Dr. Patricia Okker
New College of Florida's Newly Appointed President Will Share her Vision for this Important Local Institution
- CDC or other official vaccination record showing full vaccination against COVID-19 (at least 14 days since final dose) must be presented at the door, in addition to a matching photo ID OR
- A negative PCR COVID-19 test no earlier than 72 hours before the event or a negative rapid antigen COVID 19 test no earlier than 24 hours prior to the event.
About President Okker
Patricia Okker, Ph.D., was appointed president of New College of Florida on July 1, 2021, following a lengthy career at the University of Missouri.
After joining the University of Missouri as an assistant professor of English in 1990, she was promoted to full professor in 2004, a year after winning the William T. Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence. From 2005 to 2011, Okker chaired the English Department, overseeing 70 full-time faculty and a $5.5 million annual budget. She then moved to the Provost’s Office, where she developed a new model for academic program reviews of 280 degree programs and led the university’s successful 10-year accreditation team.
From 2017 to 2021, Okker served as dean of the College of Arts and Science, where she oversaw 450 full-time faculty, 135 staff and 6,500 students across 26 departments and schools with an annual operating budget of $120 million. In her role as dean, she has raised the College’s graduation and retention rates by implementing a data-driven strategic plan for student success, and increased the diversity of the faculty.
Her teaching and research interests include 19th-century American literature, American women writers, American periodicals, career preparation in the liberal arts, and writing and wellness. Okker holds three degrees in English language and literature: a bachelor’s degree with honors from Allegheny College, a master’s degree with distinction from the University of Georgia and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
For more information please read this recent article at www.yourobserver.com.
RSVP no later than Friday, December 10th
Date & Time: Tuesday, December 14th 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
Location: The Music Room at College Hall - 351 College Drive, Sarasota, FL 34243
Price: $25 per member and spouse; $35 per non-member.