UCO Foundation Names New Board Members and Board Leadership

Sept. 1, 2020

Media Contact: Kandace Taylor, Marketing and Public Relations Director, UCO Office for Advancement, 405-974-3553, ktaylor55@uco.edu

UCO Foundation Names New Board Members and Board Leadership 

The University of Central Oklahoma Foundation recently announced the election of five new members to its board of trustees and a new board chairperson. Each member will support the UCO Foundation’s work to provide scholarship assistance to deserving students and support for faculty, campus activities and vital programs at Central.

Joining the board of trustees are Tammy Alger; Ann Benjamin; Michael Chandler, D.D.S.; Freda Deskin, Ph.D.; and, Jack Evans. Emily Lang will serve as board chairperson.  The new board members began their three-year term July 1. Lang’s term is two years. 

“We are excited to expand our board with five new members who will bring diverse expertise and insight to our work,” said Anne Holzberlein, UCO Foundation president. 

“Each of our new board members exemplifies the spirit of community and brings expertise, talent and a fresh perspective to the table. I am delighted to welcome such a strong group, and I look forward to serving with each of them in the coming years.”

Alger is the senior vice president and senior regional manager of Consumer and Business Banking at Bank of Oklahoma Financial Corporation, a role she has held since January 2016. An alumna of Central, Alger previously worked at U.S. Bank and BMO Harris Bank.

Benjamin is a certified and licensed mental health counselor and executive coach in private practice. She earned her master’s degree in guidance and counseling from Central in 1977. Benjamin formerly worked as a speech therapist for the Employment and Residential Centers and as a school counselor for Edmond Public Schools.

Chandler owns Edmond Dental Center. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry in 2000. After graduation, he completed a general practice residency at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Oklahoma City for one year, followed by three years of service in the National Health Service Corps. 

Deskin is the CEO and founder of Advanced Science and Technology Education Public Charter Schools (ASTEC). She establishes and oversees ASTEC budgets, accreditation and academic accountability, along with marketing, staffing, strategic planning and logistics, training and development, and developing short- and long-term goals. An alumna of Central, Deskin previously served as dean at Oklahoma City University and as principal at ASTEC.

Evans is the founder and co-owner of Caerus Holdings LLC, which owns TimberCraft Homes LLC, Three Jacks LLC, Centerline Construction Services, and Thirteenth and Elm LLC. Before his career in real estate, he worked as assistant vice president at MidFirst Bank. Evans is an alumnus of Central holding a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance. 

Lang is a public relations expert with a background in journalism and public affairs. Before co-founding Price Lang Consulting in 2011, Lang worked for the attorney general’s office as a public information officer and legislative liaison before leaving to lead a gubernatorial campaign.

“Emily is a standout leader in the public relations sector, bringing passion, creativity and commitment to her work for the greater good. I am looking forward to the next two years with Emily at the helm of our board,” Holzberlein said.

To learn more about the UCO Foundation, visit centralconnection.org. 

The 2020-21 board members are: 

Executive Committee 

• Emily Lang, Chairperson
• Brad Pumphrey, Past Chairperson
• Mike Patterson, Vice Chairperson
• Peggy Kates, Secretary
• Brandon Webster, Treasurer
• Randy Ross, At-Large
• Mike Moore, Audit and Finance Committee Chairperson
• Stacy Bozarth, Committee on Trustees Chairperson
• Margaret Brisch, Donor Relations Committee Chairperson
• Sheila Stinson, Governance Committee Chairperson
• Candace Hobbs, Investment Committee Chairperson

Members

• Ancel Airington
• Tammy Alger
• Jeff Atkins
• Lee Beasley
• Sherry Beasley
• Ann Benjamin
• John Bobb-Semple 
• Victoria Caldwell
• Michael Chandler
• Jeff Coil 
• Freda Deskin
• Carlos Evans
• Jack Evans
• Violet Ford
• Peggy Geib
• Ben Harris
• Joshua Hart
• Ana Carmina Herrera Dange
• Michael Kloiber
• Thomas Kupiec
• Alexis LoPresto
• Joni McClain 
• Patrick Mok 
• Juliane Morgan
• Kirby Ross
• Todd Russell 
• Paige Williams Shepherd
• Carolyn Stager 
• J. Michael Steffen
• Scott Streller 
• Tom Thompson
• Stacy Tiger
• Max Tuepker
• Larry Westmoreland
• Garland Wilkinson
• Ruth Boss, Emeritus Trustee
• Mike Collison, Honorary Trustee
• Judy Love, Honorary Trustee
• Edmund Martin, Honorary Trustee
• Gerry Pinkston, Emeritus Trustee
• David Thompson, Honorary Trustee

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Editor's Note: Download art associated with this release at

https://media.uco.edu/press/BoardOfTrustees2020

Cutline: The University of Central Oklahoma Foundation recently announced the election of five new members to its board of trustees and a new board chairperson. Each member will support the UCO Foundation’s work to provide scholarship assistance to deserving students and support for faculty, campus activities and vital programs at Central. Joining the board of trustees are Tammy Alger; Ann Benjamin; Michael Chandler, D.D.S.; Freda Deskin, Ph.D.; and, Jack Evans. Emily Lang will serve as board chairperson.