Appointed to the Regents by Gov. Mary Fallin in 2017, Keating has dedicated most of his life to public service. In 1993, Keating successfully ran for governor and was re-elected in 1998, becoming only the second governor in Oklahoma’s history to serve two consecutive terms. As governor at the time of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing in Oklahoma City, he helped raise more than $6 million in scholarships for the nearly 200 children left with only one or no parents.
Over the course of 30 years, Keating enjoyed a distinguished career in law enforcement and public service having served as an FBI agent, U.S. attorney, state prosecutor, and Oklahoma House and Senate member, including service as the Republican Senate leader. He also served Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush in the Treasury, Justice and Housing departments.
Most recently, he served as president and CEO of the American Bankers Association and, prior to that, was president and CEO of the American Council of Life Insurers.
Keating has served as a member of numerous boards, including the National Archives and the Jamestown Foundation and was chairman of the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Advisory Board of Washington’s Mount Vernon. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and his law degree from OU.
Shirley was appointed to the board by Gov. Fallin in 2018. That same year, she was selected as the first female president and CEO of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
She is a former president of Oklahoma State University – Oklahoma City and served as Fallin’s secretary of education and workforce development from 2015-2018. As secretary, Shirley worked with the governor to implement the Oklahoma Works program, designed to increase educational attainment for Oklahomans to produce a more educated workforce to support and cultivate the state’s economy.
From 2007-2011, Shirley served in Gov. Brad Henry’s cabinet as Oklahoma secretary of commerce and tourism. During this time, she was responsible for the Workforce Department and was liaison between the governor, five major state agencies, and more than 30 small agencies, authorities and institutions. She also served as executive director of the Department of Commerce, the state’s leading economic development agency.
Formerly, Shirley was president of ICI Mutual in Washington, D.C., after serving in various leadership roles in the company. An Oklahoma native, she graduated from Oklahoma State University and earned a law degree from the University of Oklahoma. Shirley lives in Oklahoma City with her husband Bill and has six children.
Effective March 1 through interim approval and with ratification occurring during the board meeting, Elizabeth “Liz” Roberts was named interim executive secretary of the Board of Regents. Roberts began her career with the board in 1998 as a student employee during her junior year at the university. She earned her bachelor of arts and master of human relations from OU, while continuing her professional role as administrative assistant from 2000-2005 and was named assistant secretary of the Board of Regents in 2005. Roberts has served on numerous university committees, including the Game Day Operations Committee, Norman Campus Emergency Operations Committee and Faculty Club Committee. She has also been a sponsor for Crimson Club for many years, served on multiple selection committees and has helped facilitate five presidential searches for the University of Oklahoma, Cameron University and Rogers State University combined.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information visit www.ou.edu.
