Dakota Cole To Deliver Commencement Address at ECU’s Fall Ceremony

ADA, Okla. - East Central University alumnus and current Secretary of Treasury for the Chickasaw Nation, Dakota Cole, is set to present the commencement address for the Fall 2024 graduation ceremony on Dec. 14 at 10 a.m. in the Kerr Activities Center.

Cole will be delivering his first commencement address to an ECU graduating class.

"The pursuit of lifelong learning is a bold and achievable vision that East Central University inspires in it's graduates, students and team members," he stated. "I look forward to sharing a few lifelong learnings during commencement this Saturday, Dec. 14."

A native of the Tishomingo area, Cole is a 2008 graduate of ECU, where he received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration and his master's degree in Accounting in 2010.

After his time with ECU, Cole began his career with the Chickasaw Nation as a Management Accountant. He would remain with the Chickasaw Nation and work his way through a series of positions that included Director of Management Reporting and Chief Accounting Officer.

After years of dedication, Cole was appointed to the position of Under Secretary of Treasury for the Chickasaw Nation, a position that led to his appointment as the Deputy Secretary of Commerce and eventually Secretary of Treasury.

Cole, who worked on his family's 500 cow/calf cattle operation during his time at ECU, possessed a clear interest in business as a student, "My family ran a number of small businesses and so I was always interested in understanding business, understanding markets, understanding finance, taxation, and so it was natural to pursue a business degree. And then I fell in love with it while at ECU."

His interest would quickly turn to passion as he completed his degrees and earned his way through the Chickasaw Nation to the position he holds today.

Cole was inducted into the first class of Rising ECU Tiger Distinguished Alumni in 2024.