Leigh Goodson

About Leigh Goodson

Since 2014, Dr. Leigh B. Goodson has served as President and CEO of Tulsa Community College, Oklahoma’s third largest college with more than students enrolled annually and approximately 1,700 employees. Her tenure at TCC has included initiatives that have redefined the student experience and positioned the College as a national model in higher education. Under her leadership, TCC has launched several landmark programs, including Oklahoma’s first “early college high school program” and the $20 million capital campaign she spearheaded and completed successfully. She led TCC to join the American Association of Community Colleges Pathways Project, a prestigious endeavor funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation aimed at increasing student success and equity. The College also earned two prestigious AACC Awards of Excellence in both Student Success and Safety and Planning in 2021. At TCC, Goodson has emphasized collaboration with university partners, enhancing pathways for students to seamlessly transfer to four-year institutions. Her focus on post-graduation success led to TCC’s selection by the Aspen Institute and the Community College Research Center in 2023 as part of \"Unlocking Opportunity: The Post-Graduation Success and Equity Network,” an initiative that highlights best practices in supporting equitable student outcomes nationwide. She completed the Aspen Presidential Fellowship, a program that cultivates leadership in higher education. Prior to her work at TCC, she served at the OSU Center for Health Sciences. Her tenure at OSU-CHS included direct contact with students as the Associate Dean of Students and Professor of Medical Education. She was then asked to focus on the Academic Health Center\'s research agenda including original research and clinical trials. After 17 years of progressively responsible experience and many successes, she moved on to become president of Tulsa Community College. A prominent figure in Tulsa and beyond, she has served on more than 25 boards and commissions and currently serves on the boards of the Tulsa Regional Chamber and the Oklahoma Business Roundtable. In 2021 she was elected to the national AACC board of directors. Then in 2024 she became AACC chair-elect of the board and began serving as chair on July 1, 2025. Her many honors include The Journal Record’s Oklahoma’s Most Admired CEO in the public category, and induction into the publication’s Circle of Excellence for her ongoing contributions. In 2023, she was recognized by Leadership Oklahoma with the Distinguished Graduate award.

Experience

1. Evaluator

   Postsecondary Commission

   Feb 2026 — Present

   Serve as team chair for evaluation team site visits.

Education

• Oklahoma State University

  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Educational Statistics and Research Methods

• Fort Hays State University

  Master of Science (MS), Organizational Communication, General

• Oklahoma State University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Political Science and Government

Skills

• Fundraising
• Community Outreach
• Community Development
• Organizational Development
• Public Policy
• Higher Education
• Government
• Nonprofits
• Research
• Grants
• Leadership Development
• Healthcare
• Student Affairs
• Policy
• Non-Profits
• Economic Development
• Strategic Planning
• Teaching
• Event Planning
• Program Evaluation
• Editing
• Training
• Management
• Program Development
• Leadership
• Grant Writing
• Public Relations
• Public Speaking
• Staff Development