Needham brings a variety of public health and legal experience to the TSET Board of Directors.
OKLAHOMA CITY (November 9, 2023) – State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd has appointed Jennifer Needham to the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) Board of Directors.
Needham is the Dean for Student Engagement at the University of Oklahoma College of Law. She has worked for the University of Oklahoma for over 16 years in a variety of capacities, including serving as the Coordinating Counsel for Regulatory Matters and as the Senior Counsel for OU Health Sciences Center.
“It is my honor to appoint Jennifer Needham to this important role. Her understanding of the law and experience with youth brings an important perspective to the TSET Board of Directors," said Byrd. "Her contribution will have a meaningful impact on the health and wellbeing of all Oklahomans."
Needham is heavily involved in the community, volunteering with several nonprofit organizations such as City Rescue Mission and Big Brothers, Big Sisters. She received a Bachelor of Arts in English from East Central University and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma.
"TSET is delighted to welcome Jennifer Needham to our board," said Marshall Snipes, TSET's Board Chair. "Her experience and passion for improving the health of Oklahomans will support our efforts to create a tobacco-free and healthier Oklahoma. We look forward to the expertise and enthusiasm she brings to our organization."
Needham will fill the unexpired term of former board member Susanna Gattoni, who passed away unexpectedly in September. That seven-year term will expire on June 30, 2027.
The TSET Board of Directors oversees spending decisions and TSET’s constitutional focus on reducing the toll of tobacco, and funding grants and programs to create a healthier place for all Oklahomans to live, work, learn and play.
"I am excited to be a part of the incredible work TSET is doing to make Oklahoma a healthier state," said Needham. "I look forward to serving my fellow citizens and helping make an impact on our future."
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The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) serves as a partner and bridge builder for organizations shaping a healthier future for all Oklahomans. TSET provides leadership at the intersections of health by working with local coalitions and initiatives across the state, cultivating innovative and life-changing research and working across public and private sectors to develop, support, implement and evaluate creative strategies to take advantage of emerging opportunities to improve the public’s health. TSET – Better Lives Through Better Health. To learn more, go to Oklahoma.gov/TSET.