Staff
Director
David helped found OK Policy and served as Director of Policy before becoming the organization’s Director in 2010. David’s work involves conducting research, writing papers, and giving public presentations on state budget and tax policy, poverty, asset development, and various other subjects. Recognized as one of the state’s leading experts on fiscal policy and selected as one of the Tulsa World’s five “Oklahomans to Watch” in 2011, he is a member and regional co-chair of the Scholars Strategy Network. David previously served for seven years as Director of Public Policy for Community Action Project of Tulsa County and for three years as a budget analyst for the State Senate. He has a Ph.D. in political science from Cornell University and a B.A. from the University of Alberta. He lives in Tulsa with his wife, Patty Hipsher, a special education teacher at an elementary school in Broken Arrow and their son, Noah. |
Outreach Coordinator
Megan is on contract with OK Policy as an Outreach Coordinator to bring organizations together to promote sound budget and tax policies in the state. Megan has over 17 years of public policy experience at both the state and federal levels. She has researched and promoted policies related to economic development, education, and state budget and tax structures. Megan’s work experience includes stints at the White House, the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology, the Oklahoma State Senate Research and Policy Division, the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, and currently with her own private public affairs consulting and lobbying firm. Megan received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Texas Christian University. Megan and her husband Dr. Jason Benn reside in Norman, OK with their two children. |
Policy Analyst
Tiece joined OK Policy in January 2013. She earned a B.S. in General Business from Oklahoma State University and a Masters in Health Administration from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. She worked in the Healthcare Industry approximately five years before deciding to attend law school. She graduated from Oklahoma City University School of Law and was admitted to practice law in Oklahoma in September 2012. She is a native of the Oklahoma City area and participates in the Whiz Kids tutoring program. |
Office Manager
Shiloh joined OK Policy in February of 2010. She is a wife and mother of three children, Grantham, Ethan and Delilah. Prior to joining OK Policy, she worked as a controller and office manager for an Oklahoma small business group. Her work at OK Policy has further tuned her in to what is happening in our state and fostered a drive to play a more active part in it. Before joining the staff, she felt she was a suburban wife and mother who had no interest in state government because it did not affect her. She now realizes state government affects all residents, big and small, old and young. |
Policy Analyst
Gene joined OK Policy in January 2011. He is a native Oklahoman and has an M.A. in journalism and a B.A. in history from the University of Oklahoma. At OK Policy, he prepares the daily news update, In The Know, in addition to researching and writing about tax and budget, education, criminal justice, and energy policies. Gene also serves on the board of the Oklahoma Sustainability Network. |
Policy Analyst
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