Gloria Torres, Chairman

Ms. Gloria Torres was appointed Commissioner in 2015 by Speaker of the House of Representatives Brian Hickman. She was reappointed in 2017 by Speaker Charles McCall. She serves as the Executive Director of Calle Dos Cinco in Historic Capitol Hill Business District, a nonprofit focused on economic development and community empowerment in the South Oklahoma City community.  Following the guidance of a 12 member board, Torres leads the strategic direction and operations of the nonprofit, including finance, community relations, marketing, and program development.

In addition, she is an elected official of the OKCPS Board of Education since 2014, where she has served as vice chair, government relations, finance committee, policy committee, and various other roles.

Commissioner Torres earned her Bachelor’s degree from The University of Central Oklahoma and her Master’s degree in Public Administration at Texas Women's University.

Delores Runnels, Vice Chairman

Ms. Delores Runnels was appointed Commissioner in 2018 by Senate President Pro Tempore, Greg Treat. Prior to her appointment, she served on the OCSW Advisory Council. She is the founder of Career Daze, a nonprofit organization focused on connecting the classroom with the real world. Before creating Career Daze, Runnels worked in the Putnam City School District for over 6 years. She was a substitute teacher for the PC School District, where she organized several young women's leadership conferences at Putnam City North High School. She also was a member of the Advisory Board for the Oklahoma City Career Academy for Douglas High School.

Commissioner Runnels serves as Senior Pastor along with her husband Keith, at The Father’s House Church located in Edmond.  In addition, she has served on the Board of Directors for the Oklahoma Children’s Theatre for several years,

Ms. Runnels earned a Masters degree in Theology from Christian Life School of Theology, located in Columbus, GA.

Brenda Barwick Jones, Finance Officer

Ms. Brenda Jones Barwick was appointed Commissioner in 2011 , and reappointed in 2016 by Governor Mary Fallin. Brenda is a strong national advocate for women in business and in 2001 founded the national integrated communications agency, Jones PR. She has developed and implemented a national marketing campaign for the nation’s largest women’s business group, Women Impacting Public Policy, the voice for women in business in our nation’s capital. In 2015, the Association for Women in Communications (AWC) recognized her achievements in advocating for women with the National Headliner Award. Prior to establishing Jones PR, Brenda was Vice President of Public Relations at Ackerman McQueen. She returned to Oklahoma after 15 years in Washington, D.C., and Switzerland where she worked at The White House and The U.S. State Department for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Brenda has been very active in the community.

Commissioner Jones has served on the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Board of Directors and Executive Committee as a Vice Chair. She was selected to Leadership Oklahoma Class XXV and is an active member in Rotary Club 29. She represented Oklahoma City as a National Delegate to the Public Relations Society International Conference. Inc. magazine ranked Brenda’s company in 2015 on the coveted Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies in America. 

Ms. Jones has received the national Clarion Award by AWC and the Paul E. Dannelly Harmony Award for achievements in public relations. Jones PR has won three Best of Show Awards by Public Relations Society of America, Oklahoma City chapter and several ADDY Awards. She earned national accreditation in public relations in 1999 and her B.A. in Journalism from OU. Brenda and her attorney husband, James, reside in Edmond.

 Dr. Mary Larson, Secretary

 Dr. Mary Larson was appointed Commissioner in 2016 by Governor Mary Fallin. Much of her academic research has focused on addressing issues of inequality in the treatment and representation of women in the historic record. Since moving to Oklahoma, she has continued her emphasis on documenting diverse female voices through the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program and the Women's Archives at OSU, but also through her own research agenda, which focuses on the lives of rural women.

Commissioner Larson joined the faculty of Oklahoma State University in 2009 as head of the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program and a co-director of the Center for Oklahoma Studies, and in 2014 she became the Associate Dean for Special Collections and the director of the Women’s Archives at OSU. 

All of Dr. Larson’s degrees are in anthropology, including a BA from Harvard and an MA and PhD from Brown. She has served on a number of state, regional, and national boards, but her major professional contributions have been through the Oral History Association (US), where she was a two-term president.

 Dr. Nyla Khan, Advisory Council Chairman

Dr. Nyla Ali Khan was appointed Commissioner in 2018 by Senate President Pro Tempore, Greg Treat. Prior to her appointment, she served on the OCSW Advisory Council. She is a faculty member at Rose State College, a visiting professor at the University of Oklahoma, and former Associate professor at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. She is the author of several books. Her latest book, The Life of a Kashmiri Woman: Dialectic of Resistance and Accommodation examines the life of her mother, Akbar Jehan "paint[ing] a loving and personal picture of a powerful woman whose role and actions gave Kashmir a model for women's political action in the critical period before and after the partition of India in 1947."

