Dr. Goodnight to deliver Dynamic Women keynote address

CONTRIBUTED BY Nicole Schultz and Kristin Gill, Media Relations.

This article appeared in the March 2015 edition of the Chickasaw Times

SULPHUR, Okla. - Dr. Karen Goodnight, 2014 Dynamic Woman of the Year, will be the keynote speaker at the Chickasaw Nation Arts & Humanities’ Dynamic Women of the Chickasaw Nation Conference and Forum.

The conference and forum are set for Thursday, April 16 at the Artesian Hotel and Spa and Friday, April 17 in the Anoli Theater on the campus of the Chickasaw Cultural Center, both in Sulphur. The conference will feature sessions during the day and a special forum Friday morning.  

Dr. Goodnight’s distinguished career has been dedicated to improving education opportunities for Chickasaw citizens. She has also spent many years training tribal leaders. She has more than 17 years of experience in executive leadership and management training. She is particularly skilled at helping individuals identify and develop their unique leadership strengths and talents.

Dr. Goodnight is owner and manager of Goodnight and Associates, LLC. The firm specializes in high-level executive performance coaching, strategic planning and leadership and organization development.

During her career, she has also served as Chickasaw Nation Director of Head Start and Early Childhood programs and as Chief Training Officer for the Department of Commerce.

Dr. Goodnight, a resident of Goldsby, Okla., earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and a master’s degree in administration from East Central (OK) University. She completed her Ph.D. in instructional leadership and academic curriculum at the University of Oklahoma in 2012.

At the University of Oklahoma, Dr. Goodnight taught college-level courses while working as a graduate assistant and a graduate research assistant.

Dr. Goodnight is a member of the national Social Studies Organization and the Honor Society Phi Kappa Phi.

In 2012, she won the Chickasaw Nation Research and Publication Award for Best Doctoral Dissertation for her essay “Chikashsha Poya Tingba: Coping with the Devaluing of Diversity in America: A Study of the Perspectives of the Chickasaw Tribe.”

A native of Ada, Okla., Dr. Goodnight and her husband, Stan, have three children, Kyle, Madie and Katie.

In conjunction with the conference and forum, artwork showcasing the art of Chickasaw women will be exhibited. The conference and forum are open to the public.  Luncheon tickets are available for purchase by March 27.

For more information, contact Chickasaw Nation Arts & Humanities at (580) 272-5520.

About the Artist:

Molly Humphrey, a freshman at Byng (OK) High School, is the 2015 Chickasaw Nation butterfly art contest winner for this year’s Dynamic Women of the Chickasaw Nation Conference and Forum. Molly’s artwork will be featured on promotional materials for the April event.

The panel of judges chose Molly’s artwork from the art submitted to Chickasaw Nation Arts & Humanities.

Molly, of Ada, Okla., has been an art participant for the last three years. When she isn’t drawing, you can find her playing softball, basketball or hanging out with friends.

All submitted artwork will be framed and displayed during the 2015 Dynamic Women of the Chickasaw Nation Conference and Forum, April 16-17 in Sulphur, Okla.