Northern Oklahoma College regents rehired president Diana Morris Watkins Wednesday afternoon extending her contract two years.
After the contract was approved, Watkins said, “I am grateful to the NOC Board of Regents for the continued opportunity to lead the college’s incredible faculty and staff as we seek to more efficiently and effectively prepare students to join Oklahoma’s workforce.”
Regent Mike Loftis said, “I just want you (Watkins) to know how much I, and the other regents as well, appreciate what has happened in the past year and how this has turned around. The numbers that we are seeing, the budget we have been able to put together for next year, and the positive momentum that is going on is remarkable.”
Watkins was named interim NOC President in December 2023 and was hired as the institution’s 15th president in May 2024. She formerly served NOC as the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Vice President for NOC Stillwater, and Language Arts instructor at NOC Stillwater.
A graduate of Perry High School, she then earned an Honors Program Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary English Education from Oklahoma State University where she also earned her Master’s Degree in Teaching Learning and Leadership and is currently a doctoral student in Higher Education and Student Affairs.
Watkins enjoys practicing yoga, running, reading, and attending sporting events, concerts, and theatre performances. Her daughter Emma, an NOC alumni and graduate of Mount Holyoke College, is a barista and a communications fellow for the Keats Shelly Association of America.
The contract extension was approved at the regents meeting in Tonkawa. Watkins’ contract is from July 1 – June 30.
Northern Oklahoma College, the state’s first public two-year community college, is a multi-campus, land-grant institution that provides high quality, accessible, and affordable educational opportunities and services.
NOC serves nearly 3,100 students through the home campus in Tonkawa, branch in Enid, and NOC/OSU Gateway Program in Stillwater. Of these students about 80% receive financial aid and/or scholarships. 75% of NOC students complete their degree with zero debt.
The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers associate degrees in three general areas: Arts, Science and Applied Science; the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs; and the Accreditation Commission for Education and Nursing.
For more information about Northern Oklahoma College please call (580) 628-6208 or visit the NOC website at www.noc.edu.
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