Four Redlands Community College employees were honored by the Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges (OACC) for their outstanding contributions to the college. Erin Karl was named Outstanding Faculty Member, while Brady Leck was recognized as Outstanding Professional Staff Member and Valerie Black was Outstanding Support Staff Member. Redlands history professor Bethany Holley-Griffith was the winner of the OACC Great Ideas for Teaching (GIFT) Award.
“We have an excellent team of faculty and staff at Redlands, and all of these honorees play a pivotal role in helping our students and supporting our employees as we experience exciting growth in enrollment and programs,” said Jena Marr, president of Redlands Community College. “It’s an honor to recognize individuals each year who have exhibited such dedication to the students and the college, and we appreciate their commitment to making a positive impact on our students’ college experience.”
Karl joined Redlands in 2015 as an adjunct history professor before transitioning to a full-time professor in 2020. She currently serves as head of the Criminal Justice and Social Sciences Department. Karl holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a Master of Arts in History-Museum Studies from the University of Central Oklahoma.
Leck graduated from Redlands with an Associate in Art in Business Administration and joined the Admissions and Advising Office as a student services specialist in 2024. In addition to advising students, Leck coordinates the Redlands Student Ambassador Program and serves as co-manager of the Student Food Pantry.
In a short time, Black has become a valued staff member at Redlands. She came to Redlands in 2025 and works as an executive administrative assistant, supporting the executive vice president, executive vice president of Academic Affairs, and executive director of External Affairs. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Central Oklahoma.
The GIFT Award was created to recognize innovative teaching strategies, highlight outstanding ideas and spark new approaches in the classroom. Holley-Griffith was selected to receive the GIFT Award for developing curriculum designed to address assumptions and misperceptions many students have regarding Indigenous peoples and the place of Native history within the broader American narrative. The unit involves course orientation, place-based learning, digital exploration, source evaluation and person reflection. Throughout the project, students are challenged to examine perspective, authority and bias as they conduct research.
“Bethany’s ability to develop impactful curriculum that engages and challenges students is phenomenal,” Marr said. “Our goal is to equip our students with skills and knowledge that prepares them for the workforce, and this type of project provides a valuable learning experience that encourages critical thinking and thoughtful, well researched discussions.”
Holley-Griffith came to Redlands as an adjunct professor of history before joining the faculty full time in 2025. She has a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Arts in History, both from the University of Central Oklahoma.
