NOC Vice President for Financial Affairs Anita Simpson was honored with seven other retirees at the end of the year faculty and staff meeting. Simpson retires after 31 years at the college. (Pictured (L-R): Dr. Rick Edgington, Diana Morris, Anita Simpson, Sheri Snyder (photo by Caroline Hillock/NOC).
Anita Simpson among eight NOC retirees honored
Northern Oklahoma College honored eight retirees at the May 8 In-Service meeting in Tonkawa.
Retiring employees include Teresa Reich, Mary Ann Moody, Brenda Pennington, Terri Pearcy, Fred Heath, Shannon Cranford, Gene Long, and Anita Simpson.
The eight retiring employees totaled over 156 years of experience.
“These individuals will be leaving a legacy of progress in their higher education profession,” said NOC President Diana Morris. “They will be remembered for their many accomplishments and contributions during their tenure here at Northern. For that, we wish to congratulate each of them on their retirement.”
Reich served NOC two years as the Staff Assistant for Financial Aid; Moody served 10 years as a Resident Life Director; Pennington taught Social Science 20 years; Pearcy worked as a Bookstore Assistant 20 years; Heath worked as a custodian 22 years; Cranford was the Human Resources Director for 25 years; Gene Long was Maintenance Assistant Director at NOC Enid 26 years; and Vice President for Financial Affairs Anita Simpson worked at NOC 31 years.
Each retiree’s supervisor said a few words about each retiree listing not only their NOC accomplishments but their personal attributes as well.
Vice President for Enrollment Management Dr. Rick Edgington, Vice President for Community Relations & Development Sheri Snyder, and President Morris spoke regarding Simpson.
“A hallmark of her tenure was the consistent Clean Unmodified External Audits for many years. During her time as Financial VP, she was responsible for oversight of an Educational & General Budget that increased from $7.4 million in FY 1999 to $26.1 million in FY2026 and she increased the Educational & General Fund Reserve Balance from $680 thousand in FY1999 to $5 million in FY2026.
She sustained an operating budget over many years with significant decreases in state appropriation funding and maintained budgeting 70% of the operating budget to personnel services by making strives to increase compensation for all employees.
As part of her overall job duties, she serves as treasurer of the NOC Foundation. During her time the Foundation experienced growth in financial net assets and scholarship awards in the Northern Oklahoma College Foundation. Net assets grew from approximately $1.1 million in FY1999 to $38.6 million in FY2026. Annual private scholarships grew from $28 thousand in FY1999 to $392 thousand in FY2026.
She will be leaving the College with the highest Composite Financial Indicator Score (CFI) that we’ve had as an institution and is projecting that the FY2026 calculation at June 30, 2026 will be even higher due to the donation of the McKenzie Scott gift to the NOC Foundation.”
Morris, Snyder, and Edgington read quotes from NOC President Emeritus Dr. Joe Kinzer, President Emeritus Tom Poole, and President Emeritus Dr. Cheryl Evans.
“Anita’s official retirement from NOC begins on July 2nd,” Morris said. “I, for one, am extremely grateful she chose to get us completely through “budget season” first. We’re going to miss her tremendously, but we’re excited for all the family moments ahead as she gets to focus on being Nina to those twelve amazing grandchildren. On behalf of the NOC Board of Regents, the Foundation Board of Trustees, the Executive Council, and all NOC Staculty, congratulations and thank you.”
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, Enid, and NOC/OSU Gateway Program in Stillwater, and the University Center in Ponca City. 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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