OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma (May 15, 2025) — Oklahoma City Community College President Dr. Mautra Staley Jones will be inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame this fall. Oklahoma’s highest honor, this recognition celebrates Dr. Jones’ extraordinary leadership and contributions in education, service, and her unwavering dedication to the state of Oklahoma.
Raised in Ardmore, Oklahoma, Dr. Jones has dedicated her life’s work to creating opportunities for Oklahomans at home and abroad. With her appointment as president of OCCC — the state’s fourth-largest institution of higher education — in 2022, she made Oklahoma history as both the first woman and first person of color to lead OCCC, and as the first and only African American woman to lead any institution of higher education in Oklahoma that is not an HBCU. Since stepping into the role, she has greatly impacted higher education policy and led the college into a new era of growth, national recognition, and student-focused innovation.
Under her leadership, OCCC has:
- Been named a top online college by Newsweek.
- Awarded more than 17,000 micro-credentials in the past year alone.
- Held tuition flat for seven consecutive years — making it the most affordable college in Oklahoma.
- Earned a top 10 national ranking for its online psychology program (Forbes Advisor).
- Been designated a National Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, among many other notable achievements.
Dr. Jones’ professional impact extends far beyond OCCC. She previously provided executive leadership to higher education and nonprofit institutions, where she strengthened both fundraising efforts and institutional strategy. Her leadership also is felt throughout the civic and business sectors. She currently serves on the boards of BancFirst and BancFirst Corp., Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma Hall of Fame and Oklahoma Watch. She serves on the advisory board for OKC for Soccer. She is also a member of the Higher Learning Commission’s Credential Lab Advisory Board, as well as Rutgers University’s MSI Presidential Mentor program. Dr. Jones is also active in Young President’s Organization (YPO), Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and Rotary Club 29.
Her transformational leadership has been recognized nationally by Forbes, Fortune and Black Enterprise, and she was recently named one of the “Top 10 Black Higher Education CEOs to Watch.”
“Being inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame is deeply humbling,” said Dr. Jones. “It’s a full-circle moment — to be honored by the state that raised me, and to represent the communities and institutions that continue to shape my life’s work.”
Dr. Jones shares her journey with her husband, U.S. District Judge Bernard M. Jones II, and their three children. Her ability to lead with purpose while remaining grounded in family and faith has made her a role model to students and professionals across the country.
A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Dr. Jones went on to receive her MBA from the University of Phoenix at San Diego and her doctorate from Vanderbilt University’s prestigious Peabody College.
The 2025 Oklahoma Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Nov. 13, 2025 at the Arvest Convention Center in Tulsa.
