After graduating high school in Tecumseh, Oklahoma, Lacey Azbell earned a bachelors degree in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma. She made her way to Okmulgee, Oklahoma in the fall of 2009, where she currently still lives and raises her family. Lacey completed a master’s degree in Administrative Leadership at the University of Oklahoma in the spring of 2017. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Oklahoma State University.
Working with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Lacey quickly became acclimated to the unique cultural dynamics of the area. She started working at the College of the Muscogee Nation as Research Specialist in 2013. In that role, Lacey worked primarily on the college’s accreditation process, which led to Initial Accreditation in fall 2016. Working with departments to align their processes with Higher Learning Commission policies allowed Lacey to develop a system-wide understanding of how departments work together for institution-wide improvement.
Moving from Research Specialist into the Financial Aid Coordinator role in 2019, Lacey was able to work closely with students as they worked to achieve their educational goals. She learned how to assist students and their parents as they navigated the complexities of financial aid, while maintaining institutional compliance with Title IV regulations. In fall 2021, she moved from Financial Aid Coordinator to the Registrar position. This has allowed her to work with students as they prepare for graduation, and ensures that student records are complete and available as students complete their education at CMN.
Included in her committee work at CMN, Lacey has chaired the IRB and Publications Committees, co-chaired the Initial Accreditation Steering Committee, and participated on the Garden Advisory Committee, Curriculum Committee, Grade Appeal Committee, Achieving the Dream Committee, and numerous ad-hoc committees. She also currently is a member of the Executive Leadership Group at CMN, and is involved in the ongoing Strategic Planning currently happening on campus.
