Distinguished Alumni Award

Dr. Eunice Tarver was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, a rural city experience that shaped her early commitment to education, hard work, and public service. She later moved to Tulsa and has remained deeply connected to the region ever since. A two-time graduate of Oklahoma State University, Dr. Tarver earned her bachelor’s degree and Ph.D. in Education. She credits her OSU experience with profoundly shaping her leadership philosophy, preparing her for a career devoted to student success, and setting her on a path to serve both higher education and her community with purpose.

 

She currently serves as Vice President of Student Success and Chief Student Affairs Officer at Tulsa Community College, leading initiatives that strengthen advising, streamline degree pathways, and expand access to transfer and career opportunities. Her national leadership includes selection for the Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship, a program developed by the Aspen Institute and Stanford University to prepare the next generation of transformational community college presidents. In recognition of her leadership, she was also appointed to the American Association of Community Colleges Commission on Student Success. 

 

Dr. Tarver serves on the Boards of the Tulsa Area United Way, Teach For America Greater Tulsa, and the Commemoration Fund, and has represented two-year colleges statewide as a member of the Oklahoma Council on Student Affairs Executive Committee. Her contributions have been recognized with the Madam President Award from the League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Tulsa and induction into the 100 Black Men of Tulsa Hall of Honor in 2025 for her commitment to expanding opportunity for youth and families across the region.

 

She lives in Tulsa with her family and remains devoted to creating systems where all students can succeed. Her unwavering belief that educational access and completion are essential to personal, economic, and community transformation continues to fuel her leadership.