Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) has hired Dr. Kathy Wheat as its new Dean of Health Professions. Dr. Wheat holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration Curriculum and Supervision from The University of Oklahoma (OU), an M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from OU Health Sciences Center (OUHSC), and a B.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Sciences and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO).
“I am so thrilled to be coming home to OCCC,” said Dr. Wheat. “The people, culture and work of OCCC, and the Health Professions Division, all represent excellence.”
Dr. Wheat was the founder of OCCC’s Speech-Language Pathology Assistant program, and has since served as Founding Program Director and Associate Professor for the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences MS-SLP programs in Austin and Dallas, Texas. Dr. Wheat is the Chair for the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) Government Affairs and Public Policy Board (GAPPB), and is the former Chair for the ASHA School Finance Committee. She is an ASHA Fellow, National Academies of Practice Fellow, and received the ASHA Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Contributions in Preschool through 12 from the Oklahoma Speech-Language Hearing Association.
“Dr. Wheat is a champion for diversity, equity and inclusion,” said OCCC Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Vince Bridges, who preceded Dr. Wheat in the role as Dean of Health Professions. “She understands teamwork, allows her colleagues the autonomy to perform their jobs, and gives respect and support to the people she works with each day.”
With more than 60 majors to choose from, and more than 40 student-led clubs and organizations, OCCC offers an affordable, accredited college education to around 17,000 students annually, and serves thousands more in non-credit classes and programs. OCCC offers associate degrees, certifications and leadership opportunities to all Oklahomans, whoever they are, whomever they love, wherever they’ve been and wherever they’re going.
For information, opportunities and updates, visit occc.edu and follow @OtripleC on social media.
