Dr. Leslie Rex Stockel, CSP, SMP, FASSP, has been named to the American Society of Safety Professionals Region III Hall of Fame for 2026.

Stockel is an associate professor of professional practice in fire protection and safety engineering technology for the School of Fire, Construction and Emergency Management in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology.

Stockel was selected for the 2026 Hall of Fame for her extensive work in safety and for her contributions to the Oklahoma City Chapter, the national society and the safety profession as a whole. The formal recognition will be held at the ASSP Region III PDC in San Antonio on Sept. 21, 2026.

Stockel has been a member of ASSP for over 33 years. The local Oklahoma City Chapter has recognized her work, and she currently serves as the OSU student section faculty advisor. She is also a past president and board director for the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. She has been recognized with numerous awards, including Safety Professional of the Year from the Oklahoma City Chapter (2016), ASSP Region III Safety Professional of the Year (2018), William E. Tarrants Outstanding Safety Educator (ASSP 2024), and Fellow of ASSP (2025). Additionally, Stockel has served in almost every leadership role in the Oklahoma City Chapter and as one of two area directors in Region III. She also serves as a professional reviewer for articles and has been published in multiple safety journals.

A quote from her nominator says it all.

“Leslie is one of the most genuine servant leaders I have ever known. Over the 12 years that I have worked alongside her through ASSP, OSU and BCSP, I have witnessed a professional whose character is grounded in humility, integrity and a deep commitment to serving others rather than seeking recognition for herself. Her wisdom, ethics and compassion make her the kind of leader people naturally trust and want to follow.”

Stockel joins three other OSU FPSET alumni: Rixio Medina (2018), Stan Gregory (2020) and Patricia Thomas (2024) in being selected for this honor.

She notes that the organization has made a significant impact on her career.

“Being inducted into the ASSP Region III Hall of Fame is an honor I will never take for granted,” Stockel said. “Membership in ASSP, and the privilege of serving this organization for so many years, has shaped my career in ways I can’t fully express. I am deeply grateful for the friendships I’ve made across Region III and for a professional home that continues to make me a better safety professional.”

The Region III Hall of Fame was established in 2016 to recognize members who have made significant contributions to the profession. Including this year, there are now 27 Hall of Fame inductees in Region III, which includes safety professionals in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

The American Society of Safety Engineers was established in 1911 after the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. Now called the American Society of Safety Professionals, this organization represents over 35,000 safety professionals in 80 countries.

Region III would like to acknowledge a Congratulations to Oklahoma State University for taking home the championship title and proudly representing their ASSP parent chapter, the Oklahoma City Chapter. Bringing home the trophy in their home state makes this accomplishment even more meaningful.

To all runner-up teams — your dedication, preparation, and professionalism reflect the future strength of our industry. Each of you demonstrated the competence, resilience, and innovation that will shape the evolving world of Occupational Health and Safety. The Safety Olympics is not just a competition; it is a launching point.

See more images from the event over on the Region III page.

–The Region III Leadership Team

The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) has bestowed its highest honor – the Society’s Fellow distinction – upon five trailblazing members whose lifelong dedication has profoundly shaped workplace safety and health. Felix Nakpodia, Tim Page-Bottorff, Lawrence Schulze, Leslie Stockel and Christine Sullivan join a distinguished list of only 152 Fellows since ASSP’s founding in 1911.

“Our Fellows are an elite group of influential safety leaders who are the architects of safer tomorrows,” said ASSP President Pam Walaski, CSP, FASSP. “They are highly respected experts who have broadly improved work environments to save lives while fundamentally advancing the safety and health profession.”

Each of these inspirational leaders brings a unique and powerful legacy to the safety and health field:

•  Leslie Stockel, Ph.D., CSP, SMP: Oklahoma State University’s associate professor of professional practice is cultivating the next generation of safety leaders. Stockel is faculty advisor for an ASSP student section, recruiting students to pursue safety and health degrees. She speaks at national conferences and writes for peer-reviewed journals. Her 40 years of experience has influenced the safety profession in many ways, including work in the chemical and pulp manufacturing industries. Stockel’s supervision of undergraduate research, from nuclear power plant incidents to aerospace hazardous materials, broadens her impact on emerging professionals.