Oklahoma Christian commencement to feature Chickasaw governor

Eighty-three students will earn their graduate degrees in the ceremony, to be held in OC’s Hardeman Auditorium at 10:30 a.m.

Originally from Tishomingo, Anoatubby began work for the Chickasaw Nation in 1975. Prior to his 1987 election as governor, he directed the tribe’s health services department and finance department, served as special assistant to the governor and controller, and was elected the tribe’s first lieutenant governor.

When he became governor, the Chickasaw Nation had about 250 employees. Today, the tribe employs more than 12,500 people, and its assets have grown twentyfold.

Anoatubby has held many board positions, including his role as vice chairman for the Oklahoma Heritage Association Board of Directors. He also has served with the Arkansas Riverbed Authority, the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center Board of Advisors, Integris Health, Inc., the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes, Leadership Oklahoma, the Native American Cultural and Educational Authority, the Oklahoma Business Roundtable Board of Directors, the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, and the Oklahoma State Fair Inc., Board of Directors.

This will be OC’s first graduating class under new President John deSteiguer and Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs Larry Jurney.