Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) President Jerry Steward has been selected to serve on the board of directors for the Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Steward is a passionate advocate for workforce development, student diversity and community engagement. He has played a key role in advocating for the Hispanic community, particularly in the Capitol Hill District where he worked with City Hall to secure funding from the Economic Development Trust Downtown/MAPS Tax Increment Finance (TIF) district to construct a new OCCC Capitol Hill Center. The college renovated the historic Langston’s and Katz Drugstore buildings at Southwest 25th Street and Hudson Avenue, and the new OCCC Capitol Hill Center is now open and offering expanded educational opportunities to the community.
“I am humbled by the opportunity to serve on this board,†says President Steward. “I’ve had the privilege to work with the Hispanic community for many years and I look forward to being more involved in an organization that makes such an incredible impact on Oklahoma City’s economic development.”
As part of his ongoing community outreach efforts, President Steward is also a member of the board of directors for the Oklahoma Higher Education Heritage Society, INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center, State Chamber of Commerce of Oklahoma and Allied Arts. He also serves as chairman for the Board of Commissioners of the Oklahoma City Housing Authority, the chair of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education’s Council of Presidents, and a member of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce Education and Workforce Development Steering Committee. Throughout his professional career, he has held many other positions of leadership in the community and is also a member of Leadership Oklahoma, Class XX.
The Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is a community based organization located in the heart of Oklahoma City with a membership of over 400. The chamber’s primary purpose is to serve local community needs, focusing on those that impact businesses.
OCCC enrolls more than 20,000 students and is currently the largest adult basic education provider in the state. OCCC offers a full range of associate degree programs that prepare students to transfer to baccalaureate institutions while other degree and certificate programs prepare students for immediate employment. At OCCC, students receive a quality education with small class sizes, dedicated professors and leadership opportunities. Students can choose from more than 80 major fields of study and participate in any of the 40+ clubs and organizations. For more information about OCCC, visit www.occc.edu.