OCCC Celebrates Four Years of Student Successes with President Dr. Mautra Staley Jones at the Helm

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma Hall of Fame Inductee. Visionary Leader. Four Years of Transformational Impact. In March 2022, Dr. Mautra Staley Jones began serving as the 11th President of Oklahoma City Community College, Oklahoma’s fourth largest institution of higher education.
Her appointment made Oklahoma history as she is the first African American woman to serve as president of any institution of higher learning in the state of Oklahoma that is not an HBCU.
During her tenure, Dr. Jones has positioned OCCC as an internationally recognized institution known for innovation, student-centered excellence, and workforce development, empowering the next generation of leaders. OCCC has continued strengthening Oklahoma’s economy, reaffirming its role as one of the state’s and nation’s most vital pipelines for industry ready talent.
Serving more than 23,000 learners annually, OCCC remains a cornerstone of accessible, high-quality education for both traditional and non-traditional students. With over 18,000 students enrolled in credit-bearing programs and 5,000 in non-credit workforce training, the college combines academic excellence with flexibility, affordability, and community engagement.
More than 50% of OCCC’s student body is first-generation and qualifies for the Federal Pell Grant, reinforcing the college’s commitment to economic mobility and opportunity.
OCCC is Oklahoma’s leading provider of micro-credentials, crossing the threshold of awarding over 20,000 skill-based credentials designed in partnership with industry last year. These short-term, high-quality programs support immediate workforce placement in high-demand fields, helping both employers and learners respond to evolving economic needs.
Academic excellence remains central to OCCC’s mission. Forbes Advisor named the College’s Online Psychology Program among the Top 10 in the nation, while EduMed ranked OCCC’s Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) Program in the national top ten — addressing critical shortages in healthcare, particularly in rural communities. OCCC’s Nursing Program continues to exceed state and national NCLEX pass rates, with health-related programs achieving 100% job placement.
OCCC also gained international attention through its Gray Frederickson Digital Cinema Program, which was recognized by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the top film programs in the United States and Canada. A CBS Morning News segment highlighted the College’s role in supporting Oklahoma’s growing film and television industry, reinforcing OCCC’s position as a key talent pipeline for creative and technical professions.
In technology and national security education, Amazon Web Services (AWS) Machine Learning University recently announced OCCC as a regional lead institution, which established The National Center of Excellence for AI and Machine Learning powered by AWS at OCCC. The College also maintains its designation as a National Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, awarded by the National Security Agency (NSA) through 2027. Programs in cybersecurity, IT, and information assurance align directly with the nation’s highest-need, highest-wage occupations.
Student leadership and institutional excellence also earned national acclaim. The Oklahoma Student Government Association honored OCCC’s Student Government Association with the outstanding delegation award for the entire state, while Newsweek recognized Oklahoma City Community College as one of the top online colleges in the nation. In addition, OCCC’s e-sports program earned national recognition, underscoring the college’s leadership in emerging, high-growth competitive fields.
The Oklahoma Library Association honored the Keith Leftwich Memorial Library at OCCC as Library of the Year for its service to the community. The library was recognized for providing free access to information, technology and educational resources that bridge the digital divide and promotes lifelong learning for not only our students, but also thousands of citizens across the metroplex annually.
Beyond academics, OCCC remains a mission-driven workplace and community steward. The college received its 14th consecutive Tree Campus USA recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation and earned the highest rating from Certified Healthy Oklahoma, reflecting its commitment to wellness, sustainability, employee well-being and a positive people culture.
OCCC’s impact extends far beyond campus boundaries. According to a recent study by the University of Cincinnati Economics Center, the College generated $447.24 million in economic output, supported 4,882 jobs, and delivered $223.95 million in wages statewide last fiscal year. For every $1 invested, OCCC returned $15.95 to Oklahoma’s economy — demonstrating the power of education aligned with workforce outcomes.
Additionally, the Foundation for Oklahoma City Community College earned the 2025 Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid, the highest national recognition for nonprofit accountability and impact reporting.
To say OCCC is on a trajectory to change the world is an understatement. With the leadership of Dr. Mautra Staley Jones, the College continues to soar while her accolades from the broader community are also accelerating. Dr. Jones is a prominent leader in both the civic and corporate sectors. She serves as a Board Director for BancFirst and BancFirst Corporation, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma Watch, and the Oklahoma City Industrial & Cultural Facilities Trust. She also serves as a Board Advisor for OKC for Soccer.
Dr. Jones was appointed to the National Science Foundation’s Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering (CEOSE) and the Higher Learning Commission’s Credential Lab Advisory Board. She also serves on the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) President’s Advisory Committee. Dr. Jones is a presidential mentor for the Rutgers University MSI Aspiring Leaders Program. She is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), a Salt and Light Leadership (SALLT) Fellow, a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma City (Class XXIX), and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (Beta Sigma Omega Chapter), VEST, Rotary Club 29, the Oklahoma County Bar Auxiliary, and Visionary Women of Oklahoma (VOW).
Dr. Jones’ exceptional leadership and dedication have earned her widespread recognition by an assortment of agencies. She is an inductee of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, class of 2025. She was named Oklahoma Citizen of the Year by OKC Friday, and Oklahoman of the Year by Oklahoma Magazine. The Journal Record honored her as Oklahoma’s Most Admired CEO for public companies, and she was acknowledged as one of the 100 Women to KNOW Across North America and honored in Oklahoma’s inaugural class of KNOW Women. KFOR/Nexstar recognized her as Oklahoma’s Remarkable Woman.
As a celebrated figure in education, Dr. Jones was inducted into the Oklahoma African American Educators Hall of Fame and recognized as Woman of the Year by Perry Publishing and Broadcasting, 405 Magazine, and The Journal Record.
MSN named her one of its top ten Inspirational Female Icons in the nation. Forbes recognized her as one of the Top 10 Black Higher Education CEOs to Watch. Dr. Jones’s work has also been covered by Fortune Magazine, Diverse Issues in Higher Education, Black Enterprise Magazine, and the American Association of Community Colleges Journal, highlighting her exceptional leadership and impact.
When asked to reflect regarding her first four years, she shared, “I am blessed to serve in this capacity and appreciate the support of our Board of Regents, Foundation Trustees, students, faculty, staff, retirees, donors and alumni. We are on this remarkable journey together. Our mission is purposeful and powerful: to remove barriers, open pathways, and prepare students for fulfilling lives,” said Dr. Mautra Staley Jones, President of Oklahoma City Community College. “Every learner we serve strengthens our state, nation and world. We invite all to enroll, partner, and invest as we continue building opportunity — one student, one career, and one community at a time.”
Dr. Jones is a proud alumna of the University of Oklahoma, where she earned her B.A. in Journalism from the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communications where she was named a Distinguished Alumna. She holds an M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix at San Diego and an Ed.D. from Vanderbilt University’s prestigious Peabody College of Education and Human Development.
She shares her journey with her husband, United States District Judge Bernard M. Jones II, and they are the proud parents of three outstanding children.
To learn more about OCCC, visit www.occc.edu.