Commissioner Khan is an Oklahoma Humanities Scholar presenting public talks statewide, where she focuses on education and women’s empowerment.  She is a member of the Harvard-based Scholars Strategy Network. She has served on the board of Generation Citizen, a nonprofit organization seeking to empower the younger generation through civics education. Dr. Khan is an active member of the multicultural, multinational and multireligious Women’s Interfaith Alliance. 

Dr. Khan earned her Masters in Postcolonial Literature and Theory at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, and obtained her Ph.D. at the same institution. in 2018, she was recognized at the OK State Capitol for her human rights work, honored by the Oklahoma League of Women Voters as one of the 100 Trailblazers, and the Journal Record 50 Making a Difference.

Riki Snyder, Immediate Past Chairman
Appointing Authority - Governor (Photo and Bio  coming soon)

Kitti Asberry, Executive Director

Ms. Kitti Asberry has served as Executive Director since 2014. Prior to that, she served as Office Administrator. From her experience as a longtime community leader, activist and volunteer in Oklahoma, she brings demonstrated leadership in advancing women's issues in our state and beyond. She is responsible for working with the Commission towards improving outcomes and expanding opportunities for women, girls and families in Oklahoma.

As Executive Director, she oversees programming, marketing, events, social media and daily operations of the Commission. Currently she serves as a Director for the National Association of Commissions for Women (NACW.) She is Co-Chair of  the Oklahoma 20/20 Global Conversation on Board Diversity, an organization focused on increasing the number of women serving on corporate boards. She is also a board member of Sally's List, a progressive organization which recruits women to run for public office. In 2019 she was appointed by OKC Mayor David Holt to serve on the Board of Adjustments. She is a graduate of Leadership OKC Class XXX.

Asberry earned her Bachelor of Science in Business /Management, and her Master of Business Administration / Human Resources Management from the University of Phoenix. In addition, she is a 1986 graduate of the George Meany School of Political Science and Labor Studies, in Washington, D.C.

 Kathy Banks-Monroe, Commissioner

Mrs. Kathy Banks - Monroe was appointed Commissioner in 2018 by Governor Mary Fallin. She is a 34-year Dept. of the Army civil servant. Kathy served as the Director of the Network Enterprise Center (NEC) for the Department of the Army-Fort Sill based in southwest Oklahoma where she provided oversight in the development and implementation of the network services/solutions.

Commissioner Banks - Monroe is an active member on several governance boards including Leadership Oklahoma, Leadership Lawton Fort Sill, and Lawton Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women. She has completed an extensive amount of professional & executive training/development courses and attended Oklahoma & Cameron Universities where she studied Business Administration along with Communications and Electronics

Banks - Monroe is a graduate of the Army Management and Staff College and the Signal Pre - Command Course at Fort Gordon, GA. She resides in Lawton where she is married to Henry Monroe and is the mother of 4 sons.

Representative Rhonda Baker, Commissioner

 Representative Rhonda Baker was appointed Commissioner in 2017 by Speaker of the House, Charles McCall. Prior to being elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2016, Representative Baker was a middle school English teacher who had spent nearly two decades in the profession at the middle school, high school, and collegiate level.

As a member of the House, she has served as the vice-chair of the House Common Education Committee and as a member of the House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Education. She also serves as a member of the Children, Youth, and Family services committee, Judiciary Committee of Criminal Justice and Corrections and the Oversight Committee.

Commissioner Baker is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in Communications and a master’s degree in Education. She and her husband Les, also an educator, are owners of a successful small irrigation business, they have three children.

Jan Barrick, Commissioner

Mrs. Jan Barrick was appointed Commissioner in 2017 by Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman. Barrick began her career as a special education teacher in her hometown of Lawton. She later taught in public schools in Norman and Edmond as well as the University of Central Oklahoma before leaving the classroom to focus solely on her tutoring and consulting business.

In 1990, educator and author Barrick founded Alpha Plus Educational Systems, Inc.  a company helping low-performing schools in Oklahoma improve their state and federal accountability scores, through teacher training, aligned interim assessments and data-driven improvement of instruction. 

Commissioner Barrick serves on the board of advocates for OU's Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education as well as the board of trustees for the Oklahoma Foundation of Excellence and is active with other professional and civic organizations. She is married to Jerry Plant. In her free time, she enjoys gardening and volunteering to help women and small business owners become successful.

Marci Bond, Commissioner

 Marci Bond was appointed Commissioner in 2020 by Speaker of the House, Charles McCall. She is the Marketing Director for AmeriState Bank in Atoka, Oklahoma and the founder of MarciInTheMiddle.Com, a personal blog encouraging girls and women of all ages to live with purpose and passion.

