Staff

Marcia serves as the executive director for Leadership Tulsa. As a long-time champion of the important role of leadership in community and civic empowerment, Marcia has worked diligently to create pathways and encourage participation in leadership opportunities designed to include all voices across Tulsa.    

Prior to serving as executive director, she has directed the implementation of Leadership Tulsa programming to connect leaders with impactful service opportunities that contribute to a thriving community for all. Marcia supports nonprofits with strategies on developing authentic community partnerships and innovative cross-sector programs. She has supported the development of several civic engagement initiatives across the state and nation. Marcia provides insights and guidance to Leadership Tulsa, culled from a keen understanding of community voice, proven management and program expertise, and a track record of success working in consultancy with community partners.  

She volunteers on several local and state nonprofit boards and civic commissions. In 2022, she was named Oklahoma Magazine’s 40 under 40, Journal of Record’s Achievers under 40, and honored with the Tulsa League of Women Voter’s Madame President award. She was featured in Forbes Women for her work in bridge-building across sectors.  

Marcia is passionate about educational access. Her experience spans across K-12 and the university setting, including Tulsa Public Schools, Teach For America, and Oklahoma State University.  She is a graduate of Oklahoma State University, has a master’s in public administration from Arkansas State University and is currently working on a doctorate in education from the College of William & Mary. Marcia is a proud graduate of the inaugural Hispanic Leadership Institute (HLI) class.  

As the organization celebrates 50 years, Marcia looks forward to her role ushering in the next 50 years of organizational excellence and community breakthroughs. 

Kendall joined the Leadership Tulsa team in April 2016. Born and raised in Tulsa, Kendall graduated from the University of Tulsa with a Bachelor of Arts in Arts Management. Throughout her career, nonprofit management has been the central theme, doing everything from data entry to event management to organizational finance. Kendall enjoys helping create new systems and solutions to maximize outcomes and is always happy to help other organizations when they need guidance. When she’s not managing the Leadership Center, Kendall enjoys performing in local theatre productions. She is the resident stage manager for Tulsa Repertory Musicals, where she also serves on the board.

Michael is a Tulsa product, graduating from Booker T. Washington High School. He then went on to Pittsburg State University in Kansas where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degree in communications.

Michael returned to Tulsa after graduating in the spring of 2014 and started working for Tulsa Job Corps Center. At Job Corps he worked with young adults ages 16 to 24 and as the career transitions manager, he assisted youth with their career placements after completion of the program. He started working for Workforce Tulsa in May of 2018 as the business services manager.

Michael has a passion for helping job seekers acquire long term employment with quality employers and connecting employers with quality employees. Michael joined the KIPP Tulsa staff in 2019 as a physical education instructor and head football coach. In 2020 he became the Dean of Students for KIPP Tulsa High School.

Michael has a deep passion for helping youth to reach their fullest potential – academically, emotionally, physically, and socially. He will continue to serve the youth at KIPP Tulsa through after school sports activities. Michael is excited to work with and learn from a diverse groups of individuals to help make an positive impact for a better Tulsa.

Savannah is excited to serve as Leadership Tulsa’s development manager. She grew up in Riverside, California, and moved to Tulsa in 2017. Savannah attended Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas, and continued pursuing her education at the University of Oklahoma, where she obtained a B.S in Criminal Justice. She is currently working towards her Master’s of Public Administration at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa. Savannah has previously worked in tribal government and nonprofits, focusing on serving the community. She is a part of Duck Creek Ceremonial Grounds and remains connected to her previous work through volunteer services.  Savannah enjoys spending time with her partner Houston and their dogs. Through her work, Savannah has found a passion for serving the community and making a positive impact in Tulsa. She is thrilled to join Leadership Tulsa and learn from such a diverse group of individuals.

Hannah Jarman has served Changemakers over the past four years as a Coach, Coach Mentor, and Program Coordinator for Power of Youth and officially joined the staff in July 2022 as a Program Manager. She moved from the south suburbs of Chicago to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2017 with Teach for America to teach 6th and 7th grade social studies. Utilizing her degree in Global Studies (Conflict Resolution) and Communication from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Hannah became passionate about bringing current events and relevant history into her classroom for discussion. She quickly realized the impact student voice can have on building power in communities. Her motivation derives from the hope and passion she sees in students everyday to change the world as they (and we) know it.  Throughout her five years in the classroom, Hannah has coached debate, Changemakers, and other teachers. She is excited for the next big adventure.

Rachel Humphrey has been a classroom educator for the last ten years at Council Oak Elementary in Tulsa Public Schools. Originally from Poughkeepsie, NY, she moved to Tulsa to attend the University of Tulsa in 2008, where she was a member of the women’s rowing team. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree in elementary education she began teaching 5th grade at Council Oak. While teaching, Rachel was involved in various after school programs and positions. Most recently, she was a Changemakers coach and was inspired by the work being done throughout the program. In her classroom Rachel put an emphasis on student voice, building community, and collaboration. She is passionate about empowering youth to find and use their voices to impact their communities. She is excited to join the Changemakers team!  Rachel is married to Brian Humphrey and together they are proud parents of Evelyn, Violet, and Bennett.

Gabrielle Holston is a dynamic individual with a passion for leadership, education, and community engagement. As the Program Director at Leadership Tulsa, she plays a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of leaders.

Gabrielle holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications specializing in public relations from East Carolina University. She also earned her master’s degree in public administration from Florida A&M University and is currently pursuing her second master’s degree in public school administration from Northeastern State University.

Before her tenure at Leadership Tulsa, Gabrielle was a dedicated public-school educator in the Tulsa and Muskogee area, where she had a direct impact on shaping young minds. She has been a basketball coach where she dedicated her time to instilling life values into the youth that she served. Her transition to Leadership Tulsa reflects her unwavering dedication to the community and her desire to facilitate positive change on a broader scale.

Gabrielle’s diverse range of hobbies—including sports, fashion, and reading—showcases her multifaceted interests. However, it’s her passion for youth and educational advocacy that truly defines her. Her goal in life is a simple yet profound one: to be better today than she was yesterday while helping other people find their stride.

In every aspect of her life, Gabrielle Holston embodies the spirit of leadership, education, and community service. She hopes her journey is an inspiration to all who have the privilege of knowing her.

Jori Cowley grew up on a ranch in the rural community of Vinita, Oklahoma, and is a proud citizen of the Cherokee Nation. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and Native American studies. Jori is passionate about affirming tribal sovereignty in the state of Oklahoma and creating a pathway for diverse people to have equal access to community resources. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her two dogs and thrifting cowboy boots for her boot collection.

Cecilia is a Tulsa native, graduating from Union High School in 2019. Afterwards, she attended Tulsa Community College and then went on to the University of Tulsa where she graduated in 2023 with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and double minored in Education and Early Intervention. During her time at the University of Tulsa, Cecilia was actively involved in leading meaningful multicultural/DEI work on campus and the larger Tulsa community as the president of the Vietnamese Student Association, research assistant at the Study of the Prevention, Adjustment, and Resilience to Trauma and Adversity Lab, and social media manager for Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi-American (APIDA) Tulsa. After graduating, she worked as a research coordinator at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research managing two mental health research projects and organizing events for their DEI Committee. Through her work, Cecilia has developed a passion in enhancing DEI education within large institutions and being a mental health leader for the Vietnamese and wider Asian American community. In her free time, Cecilia enjoys playing guitar, thrifting vintage clothes, attending concerts, and eating food with her friends. She is thrilled to join Leadership Tulsa and make a difference!