council, former South Central Regional Director and International Secretary of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc®. She is also an active member of The Links, Inc., Jack & Jill of America, Inc., and the National Association of Black Journalists. Ms. Luper Wilson is the daughter of the late civil rights activist, Clara Luper.
“I have no doubt that the Texas Black Caucus Foundation will be in capable hands under her leadership,” said Senator Royce West (D23), Chairman of the Texas Black Caucus Foundation Board of Directors. “I warmly welcome Chelle Luper Wilson, and I look forward to working with her. She has the full support of the TBCF Board to carry out this critical leadership role.”
President Ruth Ray Jackson announced Wednesday that Ramunda Lark Young, an entrepreneur, community builder and owner of MahoganyBooks, will serve as the distinguished speaker for the 125th Commencement of Langston University on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., in W.E. Anderson Stadium.
A graduate of Langston University and a Tulsa native, Young founded MahoganyBooks with her husband, Derrick. MahoganyBooks is a nationally recognized and award-winning independent bookstore. It’s the premier destination for books written for, by and about people of African descent with physical locations in the historic Anacostia community of Washington, D.C., the National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and most recently, a footprint at National Airport.
At the helm of strategic partnerships, Young is instrumental in building the MahoganyBooks brand and deepening relationships with local and national authors, celebrity writers, corporations and community groups. She is passionate about amplifying Black voices and fostering a love of reading and cultural awareness. As a business leader, Young has grown MahoganyBooks into an essential space for dialogue, education and activism while creating intentional spaces for authors and readers to connect deeply with Black literature.
In addition to her work at MahoganyBooks, Young is a sought-after speaker on entrepreneurship, leadership and community engagement. Her dedication to service extends to empowering women and entrepreneurs through mentoring and advocacy. She currently serves as the Vice Chair of the DC Public Library Foundation, is an appointed commissioner for the Prince William County Human Rights Commission, and a 2024 Books Across Borders Fellow.
One of Young’s proudest moments was becoming a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. She is also an active alumna of her beloved HBCU, Langston University. Known for her astute leadership and authenticity, Young has been featured in various national publications such as ESSENCE, Vanity Fair, Black Enterprise and others. Her honors include Forbes Next 1000 honoree and the Root 100 list of most influential African Americans in the nation. Young continues to inspire change through her commitment to literacy, community and Black culture.
It’s always a special moment to watch a loved one walk across the stage at graduation, but for the Barnett family, this year’s Langston University commencement ceremony was doubly special.
Mother-Daughter duo Cerita and Alexis Barnett both graduated with their master’s degrees in rehabilitation counseling this May, and their family and friends cheered loudly from near and afar as the two walked across the stage together as proud members of the Class of 2024.
“We laughed a lot, we studied a lot,” Alexis said. “We learned how to work as a team to grow.”
Alexis and Cerita didn’t always plan to go to school together.
A 1992 graduate of Langston University, Cerita wanted to work in a public school system, particularly with at risk students, to help provide guidance to young people as they navigate their next steps in life. After earning her bachelor’s in sociology, she intended to earn a master’s degree in pursuit of this goal. But life had other plans for her.
Certia Barnett graduated from Langston University in 1992 with her bachelor’s in sociology. Thirty-two years later, she graduated from LU again with her master’s in rehabilitation counseling.
Cerita got married, found a job and had kids. Her family became her priority, but she never gave up the idea of pursuing her master’s.
“I decided, okay, I’ll wait ‘til [the kids] get a little older so that it would be easier for me to actually do a program and do the homework, read the chapters, everything that was required of me,” Cerita said. “So, I was content working as a substitute teacher so that I can help still teach and guide my own children.”
As a substitute teacher in the Tulsa Public School system, Cerita had the opportunity to work with kids like she wanted, and she also had the flexibility to take an active role in her own children’s lives. That included taking an active role in their education.
