Jeanetta Sims, Ph.D.

Jeanetta D. Sims, Ph.D., is dean of the Jackson College of Graduate Studies (JCGS), of the University College, and a tenured professor in the College of Business Department of Marketing at the University of Central Oklahoma. Her program of research includes strategic communication, workforce diversity, and persuasion and social influence. She teaches courses in marketing and communication, and is accredited in public relations (APR).

As the JCGS dean, Sims oversees the university's graduate programming, policies, marketing, staff, and budget. She is the founding dean of the University College, which is associated with the university's Quality Initiative and the new first-year freshmen experience, Broncho Blueprint. Her role also involves management of the Broncho Education and Learning Lab (BELL), which is responsible for peer-tutoring, supplemental instruction, and other forms of academic support to enhance undergraduate and graduate student retention efforts.

As a faculty member, Sims founded and cultivated a robust, interdisciplinary, student research program in 2007, called Diverse Student Scholars, as her personal contribution to the Academy. In its 14th year, Diverse Student Scholars, has accomplished more than 40 funded student grants, more than 105 conference presentations, more than 20 research independent studies, more than 25 proceedings and journal publications, and 4 national conference top paper awards. Details concerning the student research program can be viewed at: www.diversestudentscholars.com

Sims has received university and national awards for her teaching and service (in 2020, 2014, 2012, and 2009) and for her scholarship through winning top paper or merit awards from the university or at national and international conferences in 2021, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, and 2006. She is co-editor of the annual UCO Transformative Learning Conference Proceedings, the Journal of Transformative Learning, and the books Inspired Learning: 50 Insights from Personal Transformative Learning Journeys and Developing Workforce Diversity Programs, Curriculum, and Degrees in Higher Education. Her research appears in multiple book chapters as well as in the Journal of Communication, Journal of Public Relations Research, Human Communication Research, Atlantic Marketing Journal, Corporate Reputation Review, Communication Research, Communication Monographs, Western Journal of Communication, Journal of Business Diversity, Scholarship and Practice of Undergraduate Research, Florida Communication Journal, and Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly. Her, "We are Here" series of poetry and prose is featured in Minnesota's Black Community in the 21st Century, which received the 2021 Academy of Human Resource Development's R. Wayne Pace HRD Book of the Year Award. She served as the Contributing Literary Writer for the project.

Throughout her tenure in higher education she has taught undergraduate and graduate courses as well as given guest lectures focused on business and professional communication, business leadership and identity, interpersonal communication, public relations, issues management, persuasion, marketing communications, social marketing, digital media and content marketing, media writing, content analysis, marketing management, leadership development, Black women in leadership, accounting and communication, undergraduate research, transformative learning, and leading in a globally competitive environment. Her collaborative philosophy and approach to teaching is featured in a TeTalk, which was sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Transformative Teaching and Learning at the University of Central Oklahoma and can be viewed at: http://www.uco.edu/academic-affairs/cettl/tetalks.asp. In addition, she is CEO of Genius in Collaboration, where she serves as a collaborative consultant for individuals and organizations on workforce diversity, identity, faculty-student research programs, and communication strategy through conducting consultations, workshops, retreats, and other customized solutions.

Prior to working in higher education, Sims’ work experience involved increasing responsibilities at MidFirst Bank. There, she held a variety of marketing positions including marketing coordinator, marketing customer information file manager, and strategic marketing manager. Eventually, she was promoted to be the deposit product manager, where she was responsible for deposit product development, pricing, marketing, and the bank’s Check Card portfolio, among other duties.

Sims is a past president of the North American Management Society, UCO African American Faculty/Staff Association and UCO Empowerment for Excellence (an organization for faculty and staff women). She serves nationally in elected or appointed positions for the Higher Learning Commission, the Council on Undergraduate Research, the National Communication Association, and the Marketing Management Association. She serves on the Board of Trustees for Oklahoma Christian University and on the Board of Citius Baseball. 

• Ph.D., University of Oklahoma, 2008
• APR (Accredited in Public Relations), Universal Accreditation Board, since 2007
• M.A., Abilene Christian University, 1995
• B.S., Oklahoma Christian University, 1993