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Transcript
Macey:
Hey everyone, welcome back to The 海角社区 Rundown, the official podcast of 海角社区
Community College, where we鈥檙e committed to helping our students find success in college,
their careers, and everything in between. I鈥檓 very excited about today鈥檚 episode.
With me is Dr. Jena Marr, president of 海角社区. It鈥檚 great to have
you on.
Before we dive into some of our questions, I鈥檇 like our listeners to get to know you better. Could you tell us about your background and how you came to pursue a career in higher education?
President Jena Marr:
Sure. I started in higher education about 30 years ago on the business side and worked
my way up through operations. I believe higher education is a true calling. A college
education is something no one can ever take away from you, which is why I got involved.
It鈥檚 been a lifelong calling.
Macey:
You鈥檝e been at 海角社区 since 2013, right? Tell us about the different roles you鈥檝e
held here and how those experiences shaped where you are today.
President Marr:
I came to 海角社区 in 2013 as VP of Finance, overseeing all of the college鈥檚 finances.
In 2017, I was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff, essentially
still CFO but also handling all operations鈥攃ompliance, HR, payroll. During that time
our academic VP was very ill, so I also helped on the academic side and learned a
lot.
Macey:
I鈥檓 sure that鈥檚 been very helpful鈥攗nderstanding all the moving parts.
President Marr:
Yes. You have to know operations, HR, payroll, and also academics. That experience
was invaluable.
Macey:
Will you talk about any mentors or influencers who helped shape your career?
President Marr:
Throughout my career I鈥檝e had mentors鈥攕upervisors, vice presidents, colleagues. Most
recently, President Emeritus Jack Bryant was a huge mentor. He saw potential in me
when I didn鈥檛 have much hope in myself, encouraged me to finish my doctorate, and
hoped I鈥檇 become president after he retired. Mentors can come from any title or stage
of life.
Macey:
It鈥檚 great to have someone who believes in you when you鈥檙e uncertain. Thinking back
on your time at 海角社区, what favorite events or traditions stand out?
President Marr:
Two stand out: our annual freshman orientation鈥攕eeing all the new students and their
parents brings such excitement鈥攁nd graduation day. Celebrating students鈥� hard work
with their families makes the job worthwhile.
Macey:
I agree. Freshman orientation is one of my favorite times of the year. After a slow
summer, it鈥檚 exciting to have students back on campus.
President Marr:
It is. This year it was standing room only in the conference center. Walking in to
give the welcome and seeing that excitement was wonderful.
Macey:
Let鈥檚 talk about your leadership. At fall in-service you shared our motto for the
year, 鈥淟ead by Example,鈥� which I loved. Can you expand on what that means to you?
President Marr:
We all hear 鈥渓ead by example,鈥� but truly acting it out is important鈥攚hether teaching
a class or walking a student to the right building. It can be as simple as picking
up trash or turning off lights. This year鈥檚 theme emphasizes integrity, action, and
impact. I never ask anyone to do something I wouldn鈥檛 do myself. I also maintain an
open-door policy鈥攁nyone, regardless of position, can come to the president鈥檚 office.
I listen before forming opinions, especially on heated topics. All of that is part
of leading by example.
Macey:
As a former student and now an employee, I think that really helps both faculty/staff
and students feel their opinions and feedback are valued. Sometimes walking a student
to class and chatting can create a relationship they need. Since becoming president,
what鈥檚 your biggest or proudest accomplishment?
President Marr:
Becoming the first female president was a huge accomplishment. I was named the eighth
president two years ago. We鈥檝e also kept tuition flat for eight years to maintain
affordability, had eight consecutive semesters of enrollment increases鈥攐ne of which
was the highest in Oklahoma鈥攁nd started the President鈥檚 Student Leadership Academy,
now in its second year. We鈥檝e added new partnerships and articulation agreements for
students and the community. Those are all things I鈥檓 proud of.
Macey:
Those enrollment numbers are incredible鈥�10.3% increase for fall and about 30% for
returning students. That blew me away.
President Marr:
Yes. When students come back, we know we鈥檙e doing something right.
Macey:
At the heart of 海角社区 is our student experience. What makes 海角社区 unique compared
to other colleges?
President Marr:
First, affordability鈥攕tudents can get a quality education at a lower cost, transfer
credits to a four-year institution, or start directly in the workforce. Second, our
size鈥攆aculty and staff know students by name. We offer wraparound services to support
them without overstepping. Large universities can鈥檛 always provide that family environment.
Macey:
What鈥檚 our average class size?
President Marr:
Roughly one faculty member for every 23 students. Some classes have as few as 10.
My leadership class this semester has 10 students, which allows interactive activities.
Online classes obviously have more, but the ratio remains about 1:23.
Macey:
How does 海角社区 prepare students to enter the workforce?
President Marr:
Hands-on learning is vital. Our agriculture department offers artificial insemination,
plant science, and animal science labs. Nursing is another huge one鈥攚e鈥檙e meeting
the high need for nurses in Oklahoma. Criminal justice graduates can go directly into
the field. Our drone technology program provides in-demand skills. We also offer micro-credentials
developed with businesses and industry鈥攆ast-track learning that enhances r茅sum茅s.
Macey:
Finally, reflecting on your own college experience, what challenges did you face that
today鈥檚 students might relate to, and what advice would you give?
