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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 11, 2018
Governor Mary Fallin Appoints Former Education Secretary Natalie Shirley to OU Board of Regents
OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today
announced she has appointed former Oklahoma Secretary of Education and
Workforce Development Natalie Shirley to the Board of Regents for the University of Oklahoma (OU).
Fallin appointed Shirley, of
Oklahoma City, to a full seven-year term on the seven-member official governing body
of OU, Cameron University and Rogers State University.
The governor earlier this year
reappointed Clayton Bennett to that term. But Bennett said he preferred a
shorter commitment and asked that he be appointed to fill the unexpired term of
Kirk Humphreys, who resigned in January. That term
expires in March 2019.
Both Shirley’s
appointment and Bennett’s reappointment require Senate confirmation.
Shirley served three
years as Fallin’s secretary of education and workforce development before
resigning in January to become the first female president and chief executive officer
of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Before
that, she served as president of Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City
(OSU-OKC).
As secretary of
education and workforce development, Shirley worked with Fallin to implement the
governor’s Oklahoma Works program, designed to increase educational attainment
for Oklahomans to produce a more educated workforce to support and cultivate
the state’s economy.
“Natalie Shirley has the
experience and skills to be an effective OU regent in working to make sure the
university continues to provide a quality education,” said Fallin. “She understands
the importance of producing a talented and skilled workforce that is essential
in order to compete in today’s global economy. Natalie has been a leader in
both the public and private sectors, and she will strive to ensure that the
University of Oklahoma provides the best education possible to its students.”
Before being named
president of OSU-OKC in 2011, Shirley served on then-Gov. Brad Henry’s
executive Cabinet as secretary of commerce and tourism. She also served as
executive director of the Department of Commerce, the state’s leading economic
development agency.
Prior to that, Shirley was president of ICI
Mutual in Washington, D.C., after serving in various leadership offices in the
company.
“I am honored that
Governor Fallin has appointed me to the OU regents,” Shirley said. “I know from first-hand experience how an education can change the trajectory of one's life. I will work hard with the regents to provide an enriching and
challenging experience for OU students, and to be an advocate for the
university’s needs.”
Shirley earned a
bachelor’s degree from OSU and a law degree from OU.
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 Natalie Shirley
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