Whitney Hocutt promoted to serve as RSU’s Director of Development effective July 1.
Whitney Hocutt’s abilities to inspire and share the story about Rogers State University helped her build a successful and nationally ranked women’s golf program during the past eight years. Those abilities will now be used to inspire alumni and friends to invest in the university.
Hocutt will become RSU’s new Director of Development effective July 1, ending her successful tenure as a coach. In her new role, Hocutt will lead initiatives in helping to secure major and annual gifts, with a focus on engaging with RSU’s young alumni base.
“I am honored to have been selected to be the Director of Development at Rogers State. It is an exciting time on the Hill, and I am looking forward to our future,” said Hocutt. “I would be remiss if I did not say that I will miss coaching and being around my ladies every day – it is about the relationship I have with each of them that matters the most and they know that will continue.
“RSU and our community mean so much to me and I hope to continue to give back to what has given me so many life blessings. The main reason I love what we do at RSU is because of our students and I am thrilled for this adventure to help impact lives. I would like to thank Steve Valencia for trusting me with this opportunity. Our development team is made up of the best people and I am thankful to get to work alongside them.”
Hocutt worked part-time in the Office of Development, first as a media specialist and then as Coordinator of Annual Giving, giving her some experience in the development process.
“When I began the search for this position, I wanted someone who possessed a passion for RSU, who was highly connected to the community, and who could engage a wide variety of alumni and friends,” said Steve Valencia, Vice President for Development. “Whitney checked all the boxes, and I am pleased she accepted our offer. I know she loved coaching. For her to give that up and devote herself to this role on a full-time basis showed me a lot about her commitment to RSU and its students.”
Hocutt graduated from RSU in 2014 with a degree in medical molecular biology and was a member of the golf team. She earned a master’s degree the following year from East Central University.
She began her career as an assistant golf coach at RSU in 2014 before accepting a teaching and coaching position at Miami High School a year later. In 2017, she was named head women’s golf coach at RSU and served as an adjunct instructor.
As a coach, she led the Hillcats to three appearances in the NCAA Division II National Championships, was named the Central Region Coach of the Year and twice named the MIAA Coach of the Year. She coached three Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-Americans and numerous WGCA All-Scholar selections.
In 2019, Hocutt was a 40 Under Forty of Rogers County honoree by the Claremore Daily Progress. She is a graduate of Leadership Rogers County (LRC) and last year was named the Leading Lady in Education by the Claremore Area Chamber of Commerce. Hocutt has served on numerous boards and organizations, currently serving as a board member of LRC and the RSU Alumni Association.