Dean

Dr. John Clinton is the Dean of the of the College of Arts, Media & Design and the Founder and Director of the Oklahoma Center for Arts Education (OCAE) at the University of Central Oklahoma. He is also the conductor of the Oklahoma Youth Orchestra, a position he has held since 1992.  A graduate of East Central Oklahoma State University, Clinton earned a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Oklahoma and he completed his Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of North Texas with emphases in orchestral conducting, string pedagogy and sociology.

Dr. Clinton has conducted high school orchestras at the Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic, Music Educators National Conferences, the Oklahoma Music Educators Association, and the Intermediate Symphony and Band at the National Music Camp in Interlochen. He has conducted All-State and All-District orchestras in Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas. He has presented papers at the MENC in New Orleans and Kansas City, the Texas Music Educators' Association, the University of Oklahoma "Symposium '95: The Sociology of Music Education: Theoretical Underpinnings and Practical Applications", Vancouver, British Columbia, as well as presentations in Kentucky, Oklahoma Pennsylvania, and Texas on a variety of arts related topics.  As the conductor of the Norman High School Orchestra, he had over twenty years of Sweepstakes trophies at state orchestra competitions.

Dr. Clinton has received numerous professional honors, including the University of Oklahoma School of Music Distinguished Alumni Fellow, ASTA Oklahoma String Teacher of the Year, Governor’s Arts Award for Arts and Education, National Federation of State High School Associations Outstanding Music Educator, Oklahoma Music Educators Association "Administrator of the Year" and the Distinguished Service Award from the Art Therapy Association of Oklahoma. The Norman Public Schools paid tribute to his work in the naming of the John E. Clinton Theatre.  He was recently selected to the Oklahoma Music Educators Association Hall of Fame.

He currently serves on the board of directors and advisory boards for the Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic, Oklahoma Arts Institute, Oklahoma Alliance for Arts Education, Cultural Development Corporation of Central Oklahoma, the Children's Arts Network, and the Respect Diversity Foundation.

Associate Dean
Dr. Gayle Kearns joined the CAMD Dean's Staff in July of 2005.  She comes from the Occupational Technology Education program in the College of Education and Professional Studies with 31 years of teaching, 11 in public school education, 5 in vocational/technical education and 13 in higher education.  Her professional interests include study in Left/Right Brain Learning, Multiple Intelligence, Corporate Training, Consulting, Generational Studies, and Humanistic Behavior.

She is an Examiner for the Higher Learning Commission (HLC/NCA), the Neeley Scholarship Committee Representative for the College of Education and Professional Studies, and a member of the Presidential Partners Review Committee, among others.   Committee experience at UCO has included the Faculty Senate, Faculty Advisory Council, American Association of University Women, and American Association of University Professors.  Membership in professional organizations includes the American Career and Technical Association, Oklahoma Society of Training and Development , Oklahoma Business Education Association, National Business Education Association and the American Association of Higher Education.

She holds the Ed.D in Adult Education, HRD, from Oklahoma State University, the B.S. in Business Education and M.S. in Business and Information Technology Education from the University of Oklahoma.

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Page updated 7/11/06