OCCC President Mautra Staley Jones joins Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame

Oklahoma City Community College President Dr. Mautra Staley Jones was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class. The honor adds to a growing list of state recognitions for Jones and highlights OCCC's expanding profile in workforce training, academic innovation and student success.

Why it matters: - Dr. Mautra Staley Jones' induction spotlights OCCC's growing role in Oklahoma higher education and workforce development. - The honor adds another major recognition to Jones' record of state and national leadership in education. - The award also reflects OCCC's visibility beyond the Oklahoma City campus, including recognition tied to online learning, cyber defense and artificial intelligence.

What happened: - Oklahoma City Community College President Dr. Mautra Staley Jones was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class. - Jones has led OCCC since March 2022. - The Oklahoma Higher Education Heritage Society announced the Hall of Fame honor for leaders who have served higher education across the state.

The details: - Jones said she was “deeply honored” by the induction and credited the OCCC community, including the Board of Regents, Foundation trustees, faculty, staff, retirees, donors and alumni. - Jones thanked the Oklahoma Higher Education Heritage Society and congratulated the other 2026 inductees. - Under Jones' leadership, OCCC says the college has expanded workforce partnerships, strengthened academic innovation and increased opportunities for students in Oklahoma and beyond. - OCCC has received national recognition from multiple organizations, including Newsweek for its online division. - Forbes Advisor ranked OCCC's Psychology program among the top 10 online associate degree programs in the U.S. - MovieMaker Magazine ranked OCCC's Gray Frederickson Digital Cinema Program among the top 30 film schools in North America. - The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security designated OCCC as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense. - OCCC also established the National Center of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence and Workforce Development, powered by Amazon Web Services. - Jones was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2025. - Jones was inducted into the Oklahoma Hispanic Hall of Fame in 2026 and the Oklahoma African American Educators Hall of Fame in 2022. - Jones serves on the Higher Learning Commission Board of Trustees, the National Science Foundation Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering, and the Association of Community College Trustees Presidents Advisory Committee. - Jones is also a presidential mentor for the Rutgers University MSI Aspiring Leaders Program. - Jones serves as a board director for BancFirst and BancFirst Corporation. - Jones is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Rotary Club International. - Jones earned a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma's Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communications and was named a Distinguished Alumna. - Jones holds an M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix at San Diego and an Ed.D. from Vanderbilt University's Peabody College of Education and Human Development. - Jones is married to United States District Judge Bernard M. Jones II, and they have three children. - The Hall of Fame was created to recognize people who have provided distinguished service to higher education in Oklahoma. - Since the society's founding in 1991, more than 350 educators, administrators and higher education supporters have been inducted. - The 2026 class also includes leaders from Tulsa Community College, Seminole State College, Eastern Oklahoma State College, Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma.

Between the lines: - Jones' induction continues a pattern of high-profile recognition that underscores both her individual influence and OCCC's institutional momentum. - The college's mix of online learning, cyber defense and AI-related programs suggests an emphasis on workforce-facing education that aligns with state and employer needs. - The broader 2026 Hall of Fame class includes presidents, administrators, faculty and supporters, showing the award's focus on higher education leadership across multiple roles.

What's next: - OCCC is likely to continue building on its current leadership agenda in workforce partnerships, academic innovation and student access. - Jones' expanded profile may help OCCC strengthen relationships with state, academic and industry partners. - The Hall of Fame recognition adds another public marker of Jones' influence as she continues to lead the college.