Three different women were selected for high offices in the university within this semester.
Trustee Martha Burger was chosen as university president March 25 and is the first female president in the university’s history. Alumna Jennifer Rodgers was appointed campus police chief Jan. 3. Jordan Tarter, English junior, was elected Student Government Association president March 27.
This is the first time women have occupied two of these three positions, and some students are responding to this change.
Beth Carter, entertainment business junior, said she’s excited about campus leadership.
“I’m just looking forward to seeing what they accomplish and what they do and how they serve the campus to the best of their ability,” Carter said. “I think that women do great things when they’re empowered.”
Carter said she has always felt personally empowered to pursue what she wanted in life.
“As my mom told me, ‘bitches get shit done, so don’t be afraid to do what you want,’” she said.
It’s not unusual for leaders on campus to be women. Some of the university’s highest positions are occupied by women, including Catherine Maninger, vice president for finance and business operations and chief financial officer, and Joey Croslin, vice president for human resources, chief human resources officer.
“I think we’ve always had a pretty balanced proportion of gender on our administrative teams,” Croslin said. “In fact, we’ve, at some times, been more female than male, but it will be interesting to see how our chief executive officer manages us and leads the university.”
Croslin said it’s a benefit that the university president and police chief both happen to be women because they can offer a new perspective. She said she has a lot of respect for her female colleagues in administrative roles.
Croslin is on the board of trustees and was a part of the selection of the new university president. She also led the search for the next chief of police.
“I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve been provided here at OCU, and I think those opportunities are based on my merits and qualifications and experience, and I’m always been very grateful for my supervisors that have believed in me and for the team that I have,” Croslin said.
Croslin said she feels empowered by fellow leaders. She said the focus on hiring or electing officials isn’t gender, but how qualified applicants are.
“As an inspirational affirmation, you’re thinking about your own professional career and who you aspire to be, it’s kind of inspiring to see females in positions of leadership,” she said.
Madison Clark, dance management junior, said it’s necessary for OCU to have a female president who encourages women to speak out.
“I think it’s important right now, especially because of all of the recent news in sexual harassment and kind of undermining women in the workforce,” Clark said, “Knowing that we have a voice keeps women from being scared of what they want to do.”
Because OCU is 65 percent women, the leaders of the campus should reflect that, Clark said.
Clark said she admires women like Jo Rowan, director and chairman of the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment.
“I think becoming a mentor is a result of being mentored and knowing women who are good role models and set standards for themselves and have goals,” Clark said.
Martha Burger
Burger is an alumna and member of the board of trustees since 2008. She said she is humbled and proud to be the first OCU female president.
“I’m really excited to be able to serve OCU and Oklahoma City in this way,” Burger said.
Burger has been a part of the United Way of Central Oklahoma Women’s Leadership Society and was a speaker at the 2017 annual Women in Leadership Conference hosted by the Meinders School of Business.
“In my career in the business world, there were several times where I’ve been the first woman at whatever it was, so I don’t think about it a lot,” she said. “But I am now realizing, as people are reaching out to me, how proud I am of that.”
Burger said she is motivated to inspire other women through her work.
“I have sponsored and mentored and developed women who are professionals in the business community for decades, so I think this is one more way that I can pave the way,” she said.
Burger said she is excited to connect with students on campus and mentor them in a positive way.
“It’s just so energizing to be around that environment, and I’m really thrilled to interact with and hear what’s on the minds of the students.”
Some students also expressed their approval of Burger’s selection.
“Her experience as a woman is probably very valuable,” said Madison Clark, dance management junior. “I think she could offer a lot to the student body, to how student government is run, how academics play a part into our campus as far as moving forward with female careers, and I think she can bring some good insight to men as well.”
Administrators also said they’re excited about Burger’s new position and would like to get to know more about her.
“It’s an exciting time for Oklahoma City University with Martha Burger coming in as president,” said Joey Croslin, vice president for human resources and chief human resources officer.
“We’ve never had a female president, so it will be interesting to see how she leads the university.”
Jordan Tarter 
Tarter is the first woman to serve as SGA president since 2014.
Tarter said she thinks women are often seen as being less qualified, which is why she’s happy to see women in high leadership positions.
“I think it is amazing to see so many women stepping up and taking these positions, not just because they’re women, but because they’re right for the job,” she said.
Tarter said she’s excited to see what Burger and Rodgers accomplish, and she said both women are qualified for their positions.
“When I look at the police chief and I look at the new president of the university, I see women that have worked hard to get past any stereotypes, any discrimination… women that have earned their places,” she said.
Tarter said her friends and, especially, her family inspire her.
“I have so many powerful men and women in my life,” she said. “It’s not just women who inspire me to be a woman of power. It’s the men around me as well that are diligent, fair and hardworking that respect me because I’ve earned their respect.”
Tarter said sometimes it can be difficult to be a woman in power.
“I have definitely been talked down to,” she said. “I have been talked over, but I feel like being president of SGA would be helpful because, sometimes, to have a larger voice, you need a bigger podium.”
Tarter said she’s excited to see conversations changing and leading to equal opportunities for all genders.
“I firmly believe, as more and more qualified women are earning positions of power, that we will begin to see great leaps and bounds for equality and understanding,” she said.
Alison Sloan, acting sophomore and public relations representative for Tarter’s campaign, said she became emotional when Tarter won.
“It’s just a really exciting time for Jordan and women in general right now,” Sloan said.
Sloan said she hopes people can normalize women in power so it’s not as shocking.
“It’s almost like women can do whatever men can,” she said.
Jennifer Rodgers 
Rodgers earned a Master of Arts in criminal justice administration from the university and served as adjunct professor in the criminal justice program. She was sworn in Jan. 29 as the first female campus police chief.
Rodgers said she’s excited about the new female leaders on campus because they were the most qualified.
“We’ve all been selected for our particular background,” she said. “I don’t think it had anything to do with being female, it just was a coincidence that it had never happened before.”
Rodgers said she looks forward to working with Burger and Tarter to continue moving the university forward.
Rodgers said her job comes with hurdles, especially for women.
“We’re not as easily accepted because of old stereotypes of women,” she said. “I want to do the job for the same exact reason that a man would want to do the job. The difficulty is that I felt like I’ve had to work harder for the places I’ve been able to get to and the jobs that I’ve had.”
Rodgers said the OCU community has been welcoming and inclusive, a difference she’s noticed from “mainstream America.”
“I’ve been on police calls as an officer away from campus in my old job, where I would step out of the car and the calling party would say ‘Oh, they sent a girl,’ and they wouldn’t want me there,” she said. “I would be so shocked because I’m thinking, ‘I’m a well-trained officer ready to take whatever on and risk my life for this person, and they don’t want me there.’”
Rodgers said she’s always had to prove herself every day and continues to do so.
“It’s not like you get to this point and you’re done proving yourself. Every day there’s another challenge and another decision and another obstacle. So it’s a continual process, not a one-time thing,” she said.
Rodgers said having female leaders is important, especially for younger women.
“I don’t see myself as a role model, but for a younger person, they may see that in me,” she said. “I would be honored for them to see that in me.”
By Miguel Rios, editor-in-chief emeritus, and Zoe Travers, editor-in-chief, contributing: Emily Wollenberg, associate web editor
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