Cowley College Welcomes Stanley Cochran to Board of Trustees

Cowley College is pleased to welcome Stanley Cochran as the newest member of the Board of Trustees. Cochran was officially sworn into office on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, and will serve a four-year term through January 2030. He replaces outgoing board member David Stanley.

A longtime Arkansas City resident, Cochran brings both deep professional experience and a strong personal connection to Cowley College. Born in Dallas, Texas, Cochran graduated from Kimball High School in 1978. That same year, he relocated to Arkansas City, where he continued his education and built a career spanning nearly three decades.

Cochran earned an Associate of Arts degree from Cowley College before continuing his studies at Southwestern College, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree. He later completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA), further strengthening his leadership and management expertise.

Professionally, Cochran retired from Spirit AeroSystems following a 28-year career that began with Boeing/Spirit as an assembly mechanic and advanced into operations management. During his tenure, he worked extensively with New Programs, including serving on the 737 MAX Pylon Integrated Product Team (IPT). He later held the role of Operations Support Specialist for the 737 and 767 fuselage assembly lines, contributing to critical manufacturing and operational initiatives.

Cochran and his wife, Melissa (Sweely) Cochran, have been married for 44 years. They are the parents of two children—both graduates of Cowley College—and the proud grandparents of six grandchildren.

Cowley College officials expressed appreciation for Cochran’s willingness to serve and his commitment to higher education and the local community.

“We are excited to welcome Stan Cochran to the Board of Trustees,” said Cowley College President, Dr. Michelle Schoon. “His professional background, leadership experience, and personal connection to Cowley College will be valuable assets as the College continues to serve students and the region.”

For more information about Cowley College and its Board of Trustees, visit cowley.edu.

Hunter Ferguson | Integrated Communications Specialist
Cowley College
125 S. 2nd Street
Arkansas City, KS 67005
hunter.ferguson@cowley.edu