In the classroom, she always tried to impress upon students the importance of taking their education seriously, and she did the same at home. She would volunteer in her kids’ classrooms, volunteer with their extracurriculars, help them with homework and do whatever she needed to help them succeed in school. And succeed they have.
Alexis graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a double major in psychology and sociology in 2021. Like her mother, Alexis knew she wanted to pursue a master’s degree.
After graduating with her bachelor’s from the University of Oklahoma, Alexis Barnett encouraged her mother to pursue their master’s degrees together.
“I know that education can open doors,” Alexis said. “So, I had my mind set on [a master’s degree]. I knew that’s something I wanted to challenge myself to do, and I’m glad I did.”
After Alexis graduated from OU, Cerita began to think it might finally be time to return to school herself. Her family, including Alexis, encouraged her. Alexis and Cerita were both interested in counseling, so they began looking to see what programs were available in the Tulsa area.
Cerita, confident in the quality educational experience she would receive at Langston University thanks to her experience as an undergraduate student, began looking into the rehabilitation counseling program at LU-Tulsa. Alexis followed suit and decided to apply, but Cerita was still hesitant about whether she was ready to return to school yet.
“I was able to encourage her to go ahead and apply after I had applied,” Alexis said. “We were able to apply around the same time, and we both got accepted to the Spring ‘22 cohort.”
Cerita smiled and nodded as she remembered how excited their family was when the two announced their decision to go to school together.
“My family was excited for me because they knew at some point, I wanted to go back to school,” Cerita said. “And they thought it was neat, ‘Mama and Alexis is going to school together!’ And actually, at one point, I was not going to tell anybody just in case I changed my mind. But my husband, Harvel…”
“He started telling people,” Alexis laughed. “He was excited.”
With the support of their family–Harvel, Alexandria, Albany and Arnetta–and friends behind them, Cerita and Alexis began their graduate school journey together.
Cerita (left) and Alexis helped and supported each other throughout the two-year rehabilitation counseling program and graduated together in May.
Thanks to the way the two-year rehabilitation counseling program is structured, Cerita and Alexis took all their classes together. While some of their classes reinforced things they had learned in their undergraduate courses, others introduced new concepts and encouraged them to look at things from new perspectives. With a built-in study-buddy, the Mother-Daughter duo tackled all their coursework head on.
After 30 years on the other side of the classroom, Cerita had to adjust to being a student again. Thankfully, Alexis was there to help.
Alexis introduced her mother to some new studying techniques, helped her relearn APA Style–which had experienced a few updates since Cerita had last used it–and helped her navigate the technology they needed to use. In return, Cerita helped Alexis talk through and simplify concepts, helped her manage her time efficiently and always provided encouragement when she needed it.
“Our relationship as students helped to reinforce what we were learning in the class,” Alexis said. “We were able to provide one another with output. And when you put two brains together, then you have a strengthened perspective.”
“It’s like old school with new school,” Cerita agreed.
They helped and supported each other through the whole program, taking turns being each other’s shoulder to lean on when needed. After two years of hard work, they graduated this spring.
With her new degree, Cerita still plans to assist people in the counseling area. Alexis would like to give back and help people. Cerita and Alexis both expressed gratitude to God for this joyous, momentous opportunity.
“We are especially grateful that our mother/grandmother Marilyn is alive and celebrating our accomplishment with us,” Alexis said.
“It felt so special to be hooded,” Cerita said. “Our experience will remain in our hearts. I knew it was going to be a challenge to get back into the regimen of studying while wearing different hats. This was one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done in my life, but God helped me through.
“What was rewarding for me was, this is something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. And now it’s happening, I’m walking in it. It’s a reality. And whatever challenges came, we were able to work with it. Better together.”
When Sheila McGill agreed to come out of retirement and return to work at her alma mater, she only intended to stay for four months. Thirteen years later, she officially retired… again.
McGill served as the Director of the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at Langston University from 2011-2024, and after delaying her retirement one last time in March, her last day as a university employee was June 27.
