Omar Lira

Oklahoma Panhandle State University is pleased to announce the appointment of Omar Lira as the Director of Recruitment. In his new role, Lira will focus on growing and sustaining OPSU’s recruitment strategy and establishing stronger partnerships with educational institutions throughout the region.

The restructuring of OPSU’s admissions into a dedicated Office of Recruitment marks a strategic shift toward a more focused and proactive approach to engaging prospective students. Under the Office of Recruitment, efforts are streamlined to prioritize outreach, personalized engagement, and targeted support for students from diverse backgrounds, from initial contact through enrollment.

“This shift allows OPSU to better align recruitment initiatives with its goals of growth and regional impact, ensuring that resources are directed toward actively attracting new students and fostering connections with OPSU and our programs,” said Dr. Ryan Blanton, Vice President of Advancement. “By integrating recruitment within the Office of Advancement, OPSU reinforces its commitment to creating a cohesive student experience that begins long before students set foot on campus, establishing a foundation for stronger relationships that benefit the University community.”

“Expanding OPSU’s outreach efforts to reach underrepresented regions and demographics is key,” said Lira, emphasizing his goal to increase awareness of OPSU in areas where it has great potential to attract new students. “By strengthening our relationships with high schools and community colleges, I aim to make OPSU more accessible to students from all backgrounds.”

Among his strategies, Lira plans to implement a highly personalized approach to recruitment, emphasizing individual connections to the University and its many departments and programs. This focused engagement aims to guide students through the decision-making process, helping them feel connected to OPSU and making it easier for them to envision themselves as part of the university community.

Lira is also committed to enhancing the international admissions process by collaborating closely with OPSU Registrar, Erin Moore, who has led OPSU’s international recruitment efforts. “Ensuring that our international students receive consistent communication and support throughout their admissions journey is essential. We want to make OPSU a welcoming and supportive environment for students from all over the world,” he shared.

Furthermore, Lira is developing recruitment strategies with academic departments to highlight each program’s strengths, from faculty to unique courses and hands-on opportunities. By connecting prospective students directly with faculty and staff during recruiting events, Lira aims to provide insights into academic experience and foster relationships that support students’ academic and professional goals.

Lira also plans to improve support for transfer and non-traditional students, establishing networks that bring together faculty, advisors, and resources tailored to their unique needs. By understanding and addressing these students’ specific challenges, OPSU hopes to increase retention and success rates across diverse student populations.

As part of his outreach, Lira prioritizes strengthening OPSU’s ties with high schools and community colleges. “Building connections with counselors and providing them with the tools they need to guide students will be crucial. For community colleges, we aim to streamline the transfer process by creating clear pathways and ensuring smooth credit transfer.”

For more information about the application process or to schedule a tour, please contact the Office of Recruitment at (580) 349-1371 or email wearepanhandle@opsu.edu.