Board tabs new NEO president

December 04, 2008 11:33 pm

— By Debbie Robinson
news@joplinglobe.com
MIAMI, Okla. — The associate vice chancellor of administration for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education was tabbed Thursday night to become the new president of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami.
Jeff Hale will succeed Glenn Mayle, who retired after 10 years as head of the college.
Hale was selected for the job by the Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges.
His salary will be $140,000 a year. He also will receive a $20,000 annual automobile allowance and a $12,000 annual allowance for other expenses. He will assume his new position Jan. 15.
The board announced Hale’s hiring at 8:10 p.m. Thursday after a day of public meetings to introduce the five finalists for the post to the public.
Other candidates were Peggy Dumas Dyer, provost for the west campus at Tulsa Community College; K. Dale Patterson, former NEO administrator and coach who is the assistant director of football operations at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater; Sylvia Burgess, associate vice president for academic affairs and director of faculty development at Cameron University in Lawton; and Timothy W. Faltyn, assistant vice president of academic affairs and division head of arts and sciences at Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City.
Board Chairman Doug Burns said the unanimous selection of Hale was based on his leadership skills.
“He is an accomplished fund-raiser and has experience in increasing enrollment,” Burns said. “Fund raising is most important, and he was the best qualified.”
Hale also assisted with the development, planning and coordination of systemwide enrollment management for the 25 colleges and universities in the state system.
Hale said he sought the position because of the “mission and purpose” of the college, and its unique position as a two-year college where many students live on campus.
“We promise that we will work hard with the faculty and staff, working hand in hand for this institution,” he told the board.
Hale obtained his undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Oklahoma. His doctoral thesis was a study of influences on learning gains among freshman student-athletes.
He grew up in Oklahoma City and has served in higher education since 1990. He has taught at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, the University of Oklahoma and Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He also taught school for six years at Mustang.

In the interim

Tom Poole will serve as president until Jan. 15 and will assist Jeff Hale in his assumption of the NEO presidency through March 1.