Natalie Shirley, past chair and member of the University of Oklahoma, Cameron University and Rogers State University Board of Regents, will deliver Cameron University’s Commencement address to the Class of 2024 on Friday, May 3, in Cameron Stadium. The ceremony will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Following Shirley’s address, Cameron’s 2024 graduates will receive their diplomas. A fireworks display will conclude the ceremony, which will celebrate students who completed their degree requirements in December 2023 or who will complete requirements in May, July or December 2024.
In January 2018, Shirley was selected as the first female president and CEO of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Prior to that, she concurrently served as president of Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City and as Oklahoma Secretary of Education and Workforce Development. Serving as the Secretary from 2015-2018, Shirley worked with Governor Mary Fallin to implement the Oklahoma Works program, designed to increase educational attainment for Oklahomans to produce a more educated workforce to support and cultivate the state’s economy.
From 2007-2011, she served in Governor Brad Henry’s Cabinet as Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Tourism. Shirley was responsible for the Workforce department and was the liaison between the governor, five major state agencies, and more than 30 small agencies, authorities, and institutions. During this time, she also served as Executive Director of the Department of Commerce, the state’s leading economic development agency.
Shirley served as president of ICI Mutual in Washington, D.C., after serving in various leadership offices in the company. She currently serves on several business boards and was appointed by Governor Kevin Stitt to the University of Oklahoma, Cameron University and Rogers State University Board of Regents in 2018.
An Oklahoma native, she graduated from Oklahoma State University and earned a law degree from the University of Oklahoma. Shirley lives in Oklahoma City with her husband Bill and has six children.
For more information on Cameron University’s May 3 commencement ceremonies, go to https://www.cameron.edu/commencement.
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PR# 24-055
