Governor's collegiate leadership series
June-July, 2025 (seven-week series)
This Summer, a group of friends who are leaders in Oklahoma are joining together to convene the ninth annual "Oklahoma Summer Leadership Series". The goal is to facilitate quality, value-based leadership in the state of Oklahoma. The strategy is to identify college students and young professionals in major Oklahoma cities who are passionate about success, leadership, and making a difference in their communities. We will have experts from various fields share with these students their individual perspectives on servant leadership.
The focus will be on the experiences, challenges, and lessons learned from the lives of successful leaders from various careers and professions. Through fellowship and discussion, we hope to introduce students of Oklahoma to men and women in leadership positions, who will open up their personal stories for insight and wisdom in addressing ‘real-world’ problems.
The common thread these students and the speakers will examine this Summer are the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, depicted through the experiences of leaders in our state. Each of them have a unique journey, story, and perspective in this regard, but all have concluded that these principles are the most important guidelines for leading well. Our goal is to provide young people with tangible guidance in determining the values by which they will live their lives.
Each week will feature two or three leaders who have a passion for giving away the principles and lessons learned, and who are willing to be vulnerable and transparent about the challenges of life and leadership that they have experienced along the way. Additionally, the summer will consist of small groups and mentorship.
We will do a wrap-up at the end of the summer with a dinner and gathering at the Governor’s Mansion with state leaders.
If you are interested in being a part of this for this summer, please fill out the application below. We look forward to spending the summer together while discussing identity, relationships, purpose, and servant leadership. You can call 918-731-3302 if there are questions.
Apply here
Important information:
There is no cost associated with the Oklahoma Summer Leadership Series.
If you are a college student, recent graduate, or young adult, you are welcome to apply.
The experience is more enriching when participating with a friend, so feel free to forward the application to anyone you think might enjoy the experience.
This summer we’ll be offering the Oklahoma Summer Leadership Series in two locations; OKC & Tulsa. Please specify which location you’d like to attend in your application.
LOCATION & DATES:
Tulsa | Thursday Nights
Oklahoma City | Monday Nights
Dates Coming Soon!
TIME: 7PM TO 9PM
Some of the friends around the state who are supportive and have participated in the past and/or will be involved this summer include the following:
Aaron Bolzle, Shut Up and Write, President
Amy Foskin, Former Executive Director, Ernst & Young, Civic Community Volunteer
Angela Kouplen, Senior VP, ONE Gas
Brandon Lamb, Vice Chairman, Newmark
Byron and Karen Brenneman, co-founders, New Day Orphanage, Beijing, China
Carol Mathews, CEO Hero Productions
Corbin McGuire, Managing Director RNM Recruiting
Dana Kuehn, Justice, Oklahoma Supreme Court
Dave Rader, Oklahoma State Senator, former NFL player, and Alabama and TU football coach
Deniese Dillon, Founder and Chairman, Dillon International Adoption
Drew Files, Owner, Files and Associates
Dr. Chad Phillips, Medical Director, St. John Medical Center Emergency Room
Glen Mulready, Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner
GT Bynum, Tulsa Mayor
Gary Brooks, CEO, Cornerstone Development
Hans Helmerich, Chairman, Helmerich and Payne
James Lankford, US Senator for Oklahoma
Jerry Dillon, former CEO Shadow Mountain Institute, Founder Dillon Adoption Agency
Jim Goodwin, Publisher, Oklahoma Eagle and Attorney at Law
John Heil, Federal District Judge, Northern District of Oklahoma
John O’Connor, Attorney, former Attorney General, State of Oklahoma
Kevin Hern, US Congressman
Kevin Jordan, CEO Black Gold Group
Kevin Stitt, 28th Governor of the State of Oklahoma
Kim Parrish, Federal Judge
Kristian Kelly Bright, Writer/Producer/Creative Consultant
Lijun Lee and Wu Chang Ho, Chinese manufacturing executives, Guangzhou, China
Lucia O’Connor, Tulsa community leader, former Miss Oklahoma
Marc Nuttle, Author, Attorney, and Political Strategist
Mart Green, Board Chair- Hobby Lobby
MaryAnn Williams, CPA, Controller, The Thought and Expression Company
Matt Pinnell, Lieutenant Governor, State of Oklahoma
Mo Anderson, Vice Chairman, Keller Williams Realty
Nick Bright, President, White Wolf Creative
Ray Sanders, Author, Speaker, and Personal Coach
Roger Ramseyer, Vice President, Tulsa, Cox Communications, Tulsa Regional Chamber Board President
Sarah Stitt, First Lady, State of Oklahoma
Sean Kouplen, Chairman and CEO Regent Bank, Secretary of Commerce, State of Oklahoma
Steve Largent, NFL Hall of Fame, former US Congress, CEO CTIA-The Wireless Association
Steve Foskin, President, OKC, CrossFirst Bank
Susan Jordan, Attorney, Gable Gotwals
Thomas Hill, CEO of Kimray Corporation
Tim Downing, Judge, Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals
Tom Bennett, Jr. Chairman, First Oklahoma Bank
Trevor Pemberton, General Counsel, office of the Governor of Oklahoma, former Court of Appeals Judge
Wes Lane, Author and former District Attorney, Oklahoma County
