Hall of Fame Member Biographies

William J. Radke

Dr. William Radke served as provost and vice president of academic affairs at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) for eight years and as assistant dean of the former Office of Sponsored Research and Grants, as well as assistant dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research and as associate vice president of academic affairs.

Radke earned his bachelor’s in science education and master’s in biology from Minnesota State University, as well as a Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Arizona. In 1975, Radke held a faculty appointment in the biology department at UCO for 25 years. During his administrative career, starting in 2000, he spearheaded UCO’s transformative learning initiative, undergraduate research effort, distance education initiative, leadership initiatives, and curriculum development and review.

While in his administrative role, Dr. Radke continued an active research program in his area of expertise, avian biology. He has numerous reviewed publications in the field of vertebrate biology and has authored numerous laboratory manuals. Other publications and presentations have included topics such as transformative learning, the Student Learning Progress Model, undergraduate research, and study abroad. 

Upon retiring from UCO in June 2013, he was honored by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education with the title of provost and professor emeritus. Actually, he never left higher education. He served as UCO ombudsperson and the Emeritus Faculty Association president during retirement. In 2015, he was employed by the State Department of Education as the executive director of the Oklahoma Standards Setting Committee, charged with writing the new English and mathematics standards for state schools. During his tenure at UCO, he received the Recognition of Excellence Award from the State Regents, the Hauptman Fellowship Award for Service, and was honored by the university with the naming of the Radke Fine Arts Theatre in the new Center for Transformative Learning.

As of this year, Dr. Radke continues to serve Oklahoma higher education after agreeing to accept a one-year position as interim dean of the College of Graduate Studies at UCO.