“I believe God led me back here,” McGill said. “That was my assignment, but I think my assignment is complete and I feel good. I hope that if I made an imprint, I hope it’s a positive one that, you know, that my heart showed through all the things that we did.”
McGill began her career in financial aid as a student at Dear Langston. Like many, she participated in the Federal Work Study Program to help pay for expenses while in school. She worked in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships on the third floor of Page Hall while she studied criminal justice.
During her time as a student, Dear Langston quickly became a special place to McGill and she was in no hurry to leave. An active member of the campus community, McGill was crowned Miss Langston University in the Fall of 1978. She even participated in the 1978 sit-in protests at the Oklahoma Capitol to save the university when state legislators considered closing the school down.
Sheila McGill (back row, 3rd from the left) participated in a sit-in at the state Capitol on March 1, 1978. Students were demonstrating to gain more state funding for Langston University. Photo courtesy of The Oklahoman.
When she graduated in December 1978 and the Office of Financial Aid asked her to stay on as a receptionist for the spring semester, she gladly accepted. When a position opened for a financial aid counselor that summer, she decided to apply.
From 1979-84, McGill worked as a financial aid counselor. It wasn’t what she had ever pictured herself doing, but she enjoyed the work, she enjoyed helping students, and she felt she had found her calling.
“I tell students, ‘Do not knock federal work study,’” McGill said. “It can give you some valuable work experience, as well as help you pay your bill.”
As time went on, McGill knew she was ready to grow in her career, even if that meant leaving Dear Langston. Eventually, the position of assistant director of financial aid at Central State College opened. McGill applied, and Central State hired her.
She spent the next two years at Central State, now known as the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO), before accepting the position of director of financial aid at Cameron University. Three years later, the director position at UCO opened and a mentor encouraged her to apply.
McGill returned to UCO in 1989 and worked as their director of financial aid for 20 years before retiring at 50.
“When I retired, my plan was to be done with financial aid,” McGill said. “Financial aid was going through some major changes during that time, and I thought, ‘This is a good time to get out’ and I did so.”
Although retired, McGill wasn’t ready to stop working just yet. She worked as a census worker for two years, and she enjoyed getting to know her state better. She had no intentions of returning to work in higher education, but life had other plans for her.
In 2011, a friend asked McGill to be the temporary director of financial aid at Langston University. McGill couldn’t say no.
“One of the things that made me say yes to Langston was being able to come back to where I started,” McGill said. “This is where I started my career, and the opportunity to come back and give back to the place that got me started, that’s one of the things that I feel blessed that I had the opportunity to do.”
McGill (center) poses with the members of the Financial Aid office at the 18th Annual President’s Scholarship Gala in 2023.
That temporary position became a full-time position, and McGill was Dear Langston’s financial aid guru for 13 years. During that time, she impacted a lot of people, especially students.
Nacasaw Coppage, the assistant director of the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, said it was well known that if a student came in to ask McGill a financial aid question, they would often walk away with a life lesson, too.
“Her impact is her wealth of knowledge,” Coppage said. “If you are a student, you may come in with this one issue, but she explains it and she produces the knowledge where she surrounds it. So when you walk out of her door, you’re positive of the fact of, ‘OK, I can begin this process now. I know what I’m trying to get to, and I’m going to get to that.’”
Her wisdom and encouragement were not reserved just for students.
Coppage said McGill was a well-rounded leader, asking her team members hard questions and pushing them to get out of their comfort zones and grow. Coppage herself is a testament to the quality of McGill’s mentorship.
Coppage worked under McGill for 10 years, starting as a financial aid counselor and, with McGill’s guidance, working her way up to assistant director. But Coppage isn’t the only one who has benefited from McGill’s leadership.
Coppage’s role as assistant director has taken her out of the office for conferences and other professional development opportunities several times, and she has met many people on these trips who know McGill and can attest to the valuable lessons she’s taught them.
