After five years as a Northern Oklahoma College regent, Ponca City’s Jodi Cline chose not to seek another five-year term.

At her final meeting on June 14, president Dr. Clark Harris read a proclamation honoring her service.

Cline was praised for “having gained the admiration and respect of her fellow Regents for her collaborative leadership, her willingness to carry through with tasks, and her approach while dealing with complex issues; and shown herself to be dedicated to the ultimate goals of higher education, to the students, the faculty and the staff of the institution.”

Highlights of her regent career include the $2.2 million U. S. Department of Education NASNTI fiveyear (2021-2026) grant. The grant has a STEM focus with program development for engineering technology and precision agriculture and enhancement of student services in career counseling; the transformation of the Tonkawa campus library into the new NOC Pickens Learning Commons, seen the rise of the Livestock Judging Team to become a premiere program, earning the Top Team in the Nation status in 2023.

During her tenure, the NOC Enid Jets won their first ever NJCAA National Championship in the 2019 NJCAA Division 2 World Series; and transitioned the NJCAA men’s and women’s Soccer to NOC Enid in 2023, as well as approved adding NJCAA men’s and women’s wrestling to the NOC Tonkawa campus in fall 2024.

Cline became a regent in 2018. “In 2018, Dr. Evans and (former regent) Linda Brown approached me to consider being a Regent,” she said. “At that time, Mary Fallin was governor and it was a great fit for me, as I had such a passion for NOC and what they offer.”

NOC went through many changes in Cline’s tenure but none more than the COVID-19 pandemic and the search for a new president which Cline oversaw after Dr. Evans’ retirement.

According to Cline, NOC faces many challenges including state funding and rising costs.

“Budget decisions are also a challenge,” she said. “Making tough decisions and following my heart to know that I made those decisions to do what was best for the students, employees and NOC.”

The relationships built and NOC growth will be what Cline remembers from her time as a regent.

“I will cherish the friendships and progress to move forward with growth and betterment of NOC,” she said. “I’m not sure I’ve seen as many changes as what we are currently seeing at NOC right now. Hang on because we are getting ready for some major growth and it is going to be exciting. It is such an exciting time to be associated with NOC.”