The University Ringers' Director, Mary Kay Parrish, is an associate professor of music at Oklahoma Baptist University. She was the founder of the group and has been its only director. Mrs. Parrish is an active composer, arranger, and handbell clinician. She currently is a member of the National Board of AGEHR, serving as the Area IX (Texas/Oklahoma) Representative of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, and was one of the convention conductors at the 1988 and 1993 AGEHR National Directors' Seminars.

In 1983, she was awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award at OBU, and in 1996, the OBU Alumni Acheivement Award. In 1993, she was selected as the first Composer of the Year award winner by Jeffers Handbell Supply Company.

She served as one of two conductors for the 1995 AGEHR National Festivals. In 2000, she has been Guest Conductor at the Ponca City, Oklahoma, Handbell Festival, the Greater Dallas Handbell Association Intermediate Festival, the GDHA Advanced Festival, and was the handbell clinician for Church Music Explosion, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. In July, she will teach the handbell classes for Church Music, Texas.