David Holt

David Holt became the fourteenth Dean of Oklahoma City University School of Law on July 1, 2023.

Dean Holt is a graduate of OCU Law (‘09) and holds a B.A. from The George Washington University. Dean Holt is a member of the Bars for the State of Oklahoma and the U.S. Western District of Oklahoma. He has previously served as one of the nation’s Uniform Law Commissioners, practiced land use law, worked in private investment, and served as an adjunct professor in the OCU Honors program. He was OCU Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus in 2016.

In Dean Holt’s public service life, he serves as the Mayor of Oklahoma City, America’s 20th-largest city. In that role, Holt is in his second term and has been elected President of the United States Conference of Mayors for 2025-2026. Previous to Dean Holt’s election as Mayor in 2018, he served eight years in the Oklahoma Senate, where he authored more than 70 pieces of legislation that became law. Holt has also served in staff roles in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs, in the Office of the U.S. House Speaker, and in the offices of members of Congress and Oklahoma state and local officials.

Dean Holt has served in many civic roles and on dozens of community boards. He has been recognized with many awards, including the long-running “Ten Outstanding Young Americans” award from JCI USA (Jaycees). He is the author of two books relating to Oklahoma City history.

Dean Holt is a member of the Osage Nation. He resides in Oklahoma City with his wife Rachel, who serves as the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs. They have two children, George and Margaret.