Drew Hughes attended SWOSU from 2006–2010, earning a B.S. in Park Law Enforcement and an M.Ed. in Parks and Recreation Management. While at SWOSU, he was highly involved on campus, working at Crowder Lake University and reviving the Parks & Recreation Management Club as its president. He began his career with the National Park Service as a Park Guide at Washita Battlefield National Historic Site and achieved his goal of becoming a U.S. Park Ranger in 2012. His career has taken him across the country in diverse landscapes, serving in numerous law enforcement and emergency response roles. His remarkable journey will inspire and captivate audiences as the 2026 North Family Lecture Series speaker.
The North Family Endowed Lecture in Parks & Recreation Management is made possible by the North Family Endowment at the SWOSU Foundation, Inc. The North Family Endowment was established in 2021 by 1980 alumnus, Mike North of Oklahoma City and his wife, Marilyn Flinchum.