She has served on the Atoka County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Southeastern Oklahoma State University Alumni Association Board of  Directors. In addition, she serves as a worship leader and teacher at Victory Life Church and serves on various civic and educational boards in her community.

Mrs. Bond graduated from Southeastern Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications & Public Relations followed by a degree in Secondary Language Arts Education.

 Sarah Hummel - Brown, Commissioner

 Mrs. Sarah R. Brown was appointed Commissioner in 2015 by Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman and reappointed in 2018 by President Pro Tempore Mike Schultz. Brown is a lifelong Oklahoman, and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Brown served on the Tulsa Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women from 2008-2011, and the Tulsa BRIDGE (Building Resources in Developing and Growing Enterprise) Certification Committee from 2010-2011.

She has volunteered for many organizations. In 2013, Brown was appointed Associate Judge for Tulsa’s Municipal Criminal Court. In 2014, she was appointed Municipal Judge for Depew, OK. In addition to serving as a municipal judge, Brown is a practicing attorney.

Commissioner Brown graduated from the University of Tulsa with a B.A. in Sociology, and Certificates in Women's Studies and Legal Thought. She attended the University of Tulsa College of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctorate and a certificate in Health Law. In addition, she is a graduate of the National Education for Women's Leadership program at the Carl Albert Center and London's Public History program at the University of Westminster in London, UK. She is married to Kyle Brown.

Representative Carol Bush, Commissioner

 Representative Carol Bush was appointed Commissioner in 2017 by Speaker of the House, Charles McCall. She represents HD-70 in Tulsa Oklahoma. Prior to being elected, she owned and operated several retail stores in Oklahoma.  Currently she serves as Vice Chair of the Long-Term Care and Health Services Committee, member of the Public Health Committee, Children Youth and Family Services and Finance A&B subcommittee, member of the Oklahoma Commission on the status of Women, member of the Diabetes Caucus, and member of the Oklahoma Care-Giver Coalition.

Representative Bush has extensive experience as a community volunteer.  Over the years she has served on various boards in the Tulsa area including; Big Brothers and Sisters of Green Country, Tulsa Area United Way, Camp Fire U.S.A., Tulsa Public Schools Mentoring Council, Philbrook Art After Five, Board of Deacons at First Presbyterian Church, Emergency Infant Services,  YWCA,  and Board Member of the Junior League of Tulsa

Commissioner Bush is a graduate from Oral Roberts University, Tulsa Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business/Marketing. She has two daughters, Moriah and Nicole. Leisure time activities include bicycling, and travel.

Pat Carr, Commissioner

Ms. Pat Carr was appointed Commissioner in 2019 by Senate President Pro Tempore. She has mentored women of all ages in business for over 30 years. For the last six years she has mentored women in transition from prison to society through The Education & Employment & Ministry (TEEM.)

Commissioner Carr is the author of an inspirational & motivational book, “All Dreams Matter.” In August of 2019, she co- produced a video in cooperation with The Bridge Assembly of God Church, located in Mustang, OK and TEEM, titled “Because You Can.” The video is FREE for public use and can be seen and shared on YouTube or VIMEO.COM/369933989.

Ms. Carr is a home builder, decorator, image consultant, and motivational speaker. She is a successful business owner and entrepreneur.  She attended Apache High School and Cameron University in Lawton.

Denise Castelli, Commissioner

Appointing Authority - Governor (Bio  coming soon)

 Dr. Lee Denney, Commissioner

 Dr. Lee Denney was appointed Commissioner in 2015 by Speaker of the House Jeff Hickman and reappointed in 2020 by Speaker McCall. She is Co-owner of Veterinary Medical Associates, Inc. in Oklahoma and has been since 1979. She served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 2004-2016, representing HD-33 in Payne County.  While in the House, she served as the Speaker Pro Tempore working on educational issues and criminal justice.

Commissioner Denney served on the Cushing City Commission and filled the roles of Mayor and Vice Mayor. Currently she serves as President of the Federal Executive Board of Oklahoma and as the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association President. Lee received the New Legislator of the Year 2006 Honor, along with the 50 Women Making a Difference and the Leadership Oklahoma Class VII.

Dr. Denney earned her degree in Agricultural Economics from Oklahoma State University, and then went on to receive her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Oklahoma State University.

 Linda Haneborg, Commissioner

Ms. Linda C. Haneborg, was appointed Commissioner in 2014 and reappointed in 2017 by Governor Mary Fallin.  She serves as chairman of Linda Haneborg Associates, a full-service communications and marketing firm. As a business owner, corporate executive, women’s and political activist and community leader, she has dedicated herself to empowering women in their careers.

