Category Faculty & Staff

This is a group photo, pictured from left, Seminole State College Assistant Professor of Business and Entrepreneurs Club sponsor Brad Schatzel, Kara Doan of Frisco, Texas; Savannah Averitt of Seminole; Ava Freeze of Prague; Jentrie Gibson of Chandler; and Katie Simpson of Columbus, Kansas, gather at East Central University’s Stonecipher School of Business in Ada following the Tiger Tank and Tiger Trak business competitions Nov. 12.

SSC Business Students Win at ECU Competition

Josh Hutton

Five business students from Seminole State College traveled to the Stonecipher School of Business at East Central University in Ada on Nov. 12 to compete in a series of business-focused events. The team returned with a collection of awards and cash prizes ranging from $25 to $250.

The day began with the Tiger Tank business pitch competition, modeled after the television show “Shark Tank.” Three SSC students presented their entrepreneurial ideas to a panel of judges. Katie Simpson of Columbus, Kansas, earned second runner-up for her pitch, Next Level Athletics, a sports training complex aimed at developing young athletes. Savannah Averitt of Seminole and Ava Freeze of Prague took first place in the underclassmen division with their concept, Savalon, a full-service family salon with a welcoming, community-centered focus.

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In this photo, an ariel view is shown of a crowd lining the road as the women’s soccer team departs campus.

SSC Rallies for Women’s Soccer Team Before National Tournament

Josh Hutton
In this photo, Women’s Soccer Head Coach Dan Hill thanks the students, faculty, staff and community supporters in attendance at the event.

Seminole State College hosted a send-off on Nov. 14 for the women’s soccer team ahead of their appearance at the NJCAA Division I Women’s Soccer National Tournament in the E.T. Dunlap Student Union. Women’s Soccer Head Coach Dan Hill thanks the students, faculty, staff and community supporters in attendance at the event. SSC President Lana Reyolds, Board of Regents Chair Marci Donaho, SSC Educational Foundation Chair Mark Schell and Student Government Association President Adisen Williamson also spoke at the event, wishing the team well on their competition.

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SSC Representatives Attend Oklahoma Academy Town Hall

Josh Hutton
In this photo, SSC sophomore Ethan Rich (left) of Prague poses with former Trojan baseball player and SSC Alumni Hall of Famer Chris Schroeder, Director of the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma, during the Oklahoma Academy Town Hall.
SSC sophomore Ethan Rich (left) of Prague poses with former Trojan baseball player and SSC Alumni Hall of Famer Chris Schroeder, Director of the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma, during the Oklahoma Academy Town Hall. Schroeder served as a panelist during the event.
In this photo, SSC President Lana Reynolds, SSC sophomore Ethan Rich of Prague and SSC Educational Foundation Chair Mark Schell pose for a group photo.
Pictured at the 2025 Oklahoma Academy Town Hall in Tulsa, Oct. 26–29: SSC President Lana Reynolds, SSC sophomore Ethan Rich of Prague and SSC Educational Foundation Chair Mark Schell.

Seminole State College sophomore Ethan Rich, of Prague, was selected as one of only ten students from colleges and universities across Oklahoma to participate in the 2025 Oklahoma Academy Town Hall, held Oct. 26–29 at the River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa. Also representing SSC were President Lana Reynolds and SSC Educational Foundation Chair Mark Schell.

This year’s Town Hall theme, “Forging Our Future Beyond ARPA,” focused on how Oklahoma can build on American Rescue Plan Act investments to strengthen communities and drive long-term resilience. Over four days, participants collaborated with civic leaders, policymakers and community advocates to develop actionable public policy recommendations.

Founded in 1967 as a nonpartisan forum to advance sound public policy, the Oklahoma Academy adopted its Town Hall model in 2001 to convene diverse voices and convert ideas into consensus recommendations. The organization will compile and publish findings from this year’s discussions following the event.

“Ethan represented SSC incredibly well,” President Reynolds said. “We’re proud to see our students engaged in meaningful conversations about Oklahoma’s future.”

Prospective Students Explore Physical Therapy at SSC Meet and Greet

Josh Hutton
In this photo, Seminole State College Physical Therapist Assistant program Director Shakira Stafford talks with prospective students inside the PTA lab housed at Gordon Cooper Technology Center during the College’s in-person meet and greet on Oct. 20.

Seminole State College Physical Therapist Assistant program Director Shakira Stafford talks with prospective students inside the PTA lab housed at Gordon Cooper Technology Center during the College’s in-person meet and greet on Oct. 20. Attendees met faculty and current students, learned about curriculum, clinical education, financial aid and explored career opportunities.

SSC Welcomes Retirees Back to Campus

Josh Hutton

Retired employees from Seminole State College, shown here with photos from the college’s historical archives, gathered for a reunion breakfast held in the Haney Center on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

Group of retired SSC employees pose for photo.

