OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) — The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Board of Directors on Thursday announced Executive Director Julie Bisbee will leave the agency effective April 24, and appointed Chief of Staff Lance Thomas to serve as interim director while the board conducts a search for a permanent leader.
Bisbee joined TSET in 2011 and has served as executive director since 2019. The board said her tenure expanded the agency’s grantmaking and diversified its portfolio as a prevention-focused endowment. In November 2025, TSET awarded $150 million in Legacy Grants, described as the largest single commitment in the agency’s history, supporting long-term investments in health infrastructure, the health care workforce, and efforts to expand rural physician training.
“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 credited Bisbee with broadening the agency’s 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.”
Thomas joined TSET in 2009 and has served as chief of staff since 2023, focusing on strategic planning and operational improvements, according to the release.
“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.”
