Staff

Kent Allen

Kent Allen Kent serves as Oklahoma Christian's Vice President for Advancement. 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

Chris Adair

Chris Adair Chris serves as Director of Alumni Communications and Research. He is originally from Grove, Oklahoma but grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado. He graduated from Oklahoma Christian in 1997 with a History/Pre-Law degree. Before joining Oklahoma Christian, Chris worked for Allstate Insurance and Ford Motor Credit.

Chris lives in Edmond with his wife Jennifer(Thomas '94) who serves as State Tax Manager for Sonic Drive-Ins, and his twins Connor Matthew and Caton Leigh. They attend the Memorial Road Church of Christ

Phone: (405) 425-5114, email: chris.adair@oc.edu

Will Blanchard

William Blanchard

Will Blanchard (’07) serves OC as Director of Annual Giving. He oversees the University's phonathon, broad-based restricted fundraising efforts, and other annual programs. A proud OC grad, he holds a B.A. in English and an M.B.A. in Leadership & Organizational Development. Since joining OC in 2007, Will has served as a grant writer, foundations officer, phonathon manager, and adjunct faculty member in English Composition.

Will lives in Edmond with his wife, Amy ('09). The Blanchards attend the Edmond Church of Christ.

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

Stephen Eck

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

Jo Griffin

Jo Griffin serves as an advancement officer focusing her time with the OC Associates Program and enhancing the endowed scholarships for the university. She had previously served the university as Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations. 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 Gathright

Cree Cree 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 military veteran. He also officiates basketball in Oklahoma County. Together they are the parents of two amazing children. Skye is a senior in college, and she is also a captain on the cheerleading team. William is an eighth grader. He participates in track, football and basketball.

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

Jamie Haworth

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) 425-5091, email: jamie.haworth@oc.edu

Dana Holley

Dana Holley is a native of West Texas. She moved to Oklahoma in 1988 and 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 in the President's Office as Executive Assistant to Mike O'Neal and John deSteiguer, Sr. Vice President for Advancement. In May of 2011, Dana was named the Alumni Relations Coordinator.

Dana has a great passion for the mission and work being done at Oklahoma Christian University. She has three children that are all OC alumni. Her oldest daughter Amber Holley Brune graduated from OC in 2004, her son Bryson in 2010 and Emilee in 2011.

Dana attends the Memorial Road Church of Christ.

Phone: (405) 425-5110, email: dana.holley@oc.edu

Bob Lashley

Bob Lashley Having worked for Oklahoma Christian in several capacities since 1974, Bob now serves as Executive Director of the Office of Alumni Relations. He has a B.S. degree in Social Work and began his work with OC immediately following his graduation. Over his time at OC, he has served in the areas of admissions, alumni, events and directed student productions of Freshman Fanfare and Spring Sing.

Bob is married to Judi and they have two children, Andy and Aubrie, and four grandchildren. All are OC grads, reside in Edmond and attend the Memorial Road Church of Christ.

Phone: 405-425-5120, email: bob.lashley@oc.edu

Christine Merideth

Christine Merideth Christine serves as the Assistant to the Vice President for Advancement. 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. She returned to Oklahoma Christian in 2000 as the Oklahoma Christian Women’s Association Coordinator. 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) 425-5094, email: christine.merideth@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 Stringer Emily serves as the Marketing Coordinator for Planned and Estate Giving. She joined the OC Advancement team in November of 2007. Emily holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Family Studies and Gerontology from Southern Nazarene University. Prior to her time at Oklahoma Christian, Emily was the Director of Life Enrichment for St. Katharine Drexel Retirement Center in El Reno, Oklahoma. Emily is married to John Stringer, an OC Alum who is the managing partner for the I.T. Guys Corporation. Emily and John have one daughter, Graysen Marie. They are members of the Edmond Church of Christ congregation.

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