Laura Latta, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Dr. Laura Latta is a dedicated educator with experience in pre-K through postsecondary instructional leadership, cross-sector community development, and education research design and analytics. A lifelong Tulsan, Dr. Latta committed her entire career to education and has held leadership roles as an award-winning teacher, professor, school administrator, community coordinator, researcher, and nonprofit director. Throughout her career, she has used her experience to bring together leaders in education, business, civic and community organizations to work collaboratively toward high-quality education and equitable access to learning opportunities for all students, from early childhood through postsecondary.
Dr. Latta holds a Ph.D. in Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum from the Jeanine Rainbolt College of Education at the University of Oklahoma, and is a published researcher. As an adjunct professor of education at OU-Tulsa, Dr. Latta upholds a deep commitment to train and prepare the next generation of educators.
In addition to her role as executive director of the Tulsa Higher Education Consortium, Dr. Latta serves on a variety of advisory boards and committees for Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance, OSU Tulsa, Tulsa Community College, and Tulsa Children’s Museum Discovery Lab–Little Lab. She also serves as an education subcommittee member for the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women (City of Tulsa).
Dr. Latta is immensely proud to have attended three Tulsa-area colleges and universities (Tulsa Community College, Oral Roberts University, and the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa), and is committed to working alongside Tulsa’s higher-education institutions to support student success, work toward equity in outcomes, and expand higher-education opportunities for students.
Sheika Brantley
Manager of Housing Programs
La-Sheika Brantley has extensive experience serving vulnerable communities throughout her career. She holds an Associate of Liberal Arts degree from Tulsa Community College and a Bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University-Tulsa. Her professional certifications include RAD PBV Specialist, Housing Choice Voucher Specialist, and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit credentials. Her background includes providing case management and housing assistance at the Salvation Army Center of Hope in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as well as delivering family support services at the National Children’s Advocacy Center in Huntsville, Alabama. This diverse experience has equipped her with comprehensive knowledge in her field. When not working, Sheika values time with her family and enjoys supporting her sons at their college football games.
Chantelle Lott
Community Education Outreach Manager
Chantelle Lott is a lifelong learner and believes that education is life. She enjoys connecting individuals’ interests with their purpose. She graduated from the University of Tulsa with a BS in psychology and obtained a Masters in Teaching, Learning, and Leadership from Oklahoma State University. Her experience as a social worker, early childhood educator, and community outreach specialist has allowed her to see even more clearly the importance of education for building and maintaining strong and healthy communities. Chantelle is literacy advocate and has been a volunteer for Reading Partners for over eight years.
Tom McHugh
T3 Student Success Coach
Tom McHugh has found his calling in higher education and student support. After starting his career in college admissions and recruitment in Massachusetts, Tom spent three years working as a Student Success Coach and Academic Advisor at the University of Tulsa. He finds immense joy and fulfillment in guiding students during their college experiences and helping them develop the confidence and skills necessary to begin their professional lives. It is a privilege to walk alongside college students as they navigate challenges and celebrate wins.
As a T3 Student Success Coach, Tom is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with students across THE Consortium’s nine institutions and serve Tulsa’s higher education community in new ways. Tulsa has been Tom’s home for the last six years and he is excited to take part in the efforts for the region to become a Tech Hub. Tom holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Providence College, and a Master of Education in Educational Administration, Curriculum, and Supervision from the University of Oklahoma.
Scott Newman Ed. D.
Strategic Advisor
A proud sixth-generation Oklahoman, Scott Newman brings more than 25 years of faculty and leadership experience in higher education. Deeply committed to improving the lives of others through expanded student access and success, he has served as a fellow of several prestigious national organizations, including the Aspen Institute, the American Council on Education and the Gardner Institute. He currently serves as a strategic advisor to THE Consortium’s grant-funded Tech Hub project.