In 2013, she was inducted into Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame. Haneborg is past chair of the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives and board member of the IFA Educational Foundation. A member of the International Franchise Association and the International Women’s Forum, she also served on the U.S Chamber of Commerce Labor Relations Board and the Wall Street Journal Opinion Leaders Research Panel.

Commissioner Haneborg is a graduate of Colorado State University with a degree in Sociology and Anthropology, she completed graduate studies at Southern Methodist University. Having served as an adjunct professor in OU’s School of Entrepreneurship in the MBA program, Haneborg is also a past member of the board of trustees at St. Gregory’s University.

Estela Hernandez, Commissioner

Ms. Estela Hernandez was appointed Commissioner in 2019 by Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat. She has been in the construction and real estate business for over 15 years as a small business owner and a licensed Realtor with Keller Williams.

Hernandez is known for her role in Oklahoma politics, serving as Vice President of Engagement for the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs and Vice Chairwoman of the Oklahoma Republican Party. As a public speaker, she addresses topics relating to women in business, politics, faith, and family.  Estela was appointed by Governor Kevin Stitt to the OK State Department of Education as a Board Member. 

Commissioner Hernandez She holds a B.A. in Business Administration with a concentration in International Business. She has been married for 18 years and is the mother of 3 children.   

Jean Lehr, Commissioner

Mrs. Jean S. Lehr was appointed Commissioner in 2013, and reappointed in 2018 by Governor Mary Fallin. She is the CEO of J. Lehr Advertising/Marketing, a division of Timeline, Inc. Her agency services include branding, marketing plans, media analysis and buying, radio and television commercials, print materials and more. Her professional / business affiliations include, President, Oklahoma Media Network, Oklahoma City, 2006-2009~Board of Advisors, Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, “Best of the Best Woman Business Owner,” Governor’s Conference for Women in Business, Oklahoma, 2001~President/CEO, National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO.)

Her awards, honors and distinctions include, but are not limited to,2012~”Ladies in the News” honoree for exceptional personal and professional contributions to the state, Oklahoma Hospitality Club, 2011~Patti Meis Award for character, integrity and professionalism in advertising, Oklahoma Media Network, Oklahoma City, 2002~Named to Circle of Excellence, The Journal Record Woman of the Year.

Commissioner Lehr earned her Master of Education from the University of Central Oklahoma with Honors and a Bachelor of Science from Oklahoma State University. Her motto is “Not advertising is like winking in the dark; you know what you’re doing, but nobody else does.

Shondra McCage, Commissioner

 Ms. Shondra McCage was appointed Commissioner in 2013 by the Speaker of the House T.W. Shannon and reappointed in 2018 by Speaker Charles McCall.  She is an enrolled Chickasaw citizen and works for the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health’s diabetes program. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist.

She is a committed advocate and is actively involved with the American Diabetes Association where she currently serves in two roles within the organization: Chairman for the Native American/Alaska Native Diabetes Action Council and board member for the Western Oklahoma Area.

Commissioner McCage graduated from East Central University in 1998 with a degree in Exercise Science. In 2005 she received her Master of Public Health degree from the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center Women. Currently she is pursuing her Doctoral degree in Health Promotion Sciences at OUHSC Hudson College of Public Health.

Representative Cyndi Munson, Commissioner 

Representative Cyndi Munson was appointed Commissioner in 2017 by Speaker of the House Charles McCall. She was elected to represent HD- 85 in September of 2015. Upon her election, she became the first Asian-American woman elected to the Oklahoma Legislature.

Commissioner Munson has spent a decade working and volunteering in Oklahoma City’s non-profit community, including Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma City, Infant Crisis Services. She is an alumni member of Leadership Oklahoma City’s LOYAL Class VIII.

A first-generation college student, Munson graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, where she served in student government at the University of Central Oklahoma. She earned a Master of Science in Leadership Education from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. In addition, Munson is a 2006 graduate of the National Education for Women's (N.E.W.) Leadership program through the University of Oklahoma, a program for undergraduate women interested in public service.

Karen Sneary, Commissioner

Ms. Karen Sneary was appointed Commissioner in 2012, and reappointed in 2017 by Governor Mary Fallin. She is the Director of Student Services at Canadian Valley Technology Center for the Cowan Campus in Yukon.  She is active in a variety of student activities and serves on various committees for continuous improvement within the CVTech district.  Sneary helps at the state level with student organizations and helping young people to grow and develop as leaders.