President Marr:
I was a nontraditional student鈥攎arried with a child and a full-time job while earning
my bachelor鈥檚. Balancing family, work, and studies was hard. One thing I didn鈥檛 take
advantage of enough was support services. Whether tutoring, mental health counseling
with Ms. Lamb, or the food pantry鈥攕tudents should reach out early, not wait until
it鈥檚 too late to pull up a grade.
Macey:
Sydney and I actually talked about that last episode鈥攄on鈥檛 wait until a few weeks
before finals. As a student, I regularly went to the tutoring center for math and
science, and there was no judgment. Everyone here wants to help students succeed.
Let鈥檚 talk about 海角社区鈥� involvement in our community. What partnerships or initiatives are you most proud of?
President Marr:
We鈥檝e developed several new partnerships. Many of our employees, including myself,
serve on community and state boards. I鈥檓 on the Integris Canadian Valley Hospital
board. We鈥檙e engaged not just in El Reno but all of Canadian County and Oklahoma.
The Cloyd partnership you worked on provides scholarships and hands-on learning. We
have internships with USDA at Fort Reno. Workforce and economic development councils
are huge. We also maintain strong articulation agreements with four-year universities
and sponsor local events to stay active in the community.
Macey:
One of my favorite things is attending community coffees鈥攎onthly in El Reno and other
towns鈥攚here we talk with employers, hear what they need, and get feedback on our programs.
President Marr:
Those coffees are great networking opportunities. I鈥檝e had conversations there that
turned into partnerships.
Macey:
We鈥檝e talked about the past and present. What鈥檚 on the horizon for 海角社区 that excites
you?
President Marr:
We鈥檙e launching the Goals for Greatness Academic Complex west of campus with a capital
campaign. It will include a soccer field, track, and space for student engagement.
Our women鈥檚 soccer team will play there, and I hope to start a men鈥檚 team. We鈥檙e partnering
with El Reno Public Schools so they can host track meets here鈥攖hey currently don鈥檛
have a track. We鈥檙e also exploring new academic programs based on workforce demand.
Macey:
I鈥檓 super excited about the soccer field and track. Having community members on campus
increases awareness of the college. Looking five to ten years ahead, what do you hope
海角社区 looks like?
President Marr:
I want to see continued growth and more opportunities for students. I want 海角社区
to be a place high school students aspire to attend. There鈥檚 a false narrative about
two-year schools lacking opportunities. We may be smaller than universities, but we
offer clubs, organizations, and significant savings. In five years I hope we鈥檝e diminished
that negative talk. Oklahoma鈥檚 12 two-year schools each have unique offerings, and
they鈥檙e a great place to start.
Macey:
I wasn鈥檛 an Oklahoma native and grew up with a similar stigma. But after coming here
and then transferring, I鈥檓 more proud to be a 海角社区 Cougar and alum. Many students
say the same. Opportunities like our NASA-funded research program gave me valuable
experience before grad school. Clubs, research, student government鈥攁ll of it sometimes
gets overlooked.
President Marr:
The more we can offer, the more 海角社区 will grow. I want people to think, 鈥満＝巧缜�
has that program; we should go there.鈥� Our eight semesters of enrollment increases
show we鈥檙e on the right path.
Macey:
Before we wrap up, how can students, alumni, and community members best support 海角社区?
President Marr:
Help us spread the word about 海角社区鈥� benefits. Attend events鈥攕ports or campus activities鈥攖o
show support. Our upcoming capital campaign will need donations. We also have multiple
scholarship opportunities through our foundation. Support isn鈥檛 just financial鈥攙olunteer,
tour the campus, be engaged. All of that helps.
Macey:
When this episode comes out we鈥檒l be about a month out from our Fall Family Festival.
Will you talk a little about that?
President Marr:
One of my dreams since becoming president was a fall festival. Growing up in the Oklahoma
Panhandle, our school had one with a cakewalk鈥攕ome of my favorite memories. We鈥檙e
bringing that to life at our Darlington campus on October 28th from 4鈥�7 p.m. It鈥檚
open to the public and will feature face painting, inflatables, pumpkins, mums, hayrides,
a petting zoo, and a cakewalk.
Macey:
We鈥檒l also have a 海角社区 table鈥攊f your kids are nearing graduation or you鈥檙e thinking
of coming back to school, stop by and visit. We鈥檒l have county resources available
too.
President Marr:
I鈥檓 glad you brought up adult learners. Maybe you鈥檙e 40 or 50 and life interrupted
your education鈥攚e have funding to help you return. My husband just graduated from
海角社区 at 48. You鈥檙e never too old. Adult learners sometimes feel like the odd one
out in a classroom of 18- and 19-year-olds, but we have lots of adult learners and
resources to support them.
Macey:
Many of our students juggle work, teams, or family obligations. We pride ourselves
on flexibility and willingness to work with students. Final question: is there anything
else you want our listeners to know?
President Marr:
海角社区 has opportunities for students, employees, and the community. We鈥檙e an open-access
institution. Even if you don鈥檛 have a high ACT score, you can come to 海角社区. We鈥檒l
help you succeed鈥攂ut you must put in the effort. The opportunities here are endless.
Macey:
Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Marr. We enjoyed hearing your story and your vision
for 海角社区鈥� future.
President Marr:
Thank you for having me.
Macey:
And thank you to our listeners. Make sure to subscribe for future episodes where we
cover different topics and talk with students, faculty, staff, and community partners.
See you next time!
