Jane Semple Umsted

Semple Umsted holds a B.F.A. from the University of Oklahoma (1969) and an M.Ed. from Southeastern Oklahoma State University (1989). A proud member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, she is a professional artist with over 50 years of experience and served as the art teacher for Durant Middle School in Durant Public Schools until her retirement in 2007.

She currently serves as the curator of the Semple Family Museum of Native American Art on the Southeastern campus and is the owner of the Indian Territory Art Gallery in Durant. In 2023, she was appointed by President Joe Biden to the Board of Trustees of the Institute of American Indian Arts.

Semple is also the creator of the “Two Brothers” statue, a larger-than-life sculpture celebrating the legacy, history, and contributions of sovereign tribal nations to Southeastern.