Oakley back for second term as chair of QU Board of Trustees

QUINCY — Quincy University’s Board of Trustees recently appointed Ralph Oakley, a 1980 graduate, as the chair of the board.

Oakley assumes the board chair position held by Delmer Mitchell since 2018. Mitchell has served on the board in some capacity since 2011 and will remain on the board as a member.

Mitchell’s accomplishments include hiring Phil Conover, the 23rd president of the university, and Brian McGee, the 24th president of the university.

In a press release, Mitchell said, “I have been honored to serve as the chair of the QU Board and support the school through the successes and challenges of the past decade. I look forward to working with Chairman Oakley and the rest of the trustees, along with the faculty and staff, to make QU bigger, better and stronger. I truly believe that QU’s best days are still ahead.”

Oakley has completed 11 years of service on the board. His initial term began in 1994. He served as chair from 1999-2004.

“I am honored to be elected to chair the QU Board of Trustees and to play a part in the growing success of QU,” Oakley said. “Chairman Mitchell and the board, along with President McGee, senior leadership, faculty and staff, have done a marvelous job of building the educational and Franciscan mission, growing enrollment and fundraising to record levels and maintaining a wonderful campus and environment. We intend to continue that trend.”

Oakley became the president and CEO of Quincy Media Inc., formerly Quincy Newspapers Inc., in 2009 after working for the company in various operational and management positions since 1977. He retired when the company was sold in 2021.

As an active member in the broadcast industry, Oakley served as a trustee on the National Association of Broadcasters Board of Directors and as co-chair of the NAB Political Action Committee. He was president of the NBC Affiliates and served on the Television Bureau of Advertising and the ABC Television Affiliate Board of Governors. Oakley also served as president of the State Leadership Chairman of the Illinois Broadcast Association. He was the recipient of the 2012 Vincent T. Wasilewski Broadcaster of the Year award.

Oakley was the founding chairman of the Community Foundation and involved in many other local organizations. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Quincy University.