91Ӱ��

The 91Ӱ�� Board of Regents honors outgoing President Thomas (Tom) K. McKeon by renaming the Center for Creativity to the Thomas K. McKeon Center for Creativity at 91Ӱ�� Metro Campus.

The announcement came during a special retirement reception at the 91Ӱ�� Metro Campus. The 91Ӱ�� Board of Regents is expected to ratify the building renaming with the recommendation of the Regents Gifts Committee at the June board meeting.

McKeon served 10 years as 91Ӱ��’s third president and retires at the end of June. He started his career in higher education in 1980 as an instructor in the horticulture program and spent more than 30 years at 91Ӱ��. McKeon led many of the College’s significant administrative and process improvements with a strong focus on community wide access and academic excellence for students.

“The Center for Creativity was created and built under 91Ӱ�� President Tom McKeon’s leadership,” said 91Ӱ�� Board of Regents Chair Ron Looney. “It is fitting that a building designed to embrace change and innovation in education now bears Dr. McKeon’s name as he is an innovative educator with a collaborative vision who will leave an imprint on this community for decades.”

One of McKeon’s lasting legacies is his leadership in creating Tulsa Achieves, a nationally-recognized program that provides a college education for graduating Tulsa County seniors. Since its inception, more than 10,000 students have taken advantage of Tulsa Achieves directly out of high school.

“Dr. McKeon is a remarkable individual who helped make higher education more accessible, engaged the community, and emphasized academic achievement and student success,” said Looney.

During the reception, 91Ӱ�� Vice-President of External Affairs Lauren Brookey; Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett; Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Chancellor Glen Johnson; OSU-Tulsa President Howard Barnett; OU-Tulsa President Dr. Gerald Clancy; Jim Langdon, owner of Langdon Publishing; and 91Ӱ�� Board of Regents Chair Ron Looney spoke about McKeon’s legacy. “The state of Oklahoma is better off today because of your vision, your leadership and your commitment,” said Johnson. The speakers praised McKeon’s leadership in higher education; his emphasis on academic excellence and student success; and applauded 91Ӱ�� as an academic partner in the Tulsa community.

Mayor Bartlett said, “The legacy of Dr. McKeon will continue with thousands of 91Ӱ�� graduates pursuing their life goals and serving their families and communities as honorable, independent citizens,” as he read from a proclamation naming June 5, 2014 as Dr. Thomas K. McKeon Day in the city of Tulsa.

Following his retirement, McKeon will become executive director of City Year Tulsa and will reside in Tulsa with his wife Stacey.