By Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice
OKLAHOMA CITY – Chancellor Sean Burrage plans to use his experiences in Oklahoma education to get more students from the state interested in pursuing higher education.
“I hope that we can spread the message that higher education is accessible in Oklahoma,” Burrage said. “And the end result being a higher number of degree holders in Oklahoma, which in turn makes up a more educated workforce, which will drive the economy. So all this is about providing opportunity to Oklahomans and driving our economy.”
Burrage, sworn in Dec. 5, is the 10th chancellor to lead the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. This state system includes 25 state colleges and universities.
Burrage outlined other priorities, including meeting workforce needs, working with the private sector and keeping tuition affordable during a recent interview with Oklahoma Voice.
He said Blueprint 2030, the strategic plan by the regents to produce workforce-ready graduates by focusing on student success and improving system efficiency, sums up his priorities as chancellor. Burrage served on the planning committee for Blueprint 2030.
Meeting workforce needs in Oklahoma, specifically in critical operations such as teachers, nurses and engineers, remains a priority.
“I want to make sure we’re working closely with the private sector to make sure that the people that are coming out of our colleges and universities have the skill set to meet the needs of those businesses,” he said. “College degrees are one thing, but college degrees that meet workforce needs are even better.”
Keeping tuition affordable will remain a priority of the state regents and chancellor, but Burrage said he wants greater accountability from colleges and universities. He said institutions will be asked to present their composite financial index, which is a number that measures the overall financial health of the institutions, and what they’re doing to make college affordable and accessible.
A ‘Product’ of Oklahoma Public Education
Burrage said he is a product of the Oklahoma education system and he has dedicated his life to improving higher education in the state.
Born in Durant and raised in Antlers, Burrage is a member of the Choctaw Nation. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s in accounting and a law degree.
He previously served as the vice president for executive affairs and chief of staff at OU and as president of Southeastern Oklahoma State University. From 2011 to 2014 he served as minority floor leader of the Oklahoma Senate and was elected twice to represent Rogers and Mayes Counties. Burrage also was a managing partner with Taylor Burrage Law Firm in Claremore.
OU President Joseph Harroz said in a statement that Burrage’s time at OU helped to shape some of the university’s “most significant achievements.”
“To know Sean is to experience his quick wit, grounded nature, and sincere connection with others,” he said in a statement. “It’s these qualities, beyond his professional contributions, that make him such a cherished friend and colleague to so many of us. We are indebted to him for his selfless service – both to the university and to our state and its citizens – and there is no doubt that his dedication will continue moving our state forward as Oklahoma’s 10th Chancellor.”
Liz Cobb McCraw, vice president for student affairs at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, said that Burrage is uniquely qualified for the role of chancellor.
“He is keenly aware of the duty we have to all the people of Oklahoma,” she said in a statement. “He is a public servant and has spent his career in service to the people of Oklahoma.”
Burrage said his leadership style has been influenced by Oklahomans such as Harroz and David Boren, a former U.S. senator and OU president.
“Watching those individuals and their leadership styles has been a big part of how I’ve developed my own style,” he said. “I’ve always tried to be open and accessible. I hope I’m relatable. I try to have empathy for whoever I’m meeting with, to try to see their point of view.”
