Episode 72: Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame - Dr. Valree Fletcher Wynn

“To honor Oklahoma women who are pioneers in their field or in a project that benefits Oklahoma; who have made a significant contribution to the State of Oklahoma; who serve or have served as role models to other Oklahoma women; who may be "unsung heroes," but have made a difference in the lives of Oklahomans or Americans because of their actions; who have championed other women, women's issues, or served as public policy advocates for the issues important to women; and who exemplify the Oklahoma spirit.”

This is the purpose of the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame, established in 1982 by Governor George Nigh. Since then, 141 Oklahoma women have been inducted for their contributions, including our very own OSU president, Dr. Kayse Shrum.

This month, we’re highlighting one of the many impressive members of the Hall of Fame: Dr. Valree Fletcher Wynn, a trailblazer in the field of education as both a student and a teacher in Oklahoma. We’ll hear about Dr. Wynn’s learning and teaching experiences over the years, from experiencing integration both as a student at OSU and a teacher in Lawton, to becoming the first African-American faculty member at Cameron University. We’ll also hear from OSU English professor and Associate Director of Composition Dr. Stephanie Jones as she discusses the importance of a variety of perspectives in literature and teaching students to think for themselves.