About Us
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors for KIPP Tulsa Public Charter Schools is responsible for the governance and compliance of the Local Education Agency (which is KIPP Tulsa Public Charter Schools). KIPP Tulsa Public Charter Schools is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Board of Directors
-
Kyara Smith
Growth and Development Director, Northwestern Mutual
Kyara Smith
Growth and Development Director, Northwestern Mutual
Kyara Smith is a Financial Strategist and Growth & Development Director with Northwestern Mutual, where she partners with professionals and families nationwide to build comprehensive financial plans tailored to their life goals. Based in Tulsa, Kyara focuses on helping clients protect their income, build wealth, and foster healthier relationships with money.
Prior to her current role, she served as an Executive Assistant at Ameriprise Financial, where she supported financial planning, client engagement, and advisor operations. As a staff Accountant at ONEOK, Kyara handled financial reporting and regulatory compliance in the natural gas sector.
Kyara holds a master’s in personal financial planning & financial therapy from Kansas State University and a bachelor’s in accounting from Langston University. Kyara is a proud alumna of the African American Leadership Academy of Tulsa and maintains multiple industry certifications. -
Dr. Dewayne Dickens
Senior Director of the Center for Community & Learning, Tulsa Community College (Chair)
Dr. Dewayne Dickens
Senior Director of the Center for Community & Learning, Tulsa Community College (Chair)
Dr. Dewayne Dickens is a higher education leader with more than 25 years of experience advancing student success, equity, and community engagement. He currently serves as Senior Director of the Center for Community & Learning at Tulsa Community College (TCC), where he leads strategic initiatives focused on coaching, outreach, and resource access for first-generation, low-income, student-parent, and uniquely-abled students.
Prior to this role, Dr. Dickens held leadership positions as Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Director of Culturally Responsive Practices at TCC—developing student-centered programs and partnerships to support retention and belonging. He has also served for over two decades as a Teacher Consultant with the Oklahoma State University Writing Project.
Dr. Dickens is deeply involved in community-based education and adult learning, including long-standing service at Antioch Baptist Church. He earned his Ph.D. in Curriculum and Social Foundations from Oklahoma State University, where his research focused on African American male persistence in community colleges. He also holds an M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction with an English emphasis from Oklahoma State University and a B.A. in English with a Management minor from Northeastern State University.
-
Jumoke Akingbola
Audit Supervisor, ONEOK
Jumoke Akingbola
Audit Supervisor, ONEOK
Jumoke Akingbola is an engineer with over a decade of experience in natural gas storage and internal auditing. She currently serves as an Audit Supervisor at ONEOK, where she leads internal audits, ensures compliance with regulations, and provides guidance to audit teams to improve processes.
Before focusing on audits, Jumoke worked for more than a decade as a Reservoir Engineer. In that role, she helped manage and keep underground natural gas storage sites safe in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. She made sure the sites met safety standards and helped plan repairs and maintenance.
Jumoke earned both her Master’s in Petroleum Engineering and Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma. Her experience in both engineering and auditing helps her support safe and effective company operations.
-
Dr. Kimberly Boyd
Assistant to the Provost, Oral Roberts University (Member)
Dr. Kimberly Boyd
Assistant to the Provost, Oral Roberts University (Member)
Dr. Kim Boyd is an experienced educator and leader with more than 30 years of experience in the field of teaching and teacher preparation. She currently serves as Dean of the College of Education at Oral Roberts University (ORU). She also supports university-wide teaching efforts as Assistant to the Provost for the Academy for Exceptional Teaching and Innovation.
Dr. Boyd first came to ORU as a student and has called Tulsa home ever since. She earned her master’s degree in reading from Northeastern State University and her doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Oklahoma State University. Over the years, she has shared her knowledge with educators and leaders around the world, speaking in places like Sweden, Colombia, and Nigeria.
She is active in the wider education community, serving on boards and national teams focused on improving how teachers are trained. She is a member of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and played a key role in helping update national teaching standards in 2015–2016. One of her most recent accomplishments includes helping ORU secure a $2.2 million grant to support students who face the greatest challenges in staying and succeeding in college.
-
Jacob Odom
Managing Partner, Ernst & Young (Member)
Jacob Odom
Managing Partner, Ernst & Young (Member)
Jacob Odom is the Office Managing Partner for EY in Tulsa, where he leads a team of over 120 professionals and helps guide the firm’s work across northeastern Oklahoma. In this role, he focuses on supporting clients, growing local talent, and strengthening EY’s presence in the region.
Jacob has been with EY for 20 years, serving a wide range of public and private companies across industries. He brings deep experience in accounting, auditing, and client services, and is known for building strong, trusted relationships with the businesses he supports.
A Tulsa native, Jacob earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Oral Roberts University and is a certified public accountant.
-
Michael Epps
Vice President Network Operations, Zayo Group (Member)
Michael Epps
Vice President Network Operations, Zayo Group (Member)
Michael Epps is a distinguished entrepreneur and community leader with over 25 years of experience in telecommunications. He began his career at Worldcom, advanced through Level 3 Communications, and served as Vice President of Network Management at Zayo Group. In late 2023, he joined Lightpath as Head of Network Operations and Logistics. Michael is a Trustee for the University of Tulsa and the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. He is deeply connected to his Tulsa community, advocating for education, diversity, and inclusion, and actively participates in local charities.
A long-time Tulsa resident, Michael is deeply invested in his community. He supports numerous local charities, serves on the boards of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, KIPP, and Birthright Living Legacy, and is an active youth sports coach. He is also a Trustee at the University of Tulsa and a Venture Advisor with 46 Venture Capital.
Michael earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Oklahoma State University and is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
-
Dr. Darnell Blackmon
Orthopedic Surgeon, Elite Wound Care LLC (Member)
Dr. Darnell Blackmon
Orthopedic Surgeon, Elite Wound Care LLC (Member)
Dr. Darnell E. Blackmon, MD, is the owner and operator of Elite Wound Care, LLC. He is a board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon in Tulsa, Oklahoma. With over 25 years of experience in Orthopedic Surgery, specializing in Foot and Ankle Surgery and Sports Medicine, he continues to provide comprehensive care to the community.
Dr. Blackmon earned his Doctor of Medicine from Meharry Medical College and completed his Orthopedic Residency at UVM in Burlington, VT, followed by a Sports Medicine / Foot and Ankle Fellowship at the Institutes for Bone and Joint Surgery in Phoenix, AZ. He has a zest for entrepreneurship and is a real estate developer in Tulsa, OK.
-
Brett Krieg
Assistant Treasurer, Williams (Member)
Brett Krieg
Assistant Treasurer, Williams (Member)
Brett Krieg has more than 20 years of experience in finance and corporate strategy, with more than 14 years at Williams Companies. He currently serves as Assistant Treasurer, overseeing credit and corporate finance functions that support the company’s financial goals. Previously, Brett was Director of Corporate Strategic Development, where he led investment recommendations for executive leadership and the board.
He also managed investor relations and treasury activities, acting as a key link between the company and its investors. Earlier in his career, Brett worked as a Senior Financial Analyst at Matrix Service Company and as a consultant at FTI Consulting, specializing in financial restructuring and strategic transactions.
Brett holds an MBA with a concentration in Finance and Strategy from Southern Methodist University and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Baylor University.