By JAKE GOODMAN
Student Reporter
Northwestern Oklahoma State University is hosting a Black History month speaker on Monday.
Doctor Donnie Nero is giving his speech at Northwestern, in Carter Hall, Room 107 on Monday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m.
February is known as Black History month. A month packed with historic facts and figures for students to learn about. In celebrating Northwestern is playing host to Nero. He will be here to share information on Black History Month with students, faculty and Alva community members.
This is the second time Nero will speak at Northwestern, as he spoke on campus last February. Nero showed to students that he is willing to reach out and help Northwestern which he has been known to do in his past. Nero was a former president of Connors State College until he retired in 2011.
While at Connors State, Nero carved out a remarkable record of enhancing student academic performance, expanding the school’s infrastructure, and participating in community life.
Nero gained a Doctorate in Education from Oklahoma State University and became the first Dean of Student Services at Tulsa Community Colleges southeast campus in 1985.
Nero then became president of Connors State in 2000.
Over the past decade, Nero has participated in the renovation and expansion of buildings across the Connors State campus and a $9.6 million dollar project to increase housing. Due to his efforts, student enrollment increased from 2,691 in 2000 to 3,643 in 2010.
Donnie has also pioneered partnerships with Northeastern State University in Talequah, showing that he is willing to reach out to other campuses across Oklahoma.
During Nero’s years of academic activity, he has been a member of the Governor’s “Edge” Task Force in 2004, a board member of the Greater Muskogee Development Corporation and a member of the Governor’s CLASS Task Force.
For these activities, Nero has earned statewide recognition: the Phi Theta Kappa International Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction; the Muskogee Area Educational Consortium Educator of the Year in 2004, the Baptist State Convention 2007 Progressive Award for Oklahoma; the EWIB Excellence in Service to the Community Award in 2008; and the Department of Human Services Trailblazer Award in 2009.
Overall, Nero is one that is willing to reach out to any community to help volunteer to make campuses a better place. Nero is perceived as an amazing man throughout the communities that he has helped.
Nero’s speech will be open for any students, faculty and community members to attend.