John deSteiguer

John is Oklahoma Christian's Senior Vice President for Advancement and has been with OC since January 2003. He earned his B.A. in Economics, Summa Cum Laude, from Northeastern State University in 1984, and a Juris Doctorate, Magna Cum Laude, from Pepperdine University in 1989. Prior to coming to OC, John practiced law from 1989-1993 with the Dallas law firm, Haynes and Boone, and served as Northeastern State University's Director of Development from 1993-2002. John is married to Darla and they have two children, Joe and Abby. They attend the Memorial Road Church of Christ in Edmond.

Phone: (405) 425-5094, email: john.desteiguer@oc.edu

Kent Allen
Kent serves as the Major Gifts Officer for Oklahoma Christian. He is originally from Wichita, Kansas. He graduated from Oklahoma Christian in 1979 with a degree in Bible. He was a part of the ministerial staff at Memorial Road Church for 25 years. Before joining Oklahoma Christian, Kent served as the director of operations for Continent of Great Cities. CGC is a ministry that places missionary teams throughout the Latin world.

His wife's name is Phyllis. They have two sons, both OC grads. Both sons played basketball for the OC Eagles. They are: Kelly, and his wife Kristin (also an OC grad), and Kory.

Phone: (405) 425-5094, email: kent.allen@oc.edu

Will serves a dual role as Assistant Director for Foundation & Corporate Relations and Assistant Director for Annual Giving. He is responsible for managing the University's phonathon, faculty/staff giving, and other annual advancement projects. He also works to grow relationships with philanthropic foundations and corporations in our community, and serves as a grant writer for various University initiatives. A 2007 graduate of Oklahoma Christian, Will brings an eclectic mix of skills to the Advancement Team. He holds a B.A. in English, with minors in Bible and Mass Communication, as well as an M.B.A. in Leadership & Organizational Development.

Will lives in Edmond with his wife, Amy ('09), who works as a freelance artist, craft designer, and party planner. Will and Amy attend the Edmond Church of Christ.

Phone: (405) 425-5115, email: william.blanchard@oc.edu

Maria started working for Oklahoma Christian in the summer of 2008 and she currently serves as the Administrative Assistant for Advancement. She graduated OC in 2007 with a BS in Organizational Communication. She is married to Matt and they have one daughter, Ella. They attend Memorial Road Church of Christ.

Phone: (405) 425-5094, email: maria.clark@oc.edu

Stephen Eck

Stephen began working for Oklahoma Christian University on September 1, 2000 as Director of Advancement for OC’s Portland, Oregon branch campus, Cascade College. In August 2004, Stephen and his wife Megan moved to Oklahoma City where Stephen began working at Oklahoma Christian as the Director of Alumni Relations, while attending law school in the evenings. After spending two years as the Director of Alumni Relations, Stephen began his current position as the Director of Planned Giving in August 2006. Stephen graduated from Oklahoma Christian University in 1992 with a B.A. in Bible. In 1998 he graduated from MidAmerica Nazarene University, in Olathe, KS, with a Master's of Business Administration. Stephen completed law school earning the Juris Doctor degree on May 17, 2008, from Oklahoma City University.  Stephen passed the Oklahoma Bar exam in July and was sworn in by the Oklahoma State Supreme Court in September of 2008.  Stephen’s academic focus during law school centered in Estate Planning and Constitutional Law. Stephen is married to Megan (Thomas '93) They have two children, Elijah Thomas, and Meredith Leigh.

Phone: (405) 425-5118, email: stephen.eck@oc.edu

Amy Gower
Amy Gower has been the Alumni Relations Coordinator since July 2008. She earned her degree in Interior Design from Oklahoma Christian in 1988. After graduating she worked for OC alum Dave Smith at Midwest Trophy . She then stayed at home with her two children Amelia and Asa. She became a regular face in the Piedmont school district first as a volunteer and then working for the district for 8 years in their Special Education and Pre-K departments. Amy is married to Skip who is also an OC graduate. They attend Soldier Creek Church of Christ in Piedmont.

Phone: (405) 425-5110, e-mail: amy.gower@oc.edu

Jo Griffin
Jo Griffin serves as director of Foundation and Corporate Relations. She had previously served the university as an advancement officer. Griffin joined Oklahoma Christian in October 2007 with the primary responsibilities for raising funds for the College of Arts and Sciences. Prior to joining OC, she served as associate director of Corporate and Foundation Relations for the University of Georgia. From 1997 to 2003 she was region director, supply chain solutions, with PREMIER, INC of Charlotte, N.C., where she was responsible for implementing more than 750 group purchasing contracts in more than 40 institutions in the southeast. Griffin is a cum laude graduate of Abilene Christian University where she received a B.S. degree in psychology. She resides in Edmond and attends the Memorial Road Church of Christ.

Phone: (405) 425-5119, e-mail: jo.griffin@oc.edu

Cree Hammond Gathright
Cree Hammond Gathright is a Maryland native. She became part of the OC family in Aug 2008. Cree serves OC as Associate Planned Gift Counsel.

