OSU-Tulsa Student and Professor Named "Movers and Shapers" in Tulsa
Thursday, June 28, 2007
OSU-Tulsa senior Matt Stiner and public relations faculty member Dr. Lori McKinnon were selected based on their accomplishments and the impact they are making on the Tulsa community.
“OSU-Tulsa is incredibly fortunate to have the talents of students and faculty members like Matt and Dr. McKinnon,” said OSU-Tulsa President Gary Trennepohl. “Their dedication to education and the community of Tulsa make them extremely worthy recipients of this award.”
Stiner, 25, is one of the youngest honorees to make the list. A political science major from Tulsa, Stiner is an Iraq war veteran with a tremendous respect and dedication to public service.
Upon graduating from Broken Arrow High School in 2000, Stiner decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served for four years, including seven months of active duty in Iraq.
Returning to Tulsa, Stiner focused on public service through speaking engagements and volunteerism. He also began working toward his college degree in political science by attending classes at Tulsa Community College and eventually, OSU-Tulsa.
In May, Stiner was named a Truman Scholar, one of just 75 students chosen nationally and the only one from Oklahoma. He is the first Truman Scholar from OSU’s Tulsa campus and the 10th from OSU in the past 12 years.
Stiner said he hopes the recognition he has received this year will inspire others.
“It’s exciting to hopefully encourage others to work hard and then they too will see the great benefits an education has to offer,” Stiner said. “I am proud to have received my education from Tulsa Community College and currently, OSU-Tulsa. There is obviously something special in Tulsa concerning higher education.”
Stiner is spending his summer completing an internship in the office of Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor. Although he is still considering his options for graduate school, Stiner is interested in pursuing a master’s degree in public administration. Following graduate school, Stiner wants to further his commitment to public service, specifically in politics and Veteran Affairs.
“Tulsa is one of the best cities in the nation and to be recognized as one of Tulsa’s ‘Movers and Shapers’ is very humbling,” Stiner said. “What I am doing now for my community is a prelude to the lifetime I will spend as a public servant.”
As the only university faculty member honored on the list, McKinnon was chosen for the contributions her work and research have made to the advancement of knowledge in society.
McKinnon’s research focuses on the mediated effects of political communication. She has published numerous academic journal articles on the topics of national and international political advertising, political public relations and presidential debate coverage.
Additionally, McKinnon is a founding member of Uvote, a consortium of more than 35 university scholars from major institutions of higher education who come together to study national presidential elections. She is currently working on a co-authored, research book on political adwatch coverage
At OSU-Tulsa, McKinnon teaches undergraduate and graduate courses including, crisis communications, public relations communication methods, research and campaigns.
McKinnon said she hopes her teaching style, which combines theory and real-world experience, enables students to enter the workforce prepared and readily willing to contribute to their community.
“During the semester, we strive to build relationships with smaller or non-profit businesses in the Tulsa community,” McKinnon said. “My students then create and present communication strategies to their clients, providing a constructive and beneficial experience for everyone involved.”
Functioning as an agency, McKinnon’s students have organized, planned and marketed events and communications for clients including, the Tulsa Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Tulsa Global Alliance’s Kids’ World event, the Canebrake, and the Greater Tulsa YMCA.
“I encourage my students to think strategically, to find something they love doing and to impact their community,” McKinnon said. “By conducting research, setting goals and communicating effectively, they are prepared to face challenges and embrace opportunities.”
To learn more about TulsaPeople’s “Movers and Shapers” issue, visit www.tulsapeoplemagazine.com. To learn more about earning an OSU degree in Tulsa, call 918-594-8000 or visit www.osu-tulsa.okstate.edu .