Celebrate Learning! Spring 2014 (Vol 5, Issue 2) | Page 12

An Interview with Dr. Tom McKeon, President of TCC Angela Summers TCC President, Dr. McKeon with Tulsa Achieves Students Associate Professor Faculty Director Southeast Campus CELT Director Q: When have you had the most fun at TJC/ TCC? Are there any particular instances or stories you would like to remind us about? A: Throughout the years, employee get togethers at the campuses and Conference Center have been great fun. These range from the Northeast Campus Spring Flings, which were themed campus celebrations, to chili cook-offs and barbecuing hot dogs for United Way. In addition, Convocation has always been fun and an exciting highlight for both Stacey and me. It was an event that Stacey enjoyed attending each year, particularly because of the opportunity to visit with employees. A particular instance that stands out in my mind is shortly after I became provost of Southeast Campus , John Kahre and others at Northeast Campus had a vision of promoting their professional pilot program at Southeast Campus. At the time there was a small grass airstrip just to the west of the Southeast Campus, and one morning Jack Sellers, a professor in the program, flew one of our planes from the Jones Riverside Airport to the air strip. We then had campus police temporarily block off 81st Street so we could bring the plane from the air strip to the campus. We had the airplane perched at the top of the circle drive when students arrived for their classes in the morning. Needless to say, this was an example of when I did not ask for permission from the Conference Center administrators, but later pleaded for forgiveness. 12 Dr. Tom McKeon, President of TCC Tulsa People recognizes McKeon among '25 Tulsans who shaped our city' From left, Stacey McKeon, Dr. Tom McKeon and Regent Martin Garber Jr. at the TCC Board of Regents meeting Jan. 12, 2011.