Okemah native Connie Reilly has been appointed to the to the Board of Regents of the Regional University System of Oklahoma. Reilly originally was appointed to the post in 2007 by former Governor Brad Henry.
connie rileyShe has served as chairman of the board and participated in search committees that were involved in hiring presidents for five of the six universities the board governs.
Reilly will continue on the board until 2025 if her appointment is confirmed by the Senate.
Reilly said she is passionate about education at all levels.
“I have a keen interest in expanding the dialogue between secondary and higher education,” said Reilly. “For example, we need to get feedback from classroom teachers about what they want our universities to teach for teacher preparation and implement classroom curriculum based on professors’ feedback for preparing students for college.”
Reilly spent more than 30 years as an educator in Okemah Public Schools, as a teacher, librarian and administrator. She also worked with several other school districts as an educational consultant.
he earned a bachelor’s degree in English in 1971 and a master’s degree in library science in 1981, both from the University of Oklahoma. She also completed certifications as a secondary principal and superintendent.
Reilly also has been active in the business community of Okemah, where  her family owns several businesses. She has been inducted into the Okemah Hall of Fame, and  her family recently received a Commitment to Excellence Award from the Okemah Chamber of Commerce.
Reilly and her husband, Bob, have two children and two grandchildren.