Oklahoma City Community College Appoints First Black Woman President

Dr. Mautra Jones, newly appointed president of Oklahoma City Community College.Dr. Mautra Jones has been appointed president of Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC), making her the first woman and first woman of color to lead the institution. She will start her tenure on March 1.

Jones will also be the first Black woman to lead any higher education institution in Oklahoma that is not a historically Black college or university (HBCU).

Jones will leave her current role as vice president of institutional advancement and external affairs at Langston University, Oklahoma’s sole HBCU.

Higher education employees are only 10% Black, according to data from the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources. Only one third of university or college presidents identify as women, and of those only 5% are women of color.

"I recognize the tremendous responsibility that comes with this appointment," said Jones. "I am grateful to be supported by a strong network of influential women working together to build more equitable workplaces."

Jones is a member of VEST, a community of women established in 2020 with the aim of helping more women access the pipeline to positions of power and influence.