Energetic, enthusiastic, and open are the words used by Dr. Sherri Tapp to describe students at
ORU. However, those very words can also be used to describe her and how she approaches life and
teaching.
A California native, Tapp comes from a family of educators. Near the end of her high school career
Tapp’s father was transferred to Oklahoma City. After graduating high school, she attended
Tuskegee University—the alma mater of her parents—with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She
continued her education at Oklahoma State University, earning a master’s degree in Applied
Behavioral Studies with an Emphasis in Community Counseling. Shortly thereafter, she became a
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC Lic#864).
Before arriving at ORU, Tapp spent many years working for the state of Oklahoma, first with juvenile
offenders, then supervising child abuse & neglect investigations for OKDHS. During this time, she
also pursued and completed a Doctorate in Education from Oklahoma State University and received
the OSU Excellence in Research Award for her research in Cultural Competence. After earning her
doctorate, Tapp started a consultation business (Tapp Into Excellence!) and also came to ORU
where she currently is an Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Education and a member of
the Tenured Faculty Council. For the past 3 years, she has led the ORU Cultural Event: A Global
Celebration.

Dr. Sherri Tapp, join the Board of Supporters of Families with Sickle Cell Disease, Inc., in 2005, she is the Director of Program Services, through her leadership in education, she has help lead the organization to develop enriching programs that assist individuals and families impacted by sickle cell disease, its inherited disorders and traits.