Alexis Sanders
T3 Student Success Coach
Alexis Sanders is a first-generation college graduate whose path to higher education began in Mississippi. Determined to break generational cycles of poverty, Alexis secured over $100,000 in grants and scholarships to fund her education—proving that resourcefulness and resilience can pave the way to college success. With a B.S. in Molecular Biology and a Masters in Public Health, Alexis blends academic rigor with a passion for mentorship and equity. Her leadership experience serving as president of a 100+ member student organization dedicated to helping underrepresented students to have access to STEM graduate education ignited her commitment to student success, community advocacy, and closing equity gaps in education.
Now based in Tulsa, Alexis is a dedicated Student Success Coach for THE Consortium’s T3 Program. She supports students in tech and tech-related programs through career coaching, financial aid guidance, and personal development. Whether she’s helping a student overcome self-doubt, leading professional skills workshops, Alexis brings empathy, strategy, and lived experience to every interaction.
Outside of THE Consortium, Alexis is the founder of The Markista—a digital marketing and virtual assistance services firm— and diligently serves her local church as she is pursuing ministry training from Price University. Through it all, Alexis remains grounded in her mission: to empower students with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to own their future.
Maria Sandoval
Operations and Community Outreach Coordinator
Maria Sandoval embodies the American dream as a first-generation college graduate whose roots run deep in East Tulsa. Her educational journey began at Tulsa Community College through the transformative Tulsa Achieves program. She subsequently transferred to Oklahoma State University-Tulsa, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.
Maria’s distinctive combination of personal experience and professional expertise creates authentic connections with the students, families, and communities she serves. Her journey from East Tulsa student to dedicated educator positions her as both advocate and role model. Through her work, she aspires to serve as a beacon of hope and empowerment, demonstrating that with determination and support, educational dreams can become reality for every student she encounters.
Ana Santiago
College & Housing Access Navigator
Ana brings over 30 years of lived experience in Tulsa, and a strong commitment to advancing equitable access to higher education and housing for students and families. Ana holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Science from Oklahoma State University and has lived and studied in Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and Costa Rica: experiences that inform her culturally responsive and bilingual (Spanish–English) approach to student support. Her professional background includes program coordination, event planning, student success coaching, community partnership development, and advocacy for underserved youth. Ana is deeply committed to helping learners of all ages imagine and pursue a possible future self through access to higher education and stable housing. Outside of her professional work, she is active in Tulsa’s arts community as an improv performer and sings in the choir at Trinity Episcopal Church.
Aaron Wilson
Director of Programs and Financial Aid
Aaron Wilson is a dedicated education professional with a diverse background in teaching, mentoring, and higher education administration. He has previously held positions at Tulsa Community College and Tulsa Public Schools. Aaron brings a unique perspective and experience from working with students ranging from elementary to college age.
Aaron is a Tulsa transplant through Teach For America, where he taught at Daniel Webster Middle School after he graduated from university. He holds a Bachelor of Biological Sciences degree from the University of Florida, where he specialized in Health Disparities and Electrochemistry.
Shameca Brown
College Access Navigator
Shameca K. Brown is a business consultant and mental health advocate who helps professionals and individuals grow with strategy, compassion, and impact. She is the founder of Harrison Hope and holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma as well as recognition as an Aspen Global Innovators Healthy Communities Fellow.
Milton Dean III
College Access Navigator
Milton Dean III is a seasoned educator and community leader with nearly 20 years of experience. He teaches math at Street School, a nonprofit therapeutic alternative school in Tulsa, and serves as a building delegate for the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association (TCTA) and an Ambassador for the National Education Association (NEA). As a College Access Navigator with the Tulsa Higher Education Consortium, he guides students toward achieving post-secondary success.
Milton’s leadership extends beyond the classroom. He is a Deacon and Sunday School Teacher at New Jerusalem Baptist Church, and an alum of MetCares and LT Represent, programs focused on civic leadership and community empowerment. In 2024, he was selected for the Urban Leaders Fellowship, where he worked on housing policy to address eviction and neighborhood blight.
He also serves as Board President of UpliftEd, a nonprofit supporting teachers’ needs outside the classroom. Milton is driven by the belief that empowering youth is key to equity and economic mobility. He and his wife, MarKeesha, have been married for 20 years and have two sons, Javaughn and Savion.