Commissioner Sneary has served as Secretary and Chairperson of the Advisory Council. She serves on the Board for Blessing Baskets, a non-profit organization in Canadian County that provides food, school supplies, and more to those in need.  She teaches as an adjunct business professor at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. 

Sneary graduated from Oklahoma State University with a B.S. in Finance and earned her Master’s Degree in Education from Northwestern Oklahoma State University.  She has completed post-graduate work at the University of Oklahoma.

 Ollie Starr, Commissioner

MS. Ollie Starr was appointed Commissioner in 2020 by Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat. In 2019, she was inducted into the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame.  From Claremore, Starr has a heart for service and is an asset to her community.

Starr was instrumental in revitalizing the Indian Women’s Pocahontas Club. Established in 1899, the Club began as a past-time club for native women returning home in the summers from seminaries and colleges. Currently she serves as Executive Director. In her role, she promotes issues for elder Cherokees, securing grant money to enable young women to pursue higher education and helping improve living conditions for Cherokee seniors.

In 2014, she received the Cherokee National Leadership Award. In 2015 she received the AARP Oklahoma Ardus Award, and in 2017, she received the Cherokee Nation Lifetime Achievement Award.

 Maria Trapp - Braly, Commissioner

 Dr. Maria Trapp-Braly was appointed Commissioner in 2014 by President Pro Tempo Brian Bingman 2014, and reappointed in 2016 by President Pro Tempo Greg Treat. She is a former Chairman of the Commission. Currently she is a licensed psychologist in the state of Oklahoma. Dr. Trapp has enjoyed a diverse career in psychology including teaching for the University of Oklahoma and University of Central Oklahoma.

Commissioner Trapp - Braly was a featured expert on KFOR news at 4:30 for 4 years. She has been president of the Oklahoma Psychological Association as well as on the Board of Directors. She has participated in the Integris youth and women’s programs. Dr. Trapp has been a guest and keynote speaker for several groups throughout the state.

Dr. Trapp graduated from California State University, Los Angeles. She earned her Master’s degree and Doctorate at the University of Oklahoma. She did her internship at the Veterans Medical Center in Dallas. She is married and has 5 children. Her favorite saying is “Flexibility is an indicator of youth.”

Molly Vigil Wehrenberg, Commissioner

Mrs. Molly Wehrenberg was appointed Commissioner in 2019 by President Pro Tempo Greg Treat. Prior to her appointment as Commissioner, she served on the OCSW Advisory Council.  A Transplanted New Mexican, Molly first came to Oklahoma to pursue a nursing degree at St. Anthony’s School of Nursing and Oklahoma City University. She became the head nurse at St. Anthony’s Hospital Eye Surgery Unit, and after retirement enjoyed Spanish translating for eye surgeons doing surgery on non- English speaking patients.

Commissioner Wehrenberg is actively involved in public service. She is a 2015 recipient of the George and Martha Washington Award, presented by the Defenders of Liberty organization, and the 2016 Good Samaritan Award from BOTT Radio. As a member of Visionary Oklahoma Women (VOW), she is involved in many different fields fostering creativity and enhancing global prosperity.

Active in her faith, Wehrenberg is a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and the Women’s Prayer Group at Christ the King. She enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends. She is married to Paul Wehrenberg and the mother of two successful sons, Aaron and Casey.

Representative Tammy West, Commissioner

Representative Tammy West was appointed Commissioner in 2017 by Speaker of the House, Charles McCall.  She was elected November 2016, to represent HD - 84. Currently she serves as Vice Chair of the Majority Caucus.

A strong supporter of local control of schools, Commissioner West was first elected to the Putnam City School Board in 2009 and reelected in 2014, both times unopposed. She served as president of the Putnam City Board of Education in 2013.

A graduate of Central State University (now UCO) with a degree in business management, she has owned and operated a successful small business, Wellness Plus, for more than 20 years. Commissioner West and her husband Jon are active members of Council Road Baptist Church and have three grown children.

 Victoria Woods, Commissioner

Victoria Woods was appointed Commissioner in 2013 and reappointed in 2018 by Governor Mary Fallin. She has served as Financial Officer for the Commission. Woods is founder and CEO of ChappelWood Financial Services, a company creating customized strategies for millionaires and aspiring millionaires.

Known as The Financial Diva, Victoria is an author, and radio show host. She was named the National Association of Women Business Owners “Best of the Best,” one of Oklahoma City's Journal Record's 50 Most Influential Women, Innovator of the Year, National Community Inspiration Award.

Commissioner Woods has been featured in media outlets including the Today Show, Success Today TV, NewsWeek, Barron's, and Fox Business. She is visionary entrepreneur who lives by her motto, “The one who says it cannot be done should never interrupt the one doing it.”