Norman - Leslie Rainbolt-Forbes, M.D., has been elected as chairman of the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents and C. Renzi Stone has been elected as vice chairman of the board.
Rainbolt-Forbes was appointed to the Board of Regents in 2006 by Gov. Brad Henry and was reappointed to a second seven-year term beginning in 2013 by Gov. Mary Fallin. She has previously served as chairman and vice chairman of the board. Rainbolt-Forbes received her bachelor of arts degree cum laude from Newcomb College of Tulane University, her master of business administration degree from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, and her medical degree with special distinction from the OU College of Medicine and remained on the faculty of the College of Medicine as assistant clinical professor of dermatology and adjunct assistant clinical professor of pediatrics, teaching and practicing pediatric dermatology until retiring from practice to join the Board.
Highly involved in civic and philanthropic activities, Rainbolt-Forbes currently or has previously served as a director or member of the Children’s Hospital Foundation Board of Directors, Harold Hamm Diabetes Center Board of Advisors, Communities Foundation of Oklahoma, MD Anderson Board of Visitors, Colorado College Parents’ Council, American Saddlebred Horse Association Board of Directors, and Oklahoma Health Sciences Facility Inc. Board of Directors. Her memberships have included the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, Oklahoma Zoological Society Board of Directors, OU Breast Health Institute Community Advisory Board, Calm Waters Board of Directors, Casady School Board of Visitors, AIDS Care Fund Advisory Board, Junior League of Oklahoma City and other professional organizations as well as civic and charitable events. Rainbolt-Forbes and her family are longtime supporters of OU on both the academic and athletics levels, and 21 members of the family have attended the university. She has four daughters and lives in Oklahoma City with her husband, Scott Forbes.
Stone was appointed to a seven-year term in 2015 by Gov. Fallin. He is chairman and CEO of Saxum, an integrated marketing communications agency headquartered in Oklahoma City with offices in Tulsa and Houston. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in history from OU in 2000, where he was a Rhodes Scholar finalist, a Letzeiser medalist and a four-year letterman for the men’s basketball team.
Stone and his wife Lee Anne founded the Isaiah Stone Foundation, which supports epilepsy research and families in Oklahoma who have a child with epilepsy. At OU, Stone has previously served on the Board of Visitors for the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, OU Libraries and David L. Boren College of International Studies. Stone received the OU Regents’ Alumni Award in 2009. Stone is also serving a three-year term on the global board of YPO (Young Presidents Organization). He and Lee Anne, also an OU alum, have two sons, Jackson and Walker, and live in Oklahoma City.
Chris A. Purcell of Norman was elected to serve as the board’s executive secretary. She serves as vice president for university governance. Purcell, who has been re-elected each year since 1992, also serves as secretary of OU, Cameron University and Rogers State University. She was selected in 2005 by OU’s Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education as one of “75 Who Made A Difference” as well as being honored with the Walter Neustadt and with UOSA Outstanding Administrator awards. In 2014, the Norman Chamber of Commerce selected Purcell as the recipient of their Women’s Leadership Award, and in 2012, she was honored by The Journal Record among 50 Making a Difference in Oklahoma. In addition to her other duties, she teaches courses in adult education, higher education and human relations. She earned her bachelor of arts and Master’s degrees in education, along with a doctorate in higher education and lifelong learning, all from OU.
