2018 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD

Bill Pink, Ph.D. (M.Ed. ’95)

Bill Pink’s journey is one filled with a lifetime of commitment to education.

Having served more than 25 years as an educator, Pink was named the 10th president of Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in May 2017.

A native of Abilene, Texas, Pink received an associate’s degree from York College in Nebraska and a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Christian University. In 1995, he graduated with his M.Ed. in secondary education from UCO before receiving his doctorate from the University of Oklahoma.

Pink was the associate dean for the UCO College of Education and Professional Studies from 2007 to 2011 before serving as vice president for academic affairs at Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City.

In 2015, Pink joined GRCC as vice president and dean of workforce development before being named its president. He is a member of the board of directors for the Goodwill of Greater Grand Rapids, the Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids and the Heart of West Michigan United Way.

Pink travels the country speaking on topics of faith, diversity, leadership, and economic and workforce development. As a former student-athlete, he maintains his body and soul through exercise, golfing, fishing and spending time with his family.

Joli Sanders (MFA Interior Design)

Houston native Joli Sanders has always been drawn to the interconnectedness of design and the psychology behind how environments impact people.

In 2014, Sanders established Focus on Home, an Oklahoma City-based nonprofit that works to provide design services, furnishings and home essentials free of charge to families who need assistance.

A single mother while in college, Sanders experienced firsthand the struggles of creating a warm home environment on limited resources. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Texas-Austin, she moved to Oklahoma City.

She then completed 40 hours of post-graduate coursework in Central’s interior design program. In 2000, she passed her qualifying exams to become a licensed interior designer.

Before Focus on Home, Sanders practiced commercial interior design in Oklahoma City for 11 years, primarily with the VanStavern Design Group. While running Focus on Home, Sanders continues to work as a design consultant.

Sanders and her husband, Cam, live in Oklahoma City with their children Remy, Cade and Sayer. Their two oldest children, Josselyn and Cole, also live in Oklahoma.

Since starting Focus on Home, Sanders has kept the following philosophy close to her heart.

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”