Seminole State College will commemorate Constitution Day with a special presentation by Social Sciences Division Chair and Professor of Government Jeffrey Christiansen on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 12 p.m. in the Haney Center Lecture Hall. Entitled “The Story of the Bill of Rights,” the talk will explore the historical roots of civil liberties, the drafting and ratification of the first ten amendments and their evolving application over the past 200 years. Complimentary pocket-sized U.S. Constitutions will be provided. The event is free and open to the public. Pictured: Christiansen speaks at last year’s Constitution Day event.
Seminole State College Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Bill Knowles, Assistant Professor Paul B. Smith, J.D, Assistant Professor Dr. Brenda Prochaska and Social Sciences Division Chair Jeffrey Christiansen pose for a photo following a meeting about the College’s Paralegal program, set to launch in the fall of 2026.
Seminole State College has hired Paul B. Smith, J.D. and Dr. Brenda Prochaska as Assistant Professors in the College’s Social Sciences Division. Smith, a former District Attorney for Oklahoma’s 22nd Judicial District, will help the College prepare to launch an Associate in Applied Science in Paralegal Studies in August 2026.
Smith served as District Attorney for District 22 — which includes Seminole, Hughes and Pontotoc counties — from January 2017 to January 2023. He previously held leadership roles in the office, including First Assistant District Attorney and Chief Prosecutor beginning in 2011, and Assistant District Attorney from 1990 to 2011.
During his tenure, Smith prosecuted major felony cases across the district, including a 2017 “no-body” child-abuse murder case — a homicide pursued without the victim’s remains — that drew state and national attention. He also led or participated in appellate and policy work related to jurisdictional changes following McGirt v. Oklahoma. He was admitted to the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018, authorizing him to file briefs and appear before the court.
Seminole State College President’s Leadership Class visited Riversport in Oklahoma City on Sept. 4 to learn about the Boathouse District and participate in team-building exercises. Pictured: students take part in the Dragon Boat Challenge on the Oklahoma River, working together to steer.
PLC students test their rhythm and endurance in Riversport’s Boathouse Experience, an indoor rowing simulator.
State Sen. Mark Mann (D-District 46), who represents Del City and parts of Oklahoma City, speaks with students before dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory. Sen. Mann shared updates on 2028 Olympic events planned for OKC, including rowing and softball, and discussed tourism’s statewide impact. He then concluded his talk with details about student-focused legislation and ways to get involved in local and state government.
