In a recent live television interview with KWTV News 9 anchor Robin Marsh, OCCC President Mautra Jones shared a deeply personal and inspiring account of her life, her struggles and the values that shaped her into one of the state’s most influential leaders. Marsh’s thoughtful questions guided the conversation, giving viewers a chance to see beyond Jones’s professional achievements and into the heart of a woman who overcame adversity through faith, determination and education.
Jones began by reflecting on her childhood in Ardmore, Okla. – years marked by instability, frequent moves and financial hardship. Her parents were very young and still finding their footing, leaving Jones and her siblings to grow up in a home that lacked structure and security. What grounded her, she said, was the steady and loving presence of her grandmother.
Encouraged by Marsh to expand on this influence, Jones described her grandmother as the anchor who kept the family from falling through the cracks, ensuring they had food, clean clothes, discipline and hope.
As the conversation turned to the emotional and spiritual strength behind her journey, Jones spoke openly about her faith, calling it the force that helped her persevere when everything around her felt uncertain. She said her belief in God reassured her that her life held purpose even when her circumstances suggested otherwise. Her faith, she added, not only carried her through childhood hardships but also continues to shape the kind of leader she strives to be: compassionate, grounded and committed to serving others.
Education, Jones emphasized, became her pathway to transformation. She called it her “passport out,” a tool that opened doors beyond the limitations of her early environment. By immersing herself in school projects, youth organizations and community programs such as 4-H, honor societies and church leadership groups, she found mentors who recognized her potential long before she herself did.
Marsh noted how remarkable her rise has been, and Jones credited her success to the opportunities education provided.
Today, as president of OCCC – Oklahoma’s fourth-largest higher education institution – Jones channels her life experiences into her leadership. She acknowledged that many OCCC students face challenges similar to those she once endured: financial strain, unstable family circumstances and the struggle to balance school with work. Because she has lived that reality, she leads with empathy and understanding.
Marsh praised her commitment to student success, noting that her personal story demonstrates the power of education to change lives.
In one of the interview’s most emotional moments, Marsh asked about Jones’s recent selection for the Oklahoma Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Jones described receiving the phone call, recalling how she cried tears of gratitude before calling her husband and grandmother. She said the honor belongs not just to her but to everyone who supported and believed in her along the way.
Marsh observed that her humility makes the recognition even more meaningful.
Jones also spoke about her own family, particularly her husband and their three children, and her commitment to providing her children with the stability she once longed for. She hopes to raise them with kindness, respect and an understanding that leadership begins with empathy. Her goal, she said, is not only to lead OCCC but to leave behind a legacy her children can be proud of.
By the end of the interview, Jones left viewers with a powerful message: Hardships do not define a person. Perseverance does. Her journey stands as a reminder that with faith, determination and community support, it is possible to rise from difficult beginnings and become a source of hope for others.
