Cheryl Evans

Expertise

Institutions and organizations keep selecting Cheryl to lead. She was chosen the first female president of Northern Oklahoma College and served successfully for a decade. She was asked to join a public company board without an energy background, she was asked to serve as a first-time bank director, and most recently was offered the role of executive director of a statewide non-profit when she hadn't applied. She has served as board chair or been a member of the executive committee of most of the organizations that she has joined. She currently is the chair elect of Leadership Oklahoma. She prefers round tables or she sits in the middle of a long one when possible. In her words, "I'm not the commander in a room, I'm the collaborator."

Industry

Cheryl has worked in Oklahoma higher education for more than 30 years, including 17 years at Northwestern Oklahoma State University and ten years as president of Northern Oklahoma College. She has held faculty, department chair, campus dean, and president roles. She now leads the association representing the state's twelve community colleges.

Specialties

• Communicating with and managing multiple stakeholders to achieve goals
• Translating skills and strengths to new roles in different sectors
• Mentoring administrators starting new top-level positions like a presidency
• Developing internal and external partnerships
• Board leadership and nonprofit service
• Higher Education leadership and advocacy
• Women leaders who doubt they belong in the room

Career history