Impactful Women of the 918: Laura Latta

Dr. Laura Latta’s career in education has run the gamut from classroom teacher to school administrator to professor and more. As founding executive director of the Tulsa Higher Education Consortium (THE Consortium), a collaboration between nine Tulsa-area colleges and universities, she seeks to make education more accessible for Tulsans.

“I know firsthand that Tulsans have exceptional options for pursuing a degree or credential; they just don’t always know where to begin, how to pay for it, or which path is right for them,” says Latta. “That’s why I’m so passionate about the work of THE Consortium…Our mission is to ensure that every student has equitable access to higher education and the support they need to earn a degree.”

And the impact of this work reaches beyond individual students: “I’ve learned throughout my career that education changes the trajectory of entire families, not just individual students,” says Latta. “When we help one student succeed, we strengthen families, employers and our entire community.”

In August 2026, the City of Tulsa announced that Latta had been selected as the first Director of the Mayor’s Office of Children, Youth and Families. Mayor Nichols said, “Laura has dedicated her career to serving Tulsa and creating opportunities for children, families and communities across our city.”

She will be transitioning to this new role in November 2026. Latta also chairs the City of Tulsa Women’s Commission and is an active member of the Tulsa Children’s Cabinet.

Q&A with Laura Latta

Please give us a little background on what you do – and what the Tulsa Higher Education Consortium does.

I serve as the founding Executive Director of the Tulsa Higher Education Consortium (THE Consortium), a collaboration of nine colleges and universities across Northeast Oklahoma working together to support students on their journeys toward degree completion. Tulsa-area colleges and universities collaborate to solve shared challenges, connect students with opportunities, and strengthen pathways to college and careers.

My career has taken me through nearly every avenue of education. I’ve been a classroom teacher, school administrator, community school coordinator, researcher, professor, nonprofit director and now a higher education consortium leader. Each role has given me a different perspective on what students and families need to thrive. Those experiences shaped my belief that education works best when schools, colleges, businesses, nonprofits, and communities work together instead of in isolation.

I am married to my husband, Darek, who also works in Tulsa’s nonprofit community. We have two energetic little boys who keep us laughing and remind me every day why my work in education matters.

You’ve attended three Tulsa-area colleges and universities. Has this influenced your work with Tulsa Higher Education Consortium, and if so, how?

Attending Tulsa Community College, Oral Roberts University and OU-Tulsa gave me a deep appreciation for the incredible higher education opportunities available right here in our city. I know firsthand that Tulsans have exceptional options for pursuing a degree or credential; they just don’t always know where to begin, how to pay for it, or which path is right for them.

That’s why I’m so passionate about the work of THE Consortium. We exist to help students and families navigate the journey by connecting them with clear information about colleges and universities, scholarships, financial aid, transfer pathways for TCC students who want to earn a bachelor’s degree, career opportunities, and the many resources available to help them succeed. Our mission is to ensure that every student has equitable access to higher education and the support they need to earn a degree. Education creates opportunity, strengthens our workforce, and advances economic mobility across generations.

You work on the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women (City of Tulsa). Could you tell us a little about that?

I have the honor of serving as Chair of the City of Tulsa Women’s Commission, a Title V Commission made up of 15 mayor-appointed women from across Tulsa. The Commission serves in an advisory role to the Mayor and City Council, bringing together research, community voices and data to recommend policies and initiatives that improve the lives of women in Tulsa.

One of the things I appreciate most about the Commission is that we don’t start with solutions. Rather, we start by listening. Over the past year, we’ve spent time learning from experts, community organizations and women with lived experience to better understand the challenges women face in Tulsa. That work has shaped recommendations focused on economic security, affordable childcare, pay equity, housing stability, mental health, healthcare access, and women’s safety.

I believe that when women have access to opportunity, economic stability and safe, healthy communities, entire families and neighborhoods thrive. It has been an incredible privilege to serve alongside such brilliant and passionate women who are committed to making Tulsa an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Editor’s Note: Shortly after this interview, City of Tulsa announced that Latta had been hired as the new Director of the Mayor’s Office of Children, Youth and Families

You were nominated because others felt you have an impact on the community in some way. How do you feel that your position impacts the community? Why is that important to you?

I’ve learned throughout my career that education changes the trajectory of entire families, not just individual students. Every FAFSA completed, every scholarship awarded, every credential earned,and every degree granted represents new opportunities that ripple across generations. When we help one student succeed, we strengthen families, employers, and our entire community.

I’ve also been incredibly fortunate to be mentored by remarkable women – principals, researchers, professors and executives — throughout my career. They modeled what it looks like to lead with both excellence and generosity, always holding the door open for the next person. Their example shaped the kind of leader I strive to be. Whether I’m working with students, mentoring future educators, or bringing groups together to solve complex challenges, I hope I’m creating opportunities for others in the same way that so many people created opportunities for me.

If I accomplish anything in life, I hope it’s that people leave interactions with me feeling seen, supported and more hopeful than when they arrived. I want people to believe that their dreams are within reach and that education can be the key that unlocks those dreams. If my work helps someone take that next step with confidence, then I’ve made a difference.

Can you share a specific story or two about how your work has impacted a local student?

The most amazing thing happened this year. When we walked into my youngest son’s meet-the-teacher event, I discovered that his teacher was one of my former elementary school students. My older son’s pre-K teacher was also a former student from one of my Elementary Education courses at OU-Tulsa. I could never have imagined that two of my former students would one day teach my own children – and in the same academic year! Experiencing those full-circle moments reminded me that the investments we make in educators today shape the lives of children for generations. Teachers are heroes, and they deserve both our gratitude and our investment.

What other activities, volunteer work, etc. do you do, and why is that important to you?

I love opportunities that connect people and strengthen our community. I serve on several nonprofit boards, including Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance, City Year Tulsa and Campus Tulsa, as well as on the vestry at my church. Whether I’m supporting my church or working alongside civic leaders, I believe strong communities are built by people who are willing to show up consistently and contribute their time, ideas, and energy.

What strengths do you see in Tulsa, and what area(s) do you think need to be improved?

Oklahoma’s education story is often told through rankings, and sadly, our state is often near the bottom in areas such as funding, test scores and resources. While those challenges are real and deserve serious attention and investment, they aren’t the whole story.

Every day, educators across Tulsa accomplish extraordinary things that rarely make headlines. Teaching a child to read, understand mathematics and think critically changes the course of that child’s life. If you don’t believe in miracles, spend a morning volunteering in a classroom. Teachers are heroes and deserve to be recognized—and compensated—as such.

What are some ways you would encourage others to make an impact on the city?

Get involved in your community. Attend or support a school event. Volunteer in a classroom. Apply to serve on one of Tulsa’s boards or commissions. Show up to a City Council meeting. You don’t have to change the whole city overnight. Small, consistent acts of civic engagement create lasting change.

Do you have a fun fact that you can share about yourself, or do you have a favorite place to go in Tulsa?

My second baby, Nathan, was born during Tulsa’s Father’s Day windstorm in 2023. Apparently the weather wanted to make sure he had a memorable entrance into the world. I am so grateful for the doctors and nurses at Saint Francis who worked around the clock during one of Tulsa’s biggest storms to keep their patients healthy and safe. I was blown away by the way they supported us during that wild time.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Tulsa has shaped every stage of my life. I was educated here, built my career here, met my husband here, and now I’m raising my two boys here. Being able to spend my career helping more students and families build their futures in the city that invested in me is both a privilege and a responsibility. I can’t imagine doing this work anywhere else.