Dr. Cynthia S. Ross, better known as Cindy Ross, is a fifth generation Oklahoman whose work inhigher education and administration lead to her pioneering roles for women. She is known primarily for her service as the first female president of Cameron University.
Personal life
Dr. Cynthia Ross was born in Wakita, Oklahoma—one of three daughters. She was raised in Wakita through elementary school and attended junior high and high school in Medford, Oklahoma. Ross has two children, Garrett and Jordan.
Education
Neither of Dr. Ross' parents had a college education, so college was not something regularly discussed by the family. Immediately out of high school, Ross went to Oklahoma State University and dropped out after a year to be married. After a seven years, Ross went back to OSU and attended college part-time while working full-time. Ross earned her baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees from OSU in 1983, 1986, and 1989 respectively. Her undergraduate degree was in university studies while her master's and doctoral degrees were in higher education administration.
Career
Dr. Ross started out her career at Oklahoma State as an administrative assistant under Academic Vice President Dr. Bogg. While working for OSU, Ross developed several policies in areas such as sexual harassment, as well as "family-friendly policies in dependent care leave and child care for working parents." In 1990, Ross went to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education in Oklahoma City. She started out there as Associate Vice Chancellor until she was promoted to Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs four year later. She is the first and only woman to hold the position of Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Ross held this position until 2002. In 2002, Ross was chosen by Cameron University to serve as their first woman president—and only the third female college president in the state of Oklahoma. At Cameron University she served for 11 years, retiring in 2013. In 2011, Dr. Ross was elected to BancFirst's board of directors.
