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OFE News Release

Foundation Announces New Director of Boren Mentoring Initiative

August 16, 2006
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Jennifer Geren has been named director of the David and Molly Boren Mentoring Initiative for the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. The foundation is a statewide non-profit organization that recognizes and encourages academic excellence in Oklahoma’s public schools.

Geren, whose appointment begins Sept. 5, will oversee the foundation’s new mentoring initiative, designed to encourage the growth and development of school-based mentoring.

“We are excited to have Jennifer Geren join us as our first director of the David and Molly Boren Mentoring Initiative,” said Emily Stratton, executive director of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. “Jennifer’s experience in coordinating and promoting statewide initiatives for the State Regents, as well as her commitment to serving Oklahoma students, will be valuable assets in our work to strengthen youth mentoring efforts across Oklahoma.”

Geren most recently coordinated a statewide student civic engagement initiative on over 20 college campuses through her work as assistant director of Campus Compact and student relations liaison for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. She also coordinated the Student Advisory Board to the Regents and planned many state and regional student conferences and events, including Student Day at the Statehouse and an annual student leadership retreat.
An electronic media graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University, Geren served two years as an admissions counselor and recruiter for her alma mater before joining the State Regents’ office in 2002.

"I am so excited to begin work on the David and Molly Boren Mentoring Initiative,” Geren said. “Through my work with Campus Compact over the last few years, I have seen how participating in volunteer service, such as mentoring, can truly change a community. I look forward to working with our schools and communities to expand and strengthen mentoring opportunities in Oklahoma."

The foundation introduced the mentoring initiative during its 2005 Fall Forum for Local Education Foundations by offering its first annual mentoring seminars. The organization also has created a mentoring Web site at www.ofe.org/mentoring with guidelines on how to start an effective mentoring program, tips for prospective volunteers and the statewide directory of mentoring programs. The Foundation for Excellence is planning a publicity campaign to promote mentoring across the state and has received the endorsement of First Lady Kim Henry, who will assist in promoting National Mentoring Month in January.

The foundation also is promoting mentoring through its outreach program to local education foundations and school districts throughout Oklahoma and is encouraging its own trustees and Academic All-State alumni to join in the effort. In an address to public school foundation leaders, Boren challenged participants to help “harness the goodness” of Oklahomans by mobilizing volunteers in their communities to mentor students in need.

“Think what would happen if all children in Oklahoma had mentors — someone to spend time with them, to tutor them, to love them,” Boren said. “Think about how it would transform this state. It would be truly revolutionary!”