Board of Regents

Meet the Chairman - Michael Heiskell

Michael P. Heiskell serves as Chair of the Board of Regents at The Oakridge School, bringing more than four decades of distinguished legal experience and community leadership. A senior partner at the Fort Worth-based law firm Johnson, Vaughn & Heiskell, he is a nationally respected criminal defense attorney, former Assistant U.S. Attorney, and the first African American graduate of Baylor Law School. Michael is a past president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and multiple local bar associations. He has been honored with numerous prestigious awards, including Baylor Law’s Lawyer of the Year, the Tarrant County Bar’s Blackstone Award, and induction into the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Hall of Fame. A member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, Michael has consistently been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer for over 20 years.

Michael and his wife, Anita, have been part of the Oakridge community for nearly three decades as proud parents of four Oakridge graduates: Marin ’96, James ’01, Michael ’18, and Mason ’20. Deeply committed to education and student development, he has also served as a Regent at Baylor University and chairs the Delta Mu Boulé Educational Foundation. His leadership at Oakridge is grounded in a belief that education transforms lives and that character-driven leadership is essential in shaping the next generation. Michael’s service is guided by a lifelong dedication to equity, excellence, and ethical stewardship—values he lives out daily in his professional and personal life.

🦉 Oakridge Family Legacy

Michael and his wife, Anita, are proud parents of four Oakridge graduates:

• Marin Heiskell – Class of 1996

• James Heiskell – Class of 2001

• Michael Heiskell Jr. – Class of 2018

• Mason Heiskell – Class of 2020