Six OSUIT instructors who are shaping the future of Career and Technical Education
Friday, February 27, 2026
Media Contact: Hicham Raache | Communications Coordinator | 918-293-4678 | hicham.raache@okstate.edu
February is Career and Technical Education Month, and Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology is fortunate to have a wealth of excellent instructors who give students invaluable education for their future careers.
Career and Technical Education Month celebrates CTE and the achievements and accomplishments of such programs in schools across the nation.
Here are six educators who have done extraordinary work in equipping OSUIT students with the skills, knowledge and experience they will need to thrive in the workforce.
Joey Boatner
Boatner is a faculty member in the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program.
He has been an instructor at OSUIT since November 2006. He teaches commercial air conditioning, mechanical codes and electrical controls applications. He is a longtime business owner, has a commercial HVAC background and is an Oklahoma Unlimited mechanical contractor.
His teaching provides real world resolutions and highlights each student’s strengths, helping their critical thinking and boosting their confidence.
Whitney Fowler
Fowler is a member of OSUIT’s Electrical Construction program. She has been with OSUIT for two years, teaching DC/AC circuit analysis, alternative energy systems, introduction to the electrical trade, construction blueprints, NEC code class, basic wiring methods, and wiring methods 1.
She has been a professional electrician for 30 years, an electrical contractor for more than 10 years and a business owner for over 25 years. She has an Oklahoma electrical contractor license and an OSHA 30 certification.
Her extensive professional experience, including her business knowledge of the electrical trade, enhances the education she provides her students.
Dr. Joseph Hébert
Hébert is a professor in OSUIT’s School of Technology, Arts, Sciences & Health.
He has taught physics and mathematics for a little over seven years at OSUIT. He worked as an application physicist at the Superconducting Super Collider in Waxahatchie, Texas, owned and operated a printed circuit board design and assembly operation in North Texas (Binah Corp), and did contract consulting research & development as Hébert Labs. He has multiple Quality Matters certificates. He became a certified fiber optics installer as part of working with the OSUIT Workforce Development Office to develop the school’s fiber optics training program.
He also has CID (certified interconnect designer, i.e. printed circuit board design) and CID+ (advanced certified interconnect designer) certifications from the IPC Designers Council (Institute of Printed Circuits). Learn more about Dr. Hebert's work on the OSUIT news site.
Nancy Johnsey
Johnsey is an instructor who teaches adult health in OSUIT’s Nursing Program.
She has been a registered nurse for over 25 years, moving from an associate degree in nursing to a Bachelor of Science in nursing and finally to her master’s in nursing education. As a bedside nurse, she has experience in patient safety, mental health, medical/physical rehabilitation and obstetrics. She is an experienced nursing educator who brings valuable classroom experience and skills to OSUIT.
She is passionate about helping her students get to the "why" of their actions and dig deeper to understand patient issues and deliver safe and effective care. She is also skilled in the areas of test-taking, study skills, and overall student success.
David Penrod
David Penrod is a GM ASEP Automotive program faculty member in the School of Transportation and Heavy Equipment.
In the six years he has been with OSUIT, he has taught a wide range of automotive skills related to GM vehicles, including fundamentals, electrical/electronics, steering, suspension, engines, engine performance, automatic and manual transmissions, drivelines, diesel systems, brakes and HVAC systems. He is a GM World Class Technician and is ASE Master Certified. He prepares his students for the workforce by training them on GM vehicles and teaching them systems, tools, and service information.
He helps them learn diagnostics and repair procedures exactly as used in GM dealerships. His effectiveness as an educator comes from his ability to combine industry experience with hands-on, student-centered teaching that mirrors the realities of a GM dealership.
Cody Wornkey
Wornkey is a North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA) Agricultural Equipment Technician program faculty member within the School of Transportation and Heavy Equipment.
He has been at OSUIT for one year, teaching agricultural equipment and implement maintenance, electrical/electronics, hydraulics, engines and fuel systems, powertrain, HVAC and GPS principles. He has numerous years of industry experience. He prepares his students for their professional careers by blending hands-on technical training with real-world industry expectations. Under Instructor Wornkey’s guidance, students learn to operate, maintain, diagnose, and repair modern agricultural equipment — tractors, combines, implements, hydraulics, electrical systems and precision ag technology — using the same tools and procedures found in the field.
He draws on his many years of experience with agricultural machinery to teach practical skills, troubleshoot real-world problems, and share insights students will encounter in the workforce. He demonstrates a strong concern for student success and maintains active involvement in campus activities.