TCC president announces retirement effective July 1
 TCC President Dr. Dean P. VanTrease |
Dean P. VanTrease, president and CEO, Tulsa Community College (TCC), recently announced his retirement, effective July 1.
VanTrease has served in a leadership role with the college for 34 years, first serving as executive vice president before TCC opened for classes in 1970 and becoming President and CEO in 1989. When it was established, TCC was the first new public institution of higher education in Oklahoma in 50 years.
Prior to coming to Oklahoma, VanTrease was on the founding staff of Dallas County Community College in Texas and helped start Big Bend Community College in Washington state.
Throughout his leadership, VanTrease has been identified with community collaboration, innovation and the remarkable growth of the College. As President and CEO he is responsible for overseeing the operation of four campuses, with more than 27,000 students enrolled annually in credit classes as compared to an opening enrollment of 2,796 students in 1970. As President, VanTrease led development and construction of the TCC West Campus.
VanTrease also oversaw the initiation of TCC's first online curriculum. Today TCC is ranked as the leading provider of online courses in the state with more than 4,000 students enrolled in online classes, which are in addition to other distance learning courses.
Contact: Lauren F. Brookey, vice president of external affairs, TCC, lbrookey@tulsacc.edu