Brazil RPCV Rodger Randle: From Peace Corps to the State Capitol
Randle, Rodger A
randle@ou.edu
Biographical Information
Rodger A. Randle
Professor of Studies in Democracy and Culture (Graduate College)
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA Tulsa
NATIVE TULSAN. A native Tulsan whose maternal family came to Oklahoma in the Land Run of 1889, Rodger Randle is a graduate of Tulsa Public Schools and the University of Oklahoma and he holds a doctor of laws degree from the University of Tulsa.
FROM PEACE CORPS TO THE STATE CAPITOL. Mr. Randle began his career in public service with the Peace Corps in Brazil in the mid 1960's. In 1970, at the age of 27, Mr. Randle was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. He was elected to the Oklahoma Senate in 1972, then re-elected in 1976, 1980 and 1984. Mr. Randle was twice elected president Pro Tempore of the State Senate (which is the Senate's top leadership position). He is recognized statewide for his legislative work in support of education and children's issues. He was the principal author (along with Tulsan Penny Williams, then a member of the House of Representatives) of the legislation creating the University Center at Tulsa, which marked the beginning of the expansion of public higher education in Tulsa. A strong proponent of reform in Oklahoma government, Mr. Randle is credited with playing the key role in the creation of the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. He also sponsored the introduction of the cabinet system in state government, which has been a major management improvement and has increased the effectiveness of the executive branch of state government. Before becoming leader of the Oklahoma Senate he had served as chairman of the Appropriations and Budget Committee and the Education Committee.
MAYOR OF TULSA. In 1988, Mr. Randle became Mayor of the City of Tulsa and led the successful campaign to change the city's form of government. The resounding "yes" vote came after four unsuccessful charter change attempts during the previous 35 -years. He was re-elected in 1990 by a large margin, becoming Tulsa's first mayor under the new Mayor-City Council form of government. The adoption of the new form of government marked the most significant change in the City of Tulsa in the last 50 years.
HIGHER EDUCATION. In 1992, he accepted the position as President of the University Center at Tulsa. Previous to joining the academic world full time, he had served in the classroom as adjunct professor for several institutions, including the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City University School of Law, as well as Langston University at the University Center at Tulsa. In 1996, the University Center at Tulsa merged with Rogers State College to form Rogers University, and Rodger Randle remained as president of the combined institution. In 1998, Randle accepted a position as Professor in the Graduate College of the University of Oklahoma. He teaches and offices in Tulsa, and holds the title of Professor of Studies in Democracy and Culture.
CIVIC ACTIVITIES AT THE CITY, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS. Rodger Randle participates in a large variety of civic activities. On the national level, he serves on the Board of Directors of the National Peace Corps Association, and he is the past President and Chairman of the national Board of Directors of Sister Cities International, which is the world's largest volunteer citizen diplomacy program. In Tulsa he serves as Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations; President of the Tulsa Global Alliance (the organization that operates Tulsa's Sister City and international visitor programs, among other activities); President of the United Nations Association of Northeastern Oklahoma; and, as Co-Chair of the Bond Oversight Committee of the Tulsa Public Schools which is monitoring the expenditures made under the Tulsa School District's largest ever bond issue. He also serves as a member of several other non-profit boards (he serves as on the Advisory Board of the Tulsa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and he is member of the International Steering Committee of the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce, among others). On the state level he is a member of the Governor's International Economic Development Team. He is a past President of the Oklahoma Municipal League (the Oklahoma association of cities and towns), and he is a past President of the Tulsa Philharmonic and a past member of the executive committee of the Board of Directors of the Tulsa Ballet Theatre. He is also past chairman and president of the Oklahoma Academy for State Goals, a statewide non-partisan and non-profit organization that conducts studies and issues recommendations concerning public policy in Oklahoma (the Oklahoma Academy is one of the strongest and most successful organizations of its kind in the United States). He is a member of the Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C., and the City University Club in London, England. He speaks conversational Portuguese and Spanish.
FAMILY. He is married to the former Judith Otterstrom, who serves as Book Editor for the Tulsa World. Mrs. Randle currently also serves on the Tulsa City-County Library Board, and is a past Chairman. They have one son, Tim, who is a student at Bishop Kelly High School and is a graduate of Tulsa's Spanish immersion elementary school. The Randle's are members of Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Tulsa, where Rodger is a past Senior Churchwarden.
Contact Information:
University of Oklahoma
TulsaPhone: 918-594-8261
Fax: 918-594-8561
Email: randle@ou.edu
