Natalie Shirley, OSU-OKC President
Natalie Shirley became OSU-Oklahoma City’s president in May 2011. She is the fourth president in the university’s 50-year history, as well as the first female president of OSU-OKC.
From 2007-2011, Shirley served in Gov. Brad Henry’s Cabinet as Oklahoma’s Secretary of Commerce and Tourism. In this position, she was the liaison between the governor, five major state agencies and more than 30 smaller agencies, authorities and institutions. In addition during this time, Shirley also served as the Executive Director of the Department of Commerce, the state’s leading economic development agency.
Prior to that, she was president of Investment Company Institute Mutual (ICIM) Insurance Group in Washington, D.C, after serving in various leadership offices in the company. ICIM is the leading provider of insurance to the mutual fund industry.
In addition to her current role as OSU-OKC President, Shirley serves on several philanthropic boards including the World Association for Children and Parents (WACAP), Calm Waters Center for Children and Families, the Oklahoma CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) Association, and the Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum.
As an Oklahoma native, she graduated from Oklahoma State University and earned a law degree from the University of Oklahoma. Shirley and her husband live in Oklahoma City, have six children and are members of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church.
