Dr. Jeanie R. Webb is the incoming new president of Rose State College.
Late Thursday, Feb. 28, the school’s Board of Regents announced Webb’s appointment as the seventh president of the college. She will assume the role July 1 when Dr. Terry Britton retires.
Webb told the EastWord News that she is honored to be selected by the Regents to represent the college. As the school’s first female president in history, Webb will soon bring her experience and background to the office of the president but says she is not ready to talk about her "vision" just yet.
She wants Dr. Britton to get full credit for what he has accomplished and is still doing for the college until he retires.
"I don’t want to take away from that," Webb said.
As a mother of an 11-year-old, Webb will juggle her career as president, but this is not unfamiliar territory. Her husband, Dr. Roger Webb, was college president at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond for many years.
He recently retired but is working as an interim headmaster at a private school until a permanent person is hired, Webb said.
Roger’s interim contract will end in June, which will be just in time for Webb to take the presidential reins at Rose State College.
No matter what challenges lie ahead, Webb said she is glad to have the support of her family, whom she received permission from to apply for president in the first place.
After she learned of her promotion, Webb spent the evening with her family to celebrate. Dinner at Cheddar’s and then shopping at Dick’s Sporting Goods to buy soccer gear for their daughter is how the Webb family spent last Thursday.
Webb said her daughter was absolutely beaming about the big news and was talking excitedly about helping mom decorate her new office when she moves in this summer.
According to Webb, her daughter does not want to be a college president one day like mom and dad. She wants to be an interior designer.
New leadership
"The Rose State College Board of Regents is excited to announce the appointment of Dr. Jeanie R. Webb as the next president of Rose State College. Her broad background and experience in higher education administration, plus her energetic and enthusiastic approach to the development of new programs that will provide our students with the foundation needed to succeed in life, make her the ideal choice for this position. We look forward to working Dr. Webb as she guides Rose State College forward," said Regent Joe Cole, chairman of the Board.
A product of a community college herself, Dr. Webb has served Rose State College as the vice president of student affairs for the past 12 years. Before coming to Rose State College, Dr. Webb had begun her career teaching at Northeastern Oklahoma State University in Talequah as an instructor and progressing to associate professor. She then served as assistant vice president of academic affairs and dean of the campuses of Northeastern Oklahoma State University where she was responsible for the design, development and implementation of the three campuses.
Dr. Webb has been active in many professional and civic organizations including the Midwest City and Del City Chambers of Commerce, the Economic Advisory Board, the 72s APB COMMSTAR and 552d ACW Honorary Commander Programs to name just a few.
"I am excited about the future of Rose State College and am honored to serve as its next president," Webb said. "Higher education is facing many challenges in the coming years but we have two powerful strengths… a talented and loyal faculty and staff and dynamic student body; and the fact that we are situated in a vibrant growing community across the street from Tinker Air Force Base.
"I am challenged by the many possibilities that lie ahead."
