Sharla Frost

Trial Lawyer, Author and Career Shaping Coach

Sharla J. Frost is a first generation college student who grew up in Frogville, Oklahoma. She attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University, then Baylor Law School. A highly regarded defense trial lawyer, Sharla defended corporate clients in high-risk cases throughout the United States for more than thirty years. She retired from the courtroom in 2020. She now spends her time representing select legal clients on litigation strategy while also working as an expert witness, keynote speaker, cattle rancher, and author. She is the author of four Amazon best-selling books, including the Frogville Quest series for children and Power at the Table, a business development book.

Dr. Klye J. Stafford

President, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College

Dr. Kyle J. Stafford became the 16th president of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College on January 6, 2020. Stafford believes education is the great equalizer. He has devoted his career to making college accessible, affordable, and valuable, especially for first-generation college students who may not have a pathway to advance. Stafford enjoys working and engaging directly with students, ensuring they have the information and resources they need to succeed.

As president, Stafford has established innovative partnerships for NEO, including the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center, which consists of city, tribal and banking institutions, the Kah-Ne Learning Academy, an on-campus daycare run by the Peoria Tribe, and a new fast-track nursing program on the Northeast Tech campus in Kansas, Oklahoma.

Stafford earned his undergraduate and master’s degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University before completing a Doctor of Education from Northcentral University. He graduated from the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Institute for Educational Management and maintains his Oklahoma teaching certifications.

Stafford is a native of Madill, Oklahoma, and he and his wife, Kim, have two daughters, Miranda Matlock and Emma, and one granddaughter, Adeline Fay.

Diane Shust

COE: Vice President Public Policy

Diane Shust is the vice president for public policy at the Council for Opportunity in Education. In this role, she is a COE senior leadership team member. She is responsible for designing and implementing the government relations agenda of the Council and representing Council interests on Capitol Hill and before the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and other relevant entities. Shust has a deep knowledge of the internal workings and nuances of Capitol Hill. She most recently served as chief of staff in the Office of Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-NY), acting as Representative Suozzi’s principal liaison with the House Democratic Leadership and the Committee on Ways and Means.

She previously served as Chief of Staff for Congressman Jim McDermott (D-W) and as Legislative Counsel to Congressman George Miller (D-CA). Shust directed government relations at the National Education Association (NEA) for 16 years. Shust is a former public defender in Washington, D.C. She received her BA in Juvenile Justice and her Masters in Education from the University of Pennsylvania and her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center.

Owen Toomey

COE, Director of Congressional Affairs

Owen Toomey is the Director of Congressional Affairs at the Council for Opportunity in Education. He brings the stories and importance of the federal college-access TRIO programs to life for federal legislators. After studying Government and English at Georgetown University, he went to work on the legislative staff of Congressman Tom Suozzi (NY-03). Owen brings his previous experiences both on and off Capitol Hill to COE to expand funding for the critical TRIO Programs. 

Donta Mills

SWASAP President

Donta Mills is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He attended Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business with a focus on Technology and a minor in Management. After completing his undergraduate studies, he pursued a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. Currently, he is working towards his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Donta has always been passionate about serving students who need assistance. He was excited to work with TRIO students, specifically those in Upward Bound and ETS programs, at Southeastern Louisiana University (SLU). This experience inspired him to join the TRIO community and he accepted a position with the TRIO programs at SLU.

Over his 20 years of experience in TRIO, 15 of which he served as a professional and four years as a part-time employee, he has relied on his leadership abilities, adaptability, and willingness to get involved to achieve success. These qualities helped him secure important positions such as Assistant Director of UB II at Baton Rouge Community College, LASAP President, and SWASAP President. With a strong passion for leadership and professional development, self-care, and advocacy, Donta remains a servant leader who helps everyone he meets achieve success both personally and professionally.

Tom Cole

Congressman, Serving the 4th District of Oklahoma

A fifth-generation Oklahoman and resident of Moore, Tom Cole has a significant background of service to his home state of Oklahoma. Currently serving in his tenth term, Cole was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002. He is an ardent supporter of a strong national defense, a tireless advocate for taxpayers and small businesses, a leader in promoting and funding biomedical research and the foremost expert in the House on issues related to Native Americans and tribal governments.