Patti Neuhold-Ravikumar, President

Patti Neuhold-Ravikumar is the 21st president of the University of Central Oklahoma and the institution’s first female president in its more than 130-year history. A contributing member of the university community since 2007, she served in a variety of roles during that time.

Patti earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology with an emphasis in management from Oklahoma Christian University. She earned her master’s degree in industrial/organizational psychology from the University of Tulsa and is currently a doctoral candidate in organizational leadership at Concordia University – Chicago.

 President Neuhold-Ravikumar currently serves on several boards of directors including:

• Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities;
• Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma;
• Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce;
• RIVERSPORT Foundation; and, 
• The Oklahoma Academy for State Goals.

She serves on the board of advisors for the Edmond Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Oklahoma Business Roundtable. 

Under her leadership, UCO:

• Successfully launched their nationally ranked, fully online programs;
• Leads the state in developing and awarding stackable micro-credentials;
• Converted every classroom into a virtual learning space;
• Modernized student services;
• Received recognition for excellence in education and social justice advocacy during 2020;
• Achieved top national rankings in social mobility, crisis management and forensic science;
• Achieved the university’s first-ever World ranking;
• Raised more than $28 million dollars in cash and in-kind gifts;
• Increased first-year student retention by 12.5%; and,
• Increased tuition assistance for underrepresented student populations.