OKLAHOMA CITY — Dr. Mautra Staley Jones, president of Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC), is set to become one of the newest inductees into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame — the state’s highest recognition.
This fall, Jones will join a legacy of influential Oklahomans, but her name comes with historic weight: she is the first woman and first person of color to lead OCCC, and the first and only Black woman to head any non-HBCU institution of higher education in Oklahoma.
“Being inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame is deeply humbling,” Jones said. “It’s a full-circle moment—to be honored by the state that raised me, and to represent the communities and institutions that continue to shape my life’s work.”
Dr. Mautra Jones to receive her flowers
Jones was raised in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and has dedicated her life to creating opportunities for Oklahomans — from classrooms to boardrooms. Since stepping into her role at OCCC in 2022, she’s led the state’s fourth-largest college through a wave of growth and recognition. Under her leadership, the college:
- Was named a top online college by Newsweek
- Awarded over 17,000 micro-credentials in the past year alone
- Maintained flat tuition for seven straight years, making OCCC the most affordable college in Oklahoma
- Earned a top-10 national ranking for its online psychology program by Forbes Advisor
- Was designated a National Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense
These milestones are part of a broader mission: make higher education accessible, equitable, and future-ready.
Beyond the college walls
Dr. Jones’s impact doesn’t stop at OCCC’s campus. She’s served in leadership roles across both higher education and nonprofit sectors, strengthening strategy and philanthropy wherever she goes.
She currently serves on the boards of BancFirst and BancFirst Corporation, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma Hall of Fame, and Oklahoma Watch. Her national influence also includes the Higher Learning Commission’s Credential Lab Advisory Board and Rutgers University’s MSI Presidential Mentor program. She is a member of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and Rotary Club 29.
Her leadership has been recognized by Forbes, Fortune, and Black Enterprise, which named her one of the “Top 10 Black Higher Education CEOs to Watch.”
Jones balances that national spotlight with a deeply rooted personal life. She shares her journey with her husband, U.S. District Judge Bernard M. Jones II, and their three children.
Dr. Mautra Jones and a legacy impacting Oklahoma
A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Jones earned her MBA from the University of Phoenix at San Diego and her doctorate from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College.
Her work speaks to a broader truth: Black women are not just making history — they’re shaping the future of education, innovation, and equity in Oklahoma and beyond.
Jones will be inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame Class of 2025 alongside Ronnie Dunn (Tulsa), Eddy Gibbs (Owasso), Taylor Hanson (Tulsa), Bert Mackie (Enid), Dr. Michael A. Mares (Norman), and Sam Presti (Oklahoma City).
The induction ceremony takes place on November 13, 2025, at the Arvest Convention Center in Tulsa.
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