NSU Alumni Association names new leadership, adds board members

(Tahlequah, Okla.)--A city council member, two higher education professionals and a retired energy corporation employee turned adjunct instructor are adding diverse knowledge, experience and new leadership to Northeastern State Universitys Alumni Association board of directors.

Barbara Abercrombie and Gilbert Hall were recently named the associations new president and vice president, respectively, serving in these roles through 2016. Richard Carter and Jessica Roberts were added as new board members, filling previous vacancies.

Barbara Abercrombie, who currently serves as the associate vice chancellor for Human Resources at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and criminal justice from NSU in 1993 as a non-traditional student, a mother and a first generation college graduate. During her time at NSU, Abercrombie was active in the Non-Traditional Student Association and the Criminal Justice Club.

Abercrombie brings many perspectives to the association presidency after serving numerous roles in her professional career. She has worked in a number of capacities with the Oklahoma College and University Professional Association for Human Resources, the Oklahoma Association for Affirmative Action, the Society for Human Resource Managers and the Arkansas College and University Association for Human Resources.

Abercrombie, who has served on the board of directors for the Alumni Association since 2008, plans to run an organization that can actively and successfully do what NSU did for herchange the course of her and her familys life for the better.

Abercrombie plans to see the board continue the work of immediate past president, Stephen Highers, increasing overall membership, but also seeks to increase the number of times that NSU alumni engage in activities with NSU, the association and affiliate groups.

The best way to encourage people to join and to be active is to find ways they can connect, Abercrombie said. I want to meet them where they are, if thats a mom and dad looking for an evening of fun with friends, we have happy hours and events that will help them connect with friends from NSU; if its a new graduate that needs a mentor to help with a job search, we have N-Link and other programs; if its a retiree that finally has time to volunteer and wants to reconnect with their NSU family, we have programs for them.

Joining Abercrombie to the boards leadership as vice president is Gilbert Hall, a 81 NSU graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and a board member since 2010. While attending NSU, Hall was an active member of the Marketing Club as well as a soloist of the first Kazoo Band of the club.Hall retired from OGE Energy Corp after more than 32 years and has been serving as an adjunct instructor for Connors State College for 21 years.

Hall currently serves as the Chairman of the Eastern Workforce Investment Board, and as a member of the Governors Council for Workforce and Economic Development, the Muskogee Medical Center Authority, the board for Green County Unity Way and as a director of First National Bank of Muskogee.

Newly elected to the board of directors are Richard Carter and Jessica Roberts. Carter graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree from NSU, and attended law school at the University of Tulsa, where he left to gain a commission in the U.S. Air Force.

Following his military career, Carter worked in several industries in human resource-related positions. Carter began his political career in 1993 when he was elected to the City Council of Broken Arrow, and he is presently in his sixth term. After serving two terms as mayor of the City of Broken Arrow, Carter currently serves as its vice-mayor. In 2002, he retired as president and co-owner of a Tulsa-based heat exchanger manufacturing company.

Jessica Roberts is a recent graduate of NSU and currently serves as the NSU Coordinator for Community Engagement for Branch Campuses. After completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Human Performance in 2010, Roberts graduated again in 2013, earning a masters in Higher Education Leadership. While attending NSU, Roberts held multiple leadership roles in Alpha Omicron Pi and the PanHellenic Council and also served as the Rookie Bridge Camp director. She has remained active in Alpha Omicron Pi, serving as an advisor for Chi Theta, and she also currently chairs the Leadership Development Team for Leadership Broken Arrow.

Dr. Abercrombies passion for NSU and her leadership, combined with the contributions of the new board members, will ensure the Alumni Association remains a meaningful resource for the alumni community and the institution, Daniel Johnson, director of Alumni Services said.

Im thrilled and honored to be the president for the Alumni Association, Abercrombie said. Im looking forward to working with a great board and staff to make the next two years as productive as possible for our association.