The Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges announces the 2026 Hall of Fame Induction Class
Three individuals who committed their careers to higher education will be honored at the annual luncheon ceremony of the Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges (OACC). The event will begin at 11:45 a.m. on Friday, October 2, at the Tulsa Community College Northeast Campus. OACC Executive Director, Dr. Cheryl Evans shared that members of the 2026 OACC Hall of Fame Class include Mary Cantrell, Becky Henthorn, and Dr. Ron Ramming.
OACC Board Chair, Lana Reynolds stated, “The OACC Hall of Fame tells the story of people who have helped make higher education a possibility for more Oklahomans. This year’s inductees have earned their place in that story through their commitment to students and their service to our state. Their achievements reflect the promise of community colleges: that access to education can change the course of a life and strengthen an entire community. We are proud to honor these individuals alongside the distinguished leaders who came before them. We congratulate them on this recognition and thank them for the opportunities they have created for others and the example they set for those who will follow.”
Mary V. Cantrell, a third-generation Tulsan, graduated from Booker T. Washington High School. She graduated from Knox College cum laude with an English/Creative Writing degree and returned to Tulsa. After working as coordinator of the literary arts program at the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa for a year, she was awarded the Pearl Hogrefe Fellowship to study creative writing at Iowa State University, where she earned her master’s degree. In 1990, she started her full-time teaching position at Tulsa Community College (then Tulsa Junior College).
During her 36-year career at TCC, Cantrell worked as English Adjunct Coordinator, Interim Associate Dean for Communications, Faculty Association President, Co-Chair for the 2008 HLC accreditation self-study, and George Kaiser Family Foundation Endowed Faculty Chair for Dual Credit, a position she proudly held for twelve years. She was integral to TCC’s accreditation by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP), the gold standard for concurrent enrollment programs; she worked with educators across the state to create the Oklahoma Alliance of Dual Credit Partnerships (OADCP); and she collaborated with TCC faculty to create a robust college preparatory program that supports dual credit students as they develop the skills, behaviors, and attitudes needed to succeed in college classes and in the workforce.
Dr. Leah Goodson, President of Tulsa Community College stated, “Professor Mary Cantrell’s more than 35 years of service to Tulsa Community College have been defined by her exceptional commitment to students, academic excellence, and expanded access to higher education. Her leadership in concurrent enrollment and dual credit has created meaningful opportunities for students throughout Oklahoma. This OACC Hall of Fame recognition is a fitting tribute to her lasting impact on TCC and our state’s community college system.”
Ms. Becky Henthorn has devoted more than three decades to transforming higher education and expanding opportunities for students in Oklahoma. As Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Affairs at Murray State College, she has built a distinguished career defined by strategic leadership, institutional excellence, and an unwavering commitment to student success.
Beginning her career at Murray State College in 1995 as a Behavioral Science instructor, Ms. Henthorn steadily rose through the ranks of academic leadership, serving in numerous executive roles before becoming the college’s chief academic officer. Throughout her tenure, she has championed innovation, strategic planning, accreditation, institutional effectiveness, enrollment growth, and workforce development, positioning Murray State College as a leader among Oklahoma’s community colleges.
“Becky Henthorn’s induction is a well-deserved recognition of a career defined by leadership, service and an unwavering commitment to students,” said Murray State College President Dr. Tim Faltyn. “Becky has dedicated herself to strengthening our institution and creating opportunities for students to succeed in the classroom, in their chosen career, and in life. This honor reflects the lasting impact she has made on our college, our students and communities across Oklahoma.”
Dr. Ronald S. Ramming devoted 36 years of his professional career to Connors State College, an institution that first shaped his own educational journey and ultimately became the focus of his life’s work. Raised on his family’s farming operation near Hinton, Oklahoma, Ramming attended Hinton Public Schools before enrolling at Connors State, where he earned an associate degree in Agriculture. He later returned to Connors State in 1990 as an agriculture instructor and assistant livestock judging coach, beginning a career that would lead him through virtually every level of community college leadership.
During his career at Connors, Ramming served as Director of Distance and Extended Education, Dean of Enrollment Services, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, and Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. He was appointed Interim President in 2016 and was named the college’s 17th president in 2017. He served as president through June 2026 and was honored by the Board of Regents for the Oklahoma A&M Colleges with the title of President Emeritus upon his retirement.
“President Ron Ramming’s career represents the very best of Oklahoma’s community college system,” said, NEO President Kyle Stafford. “Ron’s impact extends well beyond Connors through his service and commitment to higher education across our state. His induction into the OACC Hall of Fame is a fitting recognition of his lifetime of service to students.”
Hall of Fame luncheon tickets can be purchased online at: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/oacc-59th-annual-conference
For questions regarding ticket purchases, please contact Jennifer Proctor at 405-736-0294.
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For more information about OACC please visit the website at www.oacc.org or call 405-736-0294.
Media Contact:
Jennifer Proctor – OACC Operations & Project Manager
405-736-0294
(Photo files with inductees’ headshots attached.)
OACC Member Institutions:
Carl Albert State College
Connors State College
Eastern State College
Murray State College
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College
Northern Oklahoma College
Oklahoma City Community College
Redlands Community College
Rose State College
Seminole State College
Tulsa Community College
Western State College
OACC Executive Director:
Cheryl Evans, Ed.D.
cheryl.evans@oacc.edu