Dr. Don Betz
President of University of Central Oklahoma (2011-2019)
Biographical Information
- Born February 16, 1945
- Married Susanne Betz in 1992. They have two children, Sarah and Nick
Education
- 1964- 1965 Loyola University, Liberal Arts Study, Rome, Italy
- 1967 B.A. in Political Science, Philosophy, University of San Francisco
- 1969 University of California, Berkeley NDFL Summer Program (Arabic Language and Culture Institute)
- 1969 M.A. in International Studies, University of Denver
- 1973 Ph.D. in International Studies, University of Denver
- 1976 Sarah Lawrence College, NEH Summer Institute in International Relations
- 1999 Harvard University, Graduate School of Education Institute for Educational Management
Employment
- 1971 - 1994 Faculty/Administration, Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, Oklahoma
- 1982 - 2003 Consultant, United Nations
- 1994 - 1999 Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs, Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport, Iowa
- 1999 - 2005 Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Central Oklahoma
- 2005 - 2008 Chancellor of University of Wisconsin-River Falls
- 2008 - 2011 President of Northeastern State University
- 2011 - 2019 20th President of the University of Central Oklahoma. Retired as President of the University of Central Oklahoma on June 30, 2019
Awards and Affiliations
- Past Board Member, Great Expectations
- Past Chair, Northeast Oklahoma Public Facility Authority
- Past President, Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce
- Past Board Member, BancFirst, Tahlequah, Oklahoma
- Past President, Leadership Oklahoma
- Past Board Member, Educators' Leadership Academy
- Past Member, Awards Selection Committee for the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence
- Past Chair, RUSO Council of Presidents
- Oklahoma Teacher & Leader Effectiveness Commission Board Member
- Chair of the United Nations International NGO Meetings on the Question of Palestine for many years
- Past Chair, AASCU's International Education Committee
- Chair, International Education Committee of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities
- Allied Arts Board Member
- State Chamber of Oklahoma Board Member
- Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum Board of Trustees
- Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
- Oklahoma A+ Schools Board Member
- Edmond Economic Development Authority Board Member
- DaVinci Institute Board Member
- Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation Board Member
- 1985 - 2002 Chairman of the International Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine
- 1991 Recipient of the Medal of Excellence in University Teaching from the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence
- 2011 Fulbright-Hays Seminars for Presidents Scholar held in Jordan and Oman
- 2012 Governor's Award Winner, Oklahoma Arts Council
- 2013 Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame Inductee
- 2015 Leadership Award, Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice
- Executive Committee Member of the International Association of University Presidents, chairing its North American Council
- Member of the Founding Implementation Committee for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities' (AASCU) American Democracy Project
- United Way of Central Oklahoma Board Member
- Member of the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science & Technology
- Member of the North American Council of the International Association of University Presidents Chair of Creative Oklahoma, Inc.
- Member of the Oklahoma Academy, Leadership Oklahoma, Universities and Colleges Presidents' Climate Commitment, Governor's Education Advisory Council
