Longtime member of OC community retires

Photo by: Henoc Kivuye

 

After 19 years at Oklahoma Christian University, the school’s registrar is retiring in December at the end of the fall 2013 semester.

“I’ve been with OC about 19 years, prior to that I served on the board of directors for four years,” University Registrar and Professor of Education Mickey Banister said. “So, technically I’ve been associated with OC for about 23 years.”

In 1969, Banister graduated from Oklahoma Christian with a degree in Bible. He then went to Central State University – now the University of Central Oklahoma – to get his master’s in secondary education.

Banister began his work at Oklahoma Christian in 1994 after working in the Oklahoma public school system for nearly 25 years.

When he first began at Oklahoma Christian, Banister worked to help create Cascade College, a former branch of Oklahoma Christian located in Oregon.

“Whatever these universities have needed me to do, I have been glad to help out and do what I can,” Banister said.

Throughout his years at Oklahoma Christian, Banister not only worked as the registrar but also led three trips to Europe and taught courses such as Bible and philosophy.

Because of these opportunities, Banister was able to meet and influence many students.

“It has been a real privilege for Jane and I to help with the Vienna Studies program,” Banister said. “We have taken over 80 students to Vienna.”

Senior Hayley Fisher met Banister when she took the Vienna Studies seminar class during the spring of her freshman year.

“He is pretty laid back, but you know what he expects of you and he treats everyone with respect,” Fisher said. “He is a lot of fun.”

After this class, Fisher, along with a group of other students, traveled to Europe during the fall of 2011. That was Banister and his wife’s third time leading the Vienna Studies trip.

“He was a great sponsor; both him and Jane were really sweet,” Fisher said. “They had a good base of knowledge.”

Fisher saw firsthand how Banister deals with students.

“He loves each and every one of the students here and he takes a great measure of care when addressing student concerns and listening,” Fisher said. “He does his best to help, no matter what. He is going to be missed, and it will be very hard to fill his shoes.”

Sophomore Janey Weast is from Skiatook, Okla. where one of Banister’s daughters lives with her family and attends the Skiatook Church of Christ.

“I went to talk to [Banister] at church and he was really happy to meet me,” Weast said. “He asked for my email and phone number so we could get in touch. Later that week, he contacted me and helped me set up my classes right there on the phone.”

Weast’s experience with Banister left a good impression.

“He is really nice, he doesn’t mess around when it comes to his job and he gets things done,” Weast said. “He is really great with students and it will be really hard to replace someone as great as him.”

Banister’s hard work on behalf of the student body stems from the great care he takes in getting to know them on an individual basis.

“My absolute favorite thing to do is to work with students,” Banister said. “I’m a little different than most registrars in the whole wide world. I help students and do what I can to counsel them; it is my purpose to give good advice.”

Though Banister’s focus is caring deeply for his students, he also takes time to form bonds with the faculty and staff.

“I will miss the people I work with,” Banister said. “The registrar’s office, it is a group of people that we have worked with for 10 to 15 years or longer and it is kind of a trite phrase, but we are family. I can’t imagine working someplace where I just hate to get up to go to work in the morning – that would be miserable. I love coming to work here, it is fun.”

Banister might be leaving Oklahoma Christian, but he plans to always be a part of the university.

“The deal has always been whatever I can do to help Oklahoma Christian University, I’m going to do it,” Banister said.

According to Banister, 19 years at the university have boded well for him.

“The privilege that I have had and the blessing it has been to work at Oklahoma Christian has just been the most wonderful blessing I have had in my entire life,” Banister said. “The people I have known here, the faculties, staffs, students, they’re all just a great bunch of people.”