Hall of Fame
Dr. Yvonne Carmichael worked for more than 40 years as a professor of health and physical education at Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
Born in Higgins, Texas, Carmichael grew up in the Texas panhandle and later graduated from North Texas State College in 1955 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. Just a year later in 1956, she finished her master’s degree in physical education while at the University of Oklahoma. During her tenure as a professor at Northwestern, Carmichael worked on her doctorate in college teaching and graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1982.
Before coming to Northwestern in the fall of 1960, Carmichael taught and coached women’s volleyball and basketball at Panhandle A & M from 1956-60, making her years of college teaching experience totaling 43 years.
At an early age she developed a passion for swimming and pursued her love of water while at Panhandle by founding the “Ripplettes” synchronized swimming club in 1958.
After being at Northwestern for two years, Carmichael founded the Aquarina Swim Club and presented shows for the public for 33 consecutive years. She was chosen as the Sports Coordinator for Synchronized Swimming at the 1989 U.S. Olympics festival. Carmichael also taught swimming classes for many years and had the honor of the Aquatic Center in the J.R. Holder Wellness Center being named in her honor in the fall of 2000.
Carmichael worked for 27 years with the Miss Cinderella Pageant, including serving as the director for 19 years.
As an educator, Carmichael was a recipient of numerous awards for her outstanding dedication and hard-work. Some of her notable honors include: president of the Oklahoma Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, awarded the first Distinguished Teaching Award given by the Northwestern Foundation, Dr. John Sheffield Teacher of the Year, inducted into the Oklahoma Educator’s Hall of Fame in 2002 and named the AAUW Woman of the Year in 2004.
Dr. Carmichael has three children; Mary Jo Servis, Yvette Nusser and Casey Carmichael.
