Dr. Dana Gray this fall was named the O.D. Mayor Endowed Professor of Business at Rogers State University in Pryor, where she is housed on the local campus.
“I was attracted to the position of O.D. Mayor Endowed Chair because of the opportunities it provided,” said Gray, who brings a diverse background of higher education experience, corporate marketing and public relations management, as well as extensive volunteer experience with nonprofit and civic organizations. An associate professor of business, Gray joined the RSU faculty in 2005.
“I saw this position as an opportunity to help more students,” she said. “I will help RSU continue to build the Pryor campus and meet the growing needs of the area for education and degrees, to create practical work experience for students, and to work with the Foundation to support the Pryor community. The O. D. Mayor Foundation members are truly inspiring. They care so much about the Pryor community and their passion is contagious.”
The Oliver Dewey Mayor Foundation established the chair in 2002 to help bring highly qualified faculty to the Pryor campus. The foundation honors the legacy of O.D. “Jock” Mayor, a rancher, businessman, entrepreneur and lifelong Mayes County resident. The foundation works exclusively with public, charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes granting awards to institutions, organizations and agencies located within Mayes County, Okla. and Grayson County, Texas.
Gray’s advanced degrees from Oklahoma State University include a doctoral degree in education with extensive background in marketing courses, as well as a master of science from the School of Business. She also received a bachelor of arts in advertising/public relations and mass media news from the University of Tulsa. She previously served as marketing manager for WilTel Communications for more than five years. In addition, she was public relations manager for the QuikTrip Corporation for 17 years. Her research studies focus on marketing for universities, service learning, instructional course design, and adult education. Her corporate experience includes public relations, strategic marketing, market research, product marketing, website development, promotion, media relations, communications and telecommunications.
In January, RSU will move into its new Pryor campus located at the MidAmerica Industrial Park. The new campus is being constructed as a gift to the university by the Oklahoma Ordnance Works Authority, which operates the industrial park. The new Pryor campus will more than double the size of the existing campus, plus add additional features that will enhance both the learning environment and the student experience.
“Pryor students are eager for the new campus to open,” Gray said. “I hope we can create more opportunities for Pryor area students to gain real-world experience through service learning projects and internships. Every semester I look forward to meeting new students and working with them to meet their educational and career objectives. Everyone in Pryor – students, coworkers, community members that I’ve met – has been extremely kind, friendly, and helpful. The administrative team in Pryor is extremely competent and it’s energizing to work with such a synergistic team.”
RSU Pryor Campus Director Sherry Alexander said that Gray has been an excellent addition to campus and that students have really enjoyed getting to know her.
With its small class sizes and personal attention from faculty and staff, the RSU Pryor campus meets the needs of traditional university students, returning adult learners wanting to earn a degree or advance their careers, and high school students who can earn college credit through the university’s concurrent enrollment programs.
RSU is now enrolling for the spring semester, which will be its first at the new campus. For more information, call 918-825-6117 or visit www.rsu.edu/pryor.
NOTE: This story was written by RSU PR intern Brandi Moore.