“That’s kind of amazing to me,” Coppage said. “Even though you’ve only been at Langston, UCO and Cameron, your touch is widespread. It is more than just those institutions. You’ve touched people that went on and became directors for other institutions. It’s really amazing to see.”
Over the past 13 years, McGill has helped shape the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships into the well-oiled machine it is today. While sad to see McGill go, Coppage said thanks to McGill’s leadership throughout the years, she knows the Office will continue to provide students with high-quality financial aid service.
McGill said though she won’t be on campus as regularly, she hasn’t gone too far. Her granddaughter is a freshman at Dear Langston this fall, and McGill plans to come back to support her and continue to support her alma mater.
“I want to leave with a huge, ‘Thank you!’” McGill said. “Thank you, Langston, for the opportunity to jumpstart my career. This was not my plan, to go into financial aid and for financial aid become a career. That was God’s plan.
“But to circle around and bring me back to Langston, I believe that was part of His plan as well.”
McGill (center) poses with past and current members of the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships during her retirement reception.
LANGSTON, Okla. – Langston University announced that three alumni were chosen for new administrative and faculty appointments for the 2014-2015 academic year.
Ricco Wright, Ed. D., was named assistant professor of Mathematics in the School of Arts & Sciences at the Langston campus. Wright started teaching at the university this past August. His efforts in his first semester have already had a positive impact on the campus community.
“On a personal level, I plan to keep my students engaged all semester, make a difference in their lives, and enjoy my first year as an assistant professor of mathematics at my alma mater,” Wright said.
“On a professional level, I plan to increase the number of mathematics majors at Langston by recruiting at least three freshmen to join the Mathematics Club and by serving as their advisor this academic year,” Wright said.
It is also his goal to increase the intellectual campus climate by starting a book club on campus called Bibliophilism, by participating in monthly dialogues in the Harrison Library, and by giving talks on campus about different topics ranging from philosophy to literature to politics to music.
He is dedicated to making things better than when he came to the university and makes it his goal to continuously become more active in the fields of mathematics and mathematics education. Prior to LU, Wright taught mathematics at two universities in New York City. He received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Langston University in 2004 and a Doctorate in Mathematics Education from Teachers College, Columbia University in 2014.
Desmond Harvey was appointed as the new director of Student Life at the Langston campus.
“I am looking forward to returning to my alma mater,” Harvey said.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and graduated with honors from Langston University in 2006.
“During my first year as Director of Student Life, I plan to learn more about the student organizations, programs, and events that are hosted through the Office of Student Life, while establishing a relationship with the student leaders on campus,” he said.
Prior to Langston, he was the coordinator of prospective student services in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology for one year at Oklahoma State University. Before that, he served as an academic advisor, Coordinator of the Multicultural Engineering Program, Coordinator of African American Affairs, and Coordinator of Prospective Student Services for two years at Oklahoma State University.
Alice Strong-Simmons was appointed as the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Oklahoma City campus. Coming from a long line of teaching professionals, Strong-Simmons describes herself as an “educator at heart.” As a trained educator, she was Director of Child Development and Adjunct Professor at Langston University.
She currently serves as Central Area Director of The Links, Incorporated and holds life memberships in the Langston University National Alumni Association and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
Strong-Simmons prides herself on being a “Country Girl” whom God has endowed with an extraordinary passion for Langston University and its students, and working to assure the best education possible for the youth and children of the Great State of Oklahoma. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Langston University and a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma.
Langston University President, Kent J. Smith, Jr., is confident that the experience and expertise these new appointments will bring to the roles will serve our students in and out of the classroom.
“As Langston University continues to blossom, it is vital we have the right leadership in place,” Dr. Smith said.
Langston University is located 12 miles east of Guthrie, Oklahoma. Langston offers more than 38 degree programs, including five masters’ degrees and one doctoral program. For more information about Langston University giving please contact the LU Foundation Office at (405) 466-3482.