Cree received her Juris Doctorate from Oklahoma City University School of Law and was sworn in by the Oklahoma State Supreme Court in 2009. Cree is an attorney in the state of Oklahoma.

She has been employed, volunteered or interned at the District Attorney's Office, the Public Defender's Office, the Court of Criminal Appeals, and Fellers, Snider, Blankenship, Bailey and Tippens, P.C., all of which are located in Oklahoma City.

Cree is married to her best friend Derick Gathright. Derick is a 26 year military veteran. He also officiates basketball in Oklahoma County. They are the parents of three amazing children. Derick II, lives and attends college in Kentucky. Skye is a junior at Oklahoma Christian. She is also a captain on the OC cheerleading team. William is a seventh grader in the Edmond school district. He plays football and basketball.

Phone: (405) 425-5092, e-mail: cree.gathright@oc.edu

Jamie Haworth serves as the Advancement Records Coordinator for Oklahoma Christian University. She is originally from Muskogee , Oklahoma. She attended Oklahoma Christian College from 1988-1992 and graduated with a BS in Office Management. After graduating she worked as an Administrative Assistant at Windsor Group Insurance Company for two years and an Office Manager for Sundance Rehabilitation Services for five years. She returned to Oklahoma Christian University in 1998 to work for the Vice President of Advancement as an Administrative Assistant and Gift Processing Coordinator. As Advancement Records Coordinator, she assists all the members of the Advancement and Alumni team with their database needs.

Jamie (Lashley) Haworth married Chris Haworth who is also a 1991 OC graduate and they have two children, Christopher and Camden. They are members of the Quail Springs Church of Christ.

Phone: (405) 425-5094, email: dana.holley@oc.edu

Dana began working at Oklahoma Christian University in 1998 and served as Administrative Assistant in Special Events and the Parent Association until 2003. Since then she has served as Executive Assistant to John deSteiguer, Vice President for Advancement and currently serves as Executive Assistant to President, Mike O'Neal.

Dana has three children that have all attended OC. Her oldest daughter, Amber Holley Brune graduated from OC in 2004 with a degree in Family Studies and her son Bryson, graduated Spring 2010 with a Sports and Recreational Management degree. Her youngest daughter Emilee is currently an OC Senior majoring in Early Childhood Education. Emilee is a part of New Reign, a group of OC students who travel throughout North America sharing the Gospel and spreading the word about Oklahoma Christian through their contemporary a cappella concerts.

Dana attends the Memorial Road Church of Christ.

Phone: (405) 425-5094, email: dana.holley@oc.edu

Christine Merideth

Christine is the Oklahoma Christian Women's Association Coordinator. She earned her B.S. in Mass Communication/Public Relations and Advertising from Oklahoma Christian in 1991. After graduating she served Oklahoma Christian as a Women's Residence Hall Director from 1992-1994. She also worked in the human resources department for Windsor Group Insurance Company in Oklahoma City from 1991 to 1993. Christine is married to Bobby who is also an OC graduate and they have three children, Ryan, Lawson and Payton. They attend the Memorial Road Church of Christ in Edmond.

Phone: (405) 425-5122, email: christine.merideth@oc.edu

Michael Mitchell

Michael is Oklahoma Christian's Director for Annual Giving. He is responsible for overseeing the university's phonathon, faculty/staff campaign, and OC Associates Program. He also works with individual donors to help find connections between their charitable interests and the mission of the university. Since joining the OC team in the fall of 2003 as a Residence Hall Director, Michael has served in a variety of rolls including Director of Alumni Relations and Major Gifts Officer. Michael holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Marketing from Oklahoma Christian, a master's degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Oklahoma, and is currently a Ph.D. student in Education Leadership and Policy Studies at Oklahoma State University.

He is married to Annaleise Mitchell, a 2004 graduate of Oklahoma Christian and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. They are members of the Mayfair Church of Christ in Oklahoma City.

Phone: (405) 425-5126, email: michael.mitchell@oc.edu

Bob Rowley

Bob Rowley, Senior Advancement Officer, has been with OC since September 1970. He earned his B.A. in Bible from Oklahoma Christian University in 1970, and a M.A. in Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1987. Bob is married to Lynne Hearn, an OC alumnus who serves as Executive Director of Elementary Education for Edmond Public Schools. He also serves as minister for congregations in Fairview and Okeene Oklahoma.

Phone: (405) 425-5109, email: bob.rowley@oc.edu

Emily Stringer

Emily serves as an assistant for Planned Giving. She joined the OC Advancement team in November of 2007. Emily holds a B.S. in Family Studies from Southern Nazarene University and is currently working towards her Masters in Business Administration at Oklahoma Christian University. Emily is married to John Stringer, an OC Alum, and they have a baby girl, Graysen Marie. They also have a spoiled Weimaraner named Pepper. Emily and John attend the Edmond Church of Christ.

Phone: (405) 425-5112, email: emily.stringer@oc.edu