Canfield named TCS director

Owen Canfield has been named director of the Tax Credit Scholarship program. He succeeds Sharia Smith, who resigned in January to pursue another opportunity.

Canfield has been the associate director for gift planning at the Catholic Foundation of Oklahoma since April 2021.

As TCS director, he will lead fundraising and communication efforts across the archdiocese and assist the TCS board of directors with its work.

“I’m a huge believer in the TCS program and look forward to growing it,” Canfield said. “It does so much good for so many low-income families by making a Catholic school education attainable.”

He and his wife, Lori, are longtime members of Saint Eugene Catholic Church in Oklahoma City. Their four children attended Saint Eugene Catholic School and Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School.

“Our children benefited greatly from their Catholic school education,” Canfield said. “I want to see more children have the same opportunity, and TCS allows that to happen.”

Jay Mauldin, president of the TCS board, said he was excited about the announcement.

“Owen will be a great fit,” Mauldin said. “We both share a passion for Catholic school education and the TCS program, and we will work well together.”

Canfield joined the Catholic Foundation in April 2021 after a long career in journalism, including with The Oklahoman and The Associated Press. He can be reached at (405) 709-2700 or [email protected].