About President Hale
Dr. Kayla Hale became the 13th president of the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma on Aug. 1, 2023.
With 35 years of experience in higher education advancement in both the public and private sectors, Hale served 25 years at The University of Tulsa, most recently as Vice President of University Advancement and Alumni Engagement where she led a team responsible for securing more than $800 million for the university.
Hale also held the position of assistant vice president for university development at OU-Tulsa. She has also served as director of development and alumni relations at Rogers State University in Claremore and director of public relations and publications at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas.
Actively involved in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education for 32 years, Hale has served CASE District IV in several leadership capacities and is a regular speaker for the organization at the national and district level. She has served as a board member for the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice, the Sanford and Irene Burnstein Foundation, and A New Leaf. She volunteers for the Shining Honor Project and is an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Eastern Oklahoma Chapter.
Hale studied communications at USAO from 1983-85 before completing her bachelor’s degree at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. She earned a master’s degree in business management from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas, in 1995. In 2008, she received a Ph.D. in organizational leadership from the University of Oklahoma.
president's leadership team
JP Audas - Senior Vice President of External Affairs
Dr. David Evans, Vice President of Academic Affairs
Nick Hathaway, Vice President of Business & Finance
Sheppard McConnell - Vice President of Enrollment Management & Student Life
Cathy Perri - Chief of Staff
Mike Ross - Athletic Director