Editor’s note: This article was updated to add new information about the presidential candidate forums
The first presidential candidate forum revealed Dr. Bryan DePoy as the first of four finalist candidates.
DePoy works as the current senior vice president for academic affairs and institutional effectiveness at Lake Erie College and has worked and taught in higher education for over 27 years. He also worked as dean of the College of Creative Arts and Communication at Youngstown State University, as well as other music faculty positions at Delta State University and Southeastern Louisiana University. DePoy holds a doctorate in music from Florida State University.
In 2016, DePoy served as Lake Erie College’s interim president while the school searched for a new president. DePoy’s position at LEC serves as the chief academic officer and oversees Student Affairs and the general scheduling and planning for LEC.
During his time at LEC, DePoy created a program called “Pathway to Empowerment,” which intended to help students reach their full potential in higher education. DePoy said the program helped this past year with student retention rate, even as the COVID-19 pandemic affecting student retention rates nationwide.
DePoy said community engagement is an extremely important value to him, and one of his goals is to talk to the community to discover their needs and help address them. He said he remembers what one of his former superiors at a previous position told him when engaging with the campus community.
“The president at the time said ‘whatever you do, Bryan, I want you, at the beginning of the day, ask what you are doing to serve your community,’” DePoy said during the forum. “And I really took that to heart. ”
DePoy said another one of his goals is to have the different disciplines across campus come together to support each other and the students.
“I would define a successful presidency, under my leadership here, to be one where we have a truly integrated learning environment. Where we have faculty, staff, the president, the cabinet, deans, the entire campus community having a deep understanding as to the societal needs of the region in which we reside,” Depoy said.
DePoy also said he sees a great opportunity with OCU’s location to get involved in the Oklahoma City community for real world learning experience.
“I think what you have here in Oklahoma City is a really unique environment for service learning, for contributing to a community, for looking at an integrated learning experience,” DePoy said. “What integrated learning experience means is to really place a focus on how people will learn, look at their education as a whole and then applying it in the real world as often as possible.”
Several students in both the student session and the general session asked DePoy about if he would commit to shifting OCU to renewable and sustainable energy. DePoy said he is motivated to learn more as long as it supports the campus community, if chosen for president.
“I am deeply committed to making sure anything we do as a university is done for not only student success, but to uplift the community,” DePoy said.
Despite performing arts being his pathway to working in higher education, DePoy said his background will have no impact on his decision making for the school as a whole.
“My personal academic background is in the performing arts. I can’t change who I am. That was my vehicle to get into higher education,” DePoy said. “Never once have I taken my personal background–professional background–and make any decision based upon that except maybe occasionally teaching.”
Ian McEntire, economics/political science freshman, said DePoy is a pragmatic leader.
“He has great ideals and tangible ways to achieve those ideals,” McEntire said. “I think he is a very efficient fundraiser, a very efficient strategic planner, and I would be excited to see the positive changes he would be able bring to OCU, if instated as the new president.”
During the forum, McEntire asked DePoy about how he would manage the school in case of emergency, framing the question within the context of the winter storm that affected OCU in February. DePoy said after making sure the students are safe, he would do his best to continue the student’s education.
“It’s a difficult question. I wish I would’ve been able to get his answer after a little bit more thought, but I think he’s on the right track to providing a more stable campus,” McEntire said.
OCU President Martha Burger declined to comment on the presidential search since it is a Board of Trustees matter, but she sent Student Publications a statement about the process.
“I care very deeply about ensuring the next president of our University represents and supports our full student body. However, it’s important for me to allow the search committee to independently complete its work. I have absolute faith the search committee and our Board of Trustees will choose a leader who respects our students and our mission, and who is committed to honoring diverse opinions and uplifting our community,” Burger wrote.
The last finalist candidate to host a forum with the campus community was on March 11. The Presidential Search Committee have not stated a date for when the new president will be chosen.
To see information about the second presidential candidate, visit this link.
To see information about the third presidential candidate, visit this link.
To see information about the fourth presidential candidate, visit this link.
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