Lifelong public servant becomes TCC Regent
With a father who served as a firefighter for 32 years and a mother and grandmother who both worked for the Tulsa Police Department, public service comes naturally to TCC’s newest regent, Michael Spurgeon. It’s no surprise he has more than three decades of experience in local government management.
Appointed to the TCC Board of Regents earlier this summer, Spurgeon sees his new role in higher education as a meaningful opportunity to give back to the state he proudly calls home.
Raised in Tulsa, Spurgeon attended Tulsa Public Schools until his family moved to Joplin, Missouri, when he was in high school. Still, Tulsa remained his home base, with regular visits to see extended family and a deep-rooted connection that eventually brought him back.
He attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M for a year and Crowder College on a baseball scholarship on his way to earning a four-year degree, gaining the flexibility and support that make two-year colleges such a vital part of the higher education system.
“I know the value of going to a community college and what it can do,” Spurgeon says. “It set a really good foundation.”
That perspective gives him a deep appreciation for TCC’s mission and the students it serves, including many in his own city. As Broken Arrow’s city manager, Spurgeon sees the College’s impact firsthand as nearly 20 percent of TCC students and employees live in Broken Arrow.
“I wasn’t surprised when I saw those numbers,” he says. “TCC provides such an affordable, accessible path to higher education. It’s no wonder so many from our city choose to start their journey there.”
Spurgeon’s career spans local government and military service in Oklahoma, Missouri, and New Jersey. A graduate of the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School, he was named Distinguished Honor Graduate and commissioned as an officer, launching a citizen-soldier career in the Army National Guard that shaped his disciplined leadership style.
Returning to Oklahoma in the late ‘90s, he has led the City of Broken Arrow since 2015.
As a new regent, Spurgeon is committed to community engagement and student opportunity. He’s especially focused on workforce development and wants to help strengthen the pipeline from higher education into city careers.
“Municipal government offers incredible opportunities in public safety, water treatment, engineering, planning, and more,” he says. “I want students to see those roles not just as jobs, but as meaningful, long-term careers.”
He’s also no stranger to public communication. Spurgeon is the voice behind the “BA Breakdown,” a weekly KRMG radio segment where he keeps residents informed and engaged. His philosophy: be transparent, be accessible, and always try to get to “yes.”
“Sometimes ‘yes’ is all someone needs to solve an issue; sometimes it’s only half,” he says. “But we work very hard to try to get to ‘yes’. And believe me, it’s a heck of a lot harder to get to ‘yes’ than it is to say ‘no’.”
Spurgeon says a major challenge facing northeast Oklahoma is retaining young talent.
“Too many of our graduates leave the state and, often, their parents follow,” he says. “I want to help create the kind of opportunities that make people want to stay in places like Broken Arrow and Tulsa.”
With his blend of disciplined leadership, municipal experience, and firsthand understanding of the power of community colleges, Spurgeon brings both insight and passion to the TCC Board of Regents.
“This is an opportunity to give back at a higher level,” he says. “And I’m honored to serve.”