Northern Oklahoma College Names 3 Finalists in Presidential Search

Three finalists have been selected in the search for the new president of Northern Oklahoma College.

The finalists are Dr. Clark Harris, Special Assistant to the President, Laramie County Community College in Wyoming; Dr. Wayne McMillin, Dean of the Northwestern Oklahoma State University – Enid campus; and Dr. Herbert Riedel, Adjunct Professor, University of South Carolina – Salkehatchie and President Emeritus of Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Alabama.

Regent Jodi Cline, Chair of the NOC Board of Regents and search committee, said after a nationwide search, nineteen qualified candidates applied for the position and ten were selected during the first-round interviews in March.

The committee invited six for second-round interviews on Thursday, April 15, and narrowed the field to three finalists.

The finalists have been invited to participate in three separate town hall events with Northern Oklahoma College students, employees, board members and community and business leaders.

The events are as follows:

Tuesday, April 20 with Dr. Wayne McMillin

11:00 – 11:45 a.m., NOC Tonkawa, Renfro Center

1:45 – 2:30 p.m., NOC Stillwater, Room 205

3:45 – 4:30 p.m., NOC Enid, Gantz Center, Montgomery Hall

Wednesday, April 21 with Dr. Clark Harris

11:00 – 11:45 a.m., NOC Enid, Gantz Center, Montgomery Hall

1:45 – 2:30 p.m., NOC Tonkawa, Renfro Center

3:45 – 4:30 p.m., NOC Stillwater, Room 205

Friday, April 23 with Dr. Herbert Riedel

11:00 – 11:45 a.m., NOC Stillwater, Room 205

1:45 – 2:30 p.m., NOC Tonkawa, Renfro Center

3:45 – 4:30 p.m., NOC Enid, Gantz Center, Montgomery Hall

Each town hall will last 45 minutes with the following format: introduction of candidate and candidate opening statement, questions from the moderator, and candidate closing remarks. The candidate’s presentations will also be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person. The NOC community will have an opportunity to provide feedback on each candidate through a survey with collected responses sent directly to the NOC Board members (responses due no later than Monday, April 26) for consideration in their final decision.

Following campus visits, Regent Jodi Cline will present the top three finalists to the Northern Oklahoma College Board of Regents for final approval. It is hoped to have the new president in place by July 1, 2021.

  Northern Oklahoma College, the state’s first public community college, is a multi-campus, land-grant institution that provides high quality, accessible, and affordable educational opportunities and services which create life-changing experiences and develop students as effective learners and leaders within their communities in a connected, ever changing world.

NOC, a public two-year community college, serves nearly 5,000 students on the home campus in Tonkawa, branch in Enid, NOC/OSU Gateway Program in Stillwater, online, and the University Center in Ponca City. Of these students about 60% receive financial aid and/or scholarships.  Over 80% of NOC students complete their degree with zero debt.

NOC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers associate degrees in three general areas: Arts, Science and Applied Science.  The associate degree fulfills lower-division course work which is applicable towards a bachelor’s degree.

Call (580) 628-6200 for more information about Northern Oklahoma College or visit www.noc.edu .