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Dr. David Surratt has worked in student affairs in higher education since 2002 with expertise presenting in settings for both small groups and larger audiences of professionals and students. David has been known to be approachable and passionate during his talks and often reflects on both his professional knowledge as well as his personal experiences as a first generation college student and multiethnic person of Korean and African American heritage.   

Topics of past presentations have included: leadership development, multiculturalism, communication, mentorship, crisis management, community development, learning skills, and general topics on human relations. David has presented nationally and regionally on multicultural issues in higher education, professional development, and student activism.  In 2018, David was a keynote speaker for SA Speaks - A Ted talk style presentation for the National Association of Student Personal Administrators (NASPA) National Convention hosted in Philadelphia where he shared reflections on a student-centered approach to understanding and supporting student activism as an administrator at UC Berkeley. He was also recognized at George Washington University's Graduate School of Education and Human Development as the student speaker during the May 2014 Commencement Celebration.  

David holds a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from George Washington University. He is also an alumnus of the University of Oklahoma where he earned a bachelor's degree in English Literature and a master's degree in Human Relations with emphases in organizational development and multicultural relations.  

Dr. Surratt is currently Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students at the University of Oklahoma serving as the University's chief student affairs officer.  He is responsible for leading teams that support various programs focused on educational access, leadership and engagement, advocacy, and personal development & wellbeing for students at the University of Oklahoma which includes the Norman campus as well as campuses in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and an international location abroad in Arezzo, Italy.   

Prior to joining OU as chief student affairs officer, David served as Assistant Vice Chancellor at the University of California - Berkeley and served in various leadership roles there from 2013-2019 including interim Dean of Students and interim Associate Vice Chancellor.  In these roles, David supervised areas that included: housing and facilities operations, catering and stadium concessions, campus dining and retail restaurants, Cal 1 Card Office, Residential Life, Early Childhood Education Program (ECEP),  LEAD Center (e.g. Greek Life, Student Organization Advising, and Student Leadership Programs), New Student Services (Golden Bear Orientation), sexual assault prevention and survivor advocacy (PATH to Care), Recreational Sports, Student Environmental Resource Center (SERC), student legal services, and protest and demonstration management. 

Furthermore while at UC Berkeley, David served as part of the Vice Chancellor’s leadership team supporting strategic priorities, budget, and fund-raising strategies for Student Affairs. He additionally created freshmen seminar curricula for scholar athletes as part of the Chancellor’s Task Force on Academics & Athletics 

Before joining UC, Berkeley, David served as the Dean of Students at Rosemont College near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he maintained oversight of all student life for the college while becoming the first male Dean of Students since the school's transition from an all-women's college to a coeducational institution.      

He is a member of several professional and social organizations including American College Personnel Association (ACPA), National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), Association for Student Conduct Administrators (ASCA), Mid-Atlantic Association of College and University Housing Officers (MACUHO), and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.  

Places where David has spoken/presented: ​