AWARDS
Diversity , Equity , & Inclusion Award
Earl and Bernice Mitchell
There is nothing quite like the wisdom that we hear from the passenger ’ s side of a grandparent ’ s vehicle . It was from the passenger ’ s seat of an old truck that Earl Mitchell gave me some of the best advice that I ’ ve ever been given , “ Do as much good as you can , for as many people as you can , for as long as you can .”
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COMMERCE | 2023 Profile Magazine of the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce
Growing up , I had a limited understanding of the importance of Earl and Bernice Mitchell ’ s impact in the Stillwater community and the state of Oklahoma . To me , Earl and Bernice were just “ Grandma and Grandpa ,” To others , they were trail blazers and thought leaders , beacons of hope and the promise of a better tomorrow .
People marveled at them in lecture halls and board rooms , awards dinners , and galas , soaking up all they could in short spans . I realize now how lucky I am to say that I learned from them over car rides and dinner tables . Despite having lists of accomplishments longer than most , the enduring sentiment about my grandparents is that they were incredibly humble people who knew and loved people well .
Those who benefitted from their work often be found in their living rooms and around their dining tables . Their influence never made them inaccessible . The groups that they served were quickly regarded as chosen family .
When I think about the impact of my grandparent ’ s lives , and their enduring commitment to the communities they served , a foundational conviction of doing good towards one ’ s neighbor rises quickly to the surface . In part because of their faith , and in part because of their experiences , my grandparents seemed to see life as an opportunity to offer other people the opportunity that they were not always given .
Their professional and academic accomplishments were impressive at the very least , but the core of who they were was less about what they did , and more about what they did for others .
In a culture that tempts us to use our giftings and influence to promote ourselves and our interests , my grandparent ’ s consistently chose to use their platforms as a means for empowering other people , serving in roles that advocated for minorities , women , children and the good of their community .
Coming to Stillwater Oklahoma in 1967 , Earl became the first African American faculty member to gain tenure at Oklahoma State University by 1969 . His work and research in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology , as well as his commitment to the advancement of STEM in Oklahoma , were some of the defining contributions of his decades-long career in academia .
Amongst his professional accomplishments , Earl also found time to invest in the lives and education quality of his students . Serving as the assistant dean of the Graduate College , and as the Associate Vice President of the Multicultural Affairs Office , Earl found ways to foster a culture within the university setting that was founded on academic excellence and social consciousness .
My grandpa valued perspective and inclusion more than most people , and he was always looking to understand the experiences of others . He was an incredibly gifted scientist and researcher , but a skill set he had that blows me away was his ability to connect and empathize with anyone from anywhere . His brilliance , coupled with his humanity , left its mark on Oklahoma State and the State of Oklahoma .
Bernice was formidable in her own right and worked diligently within her chosen sphere of influence . Enrolling at OSU at 33-years-old , Bernice was a non-traditional student . Using her experience as a non-traditional student , Bernice organized a group