The TSET Board of Directors announced Thursday that Executive Director Julie Bisbee will leave the agency effective April 24, following more than a decade of service that transformed TSET into one of Oklahoma’s leading public health institutions.
The board appointed Chief of Staff Lance Thomas to serve as interim director while a search for a permanent director is conducted.
Bisbee joined TSET in 2011 and has served as executive director since 2019. Under her leadership, the agency expanded its grantmaking, diversified its grant portfolio and funded innovative programs and projects as a prevention-focused endowment.
In November 2025, TSET awarded $150 million in Legacy Grants — the largest single commitment in the agency’s history — funding long-term investments in health infrastructure, health care workforce and efforts to increase the training of physicians to serve in rural areas. Organizations such as OSU Medical Center, East Central University, Oklahoma Hospital Association, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, and Youth Medical Mentorship are poised to improve health with Legacy grant funding.
The Legacy grant announcement marked the culmination of the agency’s 25th anniversary year and the milestone of $1 billion invested in the health of Oklahomans by TSET.
TSET’s support helped OU Stephenson Cancer Center achieve and retain National Cancer Institute designation and serve nearly 30,000 patients since 2014.
“What this agency has built over 25 years is something Oklahoma should be genuinely proud of,” Bisbee said. “Innovation, transparency, and accountability have defined this work. The board has set a bold direction for what comes next, and I’m leaving knowing this organization is better positioned than it has ever been. I’m excited to watch what happens from here.”
Board Chair Ken Rowe said Bisbee’s tenure reshaped both the agency’s ambition and its reach.
"Julie has served TSET for 14 years and her leadership and guidance has been invaluable,” Rowe said. “During her tenure, many programs have been implemented that have improved the health of Oklahomans. TSET is a much better organization as a result of her vision and leadership and the state of Oklahoma has been the beneficiary. I thank her for the leadership, creativity, knowledge and passion for the TSET mission that she has provided throughout the years."
Thomas joined TSET in 2009 and has served as chief of staff since 2023. In that role he has focused on strategic planning, agency efficiency, and operational innovation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations from the University of Oklahoma and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Central Oklahoma.
“Lance has been a steady and trusted voice in this agency for years,” Rowe said. “He knows this work, he knows this team, and he knows what the board is trying to accomplish. The mission is in good hands."
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The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) is building a healthier future for all Oklahomans. As a state grantmaking entity, TSET supports community programs, public health initiatives and research to prevent the leading causes of chronic disease. TSET grants and partnerships help to reduce tobacco use, improve nutrition, advance medicine and increase access to active, healthy living. Created by voters and funded by the Master Settlement Agreement, TSET is creating lasting change in schools, workplaces and communities across the state. Learn more at Oklahoma.gov/TSET.