Vicki Ferguson to Speak During USAO Commencement April 23

As an education faculty member for most of 28 years, Dr. Vicki Ferguson has spoken into the lives of countless students at the University of Science and Arts, but students in other majors may never have met her. On April 23, Ferguson will address 132 graduating seniors and families during dual spring commencement ceremonies at the college.

Ferguson, who serves several roles as professor, director of teacher education and chair of the Division of Education and Speech-Language Pathology, is scheduled to deliver the commencement address in Te Ata Memorial Auditorium. The 6 p.m. ceremony will honor those receiving bachelor of fine arts, bachelor of arts and bachelor of science in business degrees. The 8 p.m. ceremony will recognize graduates receiving a bachelor of science degree -- not including business majors.

Because of overflow crowds in the past, the spring commencement is divided into two ceremonies. Graduating seniors are issued nine tickets each for friends and family.

For those who cannot get tickets, the ceremony will be broadcast live on USAO Channel 18 and a live video webstream will be available www.usao.edu/news/usao-tv.

Ferguson received her doctoral degree in math education from the University of Oklahoma in 1993, a master's degree in mathematics from the University of Texas in 1973 and a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Agnes Scott College in 1971.

She has been a full-time member of the USAO faculty since 1988. She also was an instructor in the mathematics department at USAO from 1975-1980 and an adjunct faculty member in the Division of Mathematics and Division of Education from 1987-1988.

Ferguson was an instructor in the Applied Problem Solving Institute and Summer Math Academy at Oklahoma City Community College. Before coming to USAO, Ferguson taught math at Chickasha High School and Anderson High School in Austin, Texas.

She is on the advisory board of A+ Oklahoma Schools and is the president-elect of the Oklahoma Association of Colleges of Teacher Education. Ferguson was the conference chair of the OACTE/OCTP/OATE Fall Conference in 2009. She served as an OACTE representative during the Day on the Hill in Washington, D.C. in 2009 and 2010 and during the Oklahoma Legislative Day on the Hill the last two years.

She is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the National Science Teachers Association.

Ferguson has attended AACTE National Meetings in Atlanta, Chicago, New Orleans, New York, and San Diego. She was a team member of the Oklahoma State Accreditation Team of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education in 2008.

She has presented to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Regional Conference seven times, the Oklahoma Council of Teachers of Mathematics twice and the Oklahoma Education Association District Meeting twice.

Outside the classroom, Ferguson enjoys organizing and leading one of the interactive learning stations at various Earth Day/Resource Day events sponsored by the Grady County Conservation District. She also served as a Girl Scout leader for 10 years.

A DVD version of the USAO commencement will be available for $15 (plus tax) by writing media@usao.edu or by calling 405-574-1318.