Pictured seated (left to right) are: Judy James, Debbie Robertson, Janet Waddell, Debbie Hammond, Patty Bland, Susan Shumaker, Mindy Stufflebeam and Mary Ann Hill. Standing (left to right) are: Ted Hurt, Tom Stephens, Larry Vickers, Rusty Beene, Dan Factor, Dave Helseth, Norma Gillespie, Dr. Noble Jobe, Dr. Linda Goeller, David Cobb, Susan Walker, Mark Spencer, Rick Hanson, Kelly Chastain, Kelly Kirk, Larry Birdwell, Fred Bunyan, Travis Qualls, Dr. Rebecca Kennedy, Dr. Richard Wood and Cynthia Yerby.

SSC Employees Recognized at Statewide Conference

Josh Hutton

Three Seminole State College employees were honored at the 58th annual Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges’ conference on Oct. 3 at Oklahoma City Community College’s Visual and Performing Arts Center. During the event, Assistant Professor and Accreditation Coordinator Dr. Deanna Miles was named SSC Faculty Member of the Year; Alecia Bailey, NASNTI Computer Science Specialist, was named Professional Staff Member of the Year; and Alisha Riojas, Bookstore Clerk, was named Support Staff Member of the Year.

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Veteran Attorney Irven Box Talks Civil Liberties with SSC Students

Josh Hutton
In this photo, Assistant Professor of Social Sciences Paul B. Smith and Attorney and former Oklahoma City police officer Irven Box pose for a photo.

Attorney and former Oklahoma City police officer Irven Box spoke to Assistant Professor of Social Sciences Paul B. Smith’s American Government class at Seminole State College on Sept. 29. Box, whose nearly six-decade career spans civil rights, civil liberties and criminal law, along with TV legal analysis during the O.J. Simpson trials and coverage of the Oklahoma City bombing case, tied his experiences to the class’s study of the First, Second, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Eighth Amendments.

Constitution Day Event Draws Crowd at SSC

Josh Hutton
In this photo, Seminole State College Professor of Government Jeffrey Christiansen addresses a packed audience during the College’s annual Constitution Day event on Sept. 17 in the Enoch Kelly Haney Center Lecture Hall.

Seminole State College Professor of Government Jeffrey Christiansen addresses a packed audience during the College’s annual Constitution Day event on Sept. 17 in the Enoch Kelly Haney Center Lecture Hall. Christiansen’s presentation, titled “The Story of the Bill of Rights,” explored the historical roots, drafting and enduring impact of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

‘Networking Beyond the Budget’ Brings Statewide Collaboration to SSC

Josh Hutton
In this photo, 22 business office professionals from 14 public colleges, universities, and agencies across the State pose for a group photo.

Seminole State College recently hosted 22 business office professionals from 14 public colleges, universities, and agencies across the State for a “Networking Beyond the Budget” workshop and luncheon. The event was held at the Enoch Kelly Haney Center on Tuesday, Sept. 16. Those in attendance included (pictured left to right): Nick Hathaway, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education; Mark McMullen, Tulsa Community College; Melanie Rinehart, Seminole State College; Zachary Dumas, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education; Andrew Boes, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education; Damita Kennedy, University of Central Oklahoma; Cheryl Moudy, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M; Nicole McPhetridge, University of Oklahoma; Jon Fields, Redlands Community College; Anita Simpson, Northern Oklahoma College; Audra Biggs, Northern Oklahoma College; Julie Hix, Seminole State College; Michael Allgood, Rogers State University; David Pecha, Northwestern Oklahoma State University; Bobby Fisher, Rose State College; Ashley Bishop, Tulsa Community College; Kent Lashley, Rose State College; Lori Boyd, Southwestern Oklahoma State University; Mark Bisson, Southeastern Oklahoma State University; Brittney Whitsell, East Central University; Chandra Miller, East Central University; and Ryan McCulloch, Tulsa Community College.

SSC Expands Social Sciences Division, Aims to Launch Paralegal Program

Josh Hutton
In this photo, Seminole State College Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Bill Knowles, Assistant Professor Paul B. Smith, J.D, Assistant Professor Dr. Brenda Prochaska and Social Sciences Division Chair Jeffrey Christiansen pose for a photo following a meeting about the College’s Paralegal program, set to launch in the fall of 2026.
Seminole State College Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Bill Knowles, Assistant Professor Paul B. Smith, J.D, Assistant Professor Dr. Brenda Prochaska and Social Sciences Division Chair Jeffrey Christiansen pose for a photo following a meeting about the College’s Paralegal program, set to launch in the fall of 2026.

Seminole State College has hired Paul B. Smith, J.D. and Dr. Brenda Prochaska as Assistant Professors in the College’s Social Sciences Division. Smith, a former District Attorney for Oklahoma’s 22nd Judicial District, will help the College prepare to launch an Associate in Applied Science in Paralegal Studies in August 2026.

Smith served as District Attorney for District 22 — which includes Seminole, Hughes and Pontotoc counties — from January 2017 to January 2023. He previously held leadership roles in the office, including First Assistant District Attorney and Chief Prosecutor beginning in 2011, and Assistant District Attorney from 1990 to 2011.

During his tenure, Smith prosecuted major felony cases across the district, including a 2017 “no-body” child-abuse murder case — a homicide pursued without the victim’s remains — that drew state and national attention. He also led or participated in appellate and policy work related to jurisdictional changes following McGirt v. Oklahoma. He was admitted to the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018, authorizing him to file briefs and appear before the court.

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