Trevor Cox, Ph.D.

Trevor Cox, Ph.D., is an assistant professor and program coordinator for the organizational leadership degree. The degree he oversees is a state of Oklahoma initiative to help adults return to school and complete their degree online. He loves working with this population and seeing the inspirational stories of people returning to school. He also oversees the general studies program and is the assistant department chairperson for the Department of Adult Education and Safety Sciences.

At UCO, Cox is an active member of the 21CPI book clubs and advisory board, the Diversity Committee and other diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) activities, and is one of the founding members of the Center for Neuroeducation and Embodied Learning.

Cox specializes in leadership development, DEI and transformative learning. In addition to his faculty roles in adult learning, he also has worked in a variety of leadership and consulting positions helping diverse groups reach their full potential, and think more inclusively about their work.

• Foundations of Organizational Leadership
• Organizational Leadership Capstone
• Nature and Characteristics of the Adult Learner
• Leadership and Change
• Organizational Dynamics
• Organizational Culture and Leadership

• B.A., Oklahoma State University, 2005 – Mathematics
• M.A., Oklahoma Christian University, 2007 – Family Life Ministry (Counseling Emphasis)
• Ph.D., Trinity International University, 2017 - Educational Studies

• 2018 - Present - University of Central Oklahoma
• Assistant Professor / Program Coordinator Organizational Leadership
• Program Coordinator General Studies
• Assistant Chairperson, Adult Education and Safety Sciences
• Prior to coming to UCO, Trevor adjunct taught at several universities, worked in professional ministry, and in the oil and gas industry. 

Trevor’s teaching philosophy is democratic, hospitable, developmental, transformative, collaborative and holistic. Good education teaches us how to embrace and learn from each other’s differences, challenges students to grow and change through dialogue and reflection, and makes room for the whole person. Education should be a place where people can bring their whole selves and work together for change in each student individually and the world around them.

My wife and I have four kids, so I try and spend most of my free time with them. I also like to read, watch college football and basketball, jog (not run, runners go fast and do races) and watch cooking shows without actually knowing how to cook.

• Lee, Y., & Cox, T. (2022). Decentering Whiteness: A Leadership Strategy for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Higher Education. In Leading With Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (pp. 297-314). Springer, Cham.

• Cox, T. (2021). Inclusive Leadership: The Roots of an Emerging Theory. In Dublebohn, J., Murray B., & Stone, D. (Eds),  Leadership Includes Leaders, Followers, and Context, Information Age Publishing.

• Cox, T. (2020). Creating Space for Transformation: Cultivating Containers for Inclusive Leadership Development. In J. Marques (Ed.), The Routledge Companion to Inclusive Leadership (1 edition, pp. 273–287). Routledge.

• Cox, T. & Provencio, A. “Creating Equitable Spaces for Critical Dialogue in Online Environments,” National Conference on Race and Ethnicity 2022.

• Cox, T. & Dezenberg, M. “The Edge of Inclusion and Exclusion: How Inclusive Leaders Navigate Resistance in Practice,” International Leadership Association Conference 2020. Interactive Roundtable. 

• Cox, T. “Creating Inclusive and Transformative Environments in the Classroom,” 
  Transformative Learning Conference 2019. 

• Cox, T. “Practicing Inclusion for Transformation: Building Skills and Theory for Cultivating Inclusive Transformative Learning Environments.” International Transformative Learning Conference, New York. 2018.

• Cox, T. Denzenberg, M. “Inclusive Leadership & Collaborative Interaction: A Formula for Advancing Cross-Group Relations.” International Leadership Association, West Palm Beach, 2018.
• Cox, T. Lee, Y. “Thinking Together for a Healthier and More Inclusive World.” Academy of Management, Chicago, IL. 2018.
• Cox, T. “Learning From and For the Other: Hospitality as a Teaching Strategy.” Stone Campbell Journal Conference, Johnson City, TN. 2018
• Cox, T. Lee, Y. “Dialogue: Learning Old Ways of Conversations for a New World.” Midwest Academy of Management, Chicago, IL. 2017.
• Cox, T., Perinparaj, E.G.P. “East and West: An Intergenerational Leader Development Comparison.” Southwest Academy of Management, Bangkok, 2016.
• Cox, T. “Learning from and for “the Other:” The Development of Inclusive Leadership Capacity by Faculty Member.” Unpublished Dissertation, 2017.
• Colwill, D., Cox, T., Daniel, D. N., Lee, Y., Luhtala, T., Perinparaj, E.G.P. “Leading Virtual Intercultural Teams.” Southwest Academy of Management, Oklahoma City, OK, 2016.
• Cox, T., Perinparaj, E.G.P. “Effective Team Communication.” Southwest Academy of Management, Oklahoma City, OK, 2016.
• Colwill, D., Cox, T., Daniel, D. N., Lee, Y., Luhtala, T., Perinparaj, E.G.P. “Effective Team Communication.” Southwest Academy of Management, Oklahoma City, OK, 2016.