Steering Committee | Oklahoma State University

The steering committee members are responsible for engaging in a system-wide process of listening. From January to May 2022, committee members will be formed into working groups in key areas to take a deep-dive into specific topics and gather data. Our goal is to construct the broadest, most accurate view of the future for Oklahoma State University. From May through August, we will construct a strategy that will go before the OSU A&M Board of Regents for launch and approval in September.

The work ahead will be hard, but transformative. It will require commitment, effort and time. But the investment into the project will reap untold rewards. Where we go from here can be revolutionary. We must listen to all of our stakeholders, make a clear set of choices and craft a plan that propels OSU to the next level. Throughout the spring, there will be multiple opportunities for formal and informal feedback from our campus community. The future is ours, Cowboy family. Let’s accomplish amazing things together.

Jeanette Mendez, PhD

Co-chair, Provost and Vice President

Jerome Loughridge

Co-chair and Senior Vice President of Operations

Chris Ormsbee, PhD

Associate Provost

Tom Coon, PhD

Vice President, Dean and Director, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Paul Tikalsky, PhD

Dean, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Keith Garbutt, PhD

Dean, Honors College

Gina Peek, PhD

Immediate past chair, Faculty Council

Tashia Cheves

Immediate past chair, Staff Advisory Council

Jawauna Harding

Manager, Career Services in Athletics

James (Jim) Hess, EdD

Director, School of Healthcare Administration

Christie Hawkins, PhD

Associate Vice President, Institutional Research and Analytics

Stacie Warner

Graduate student

Jack Edwards

Undergraduate student

Strategy Working Groups

Shaping Enrollment for Optimal Success

Dr. Thomas Coon
Tashia Cheves
Dr. Chris Francisco
Dr. Jam Khojastech
Libby Reigh
Jennifer McClendon
Chad Blew
Dr. Jovette Dew
Missy Wikle
Dr. Vivian Wang
Ebonie Hill

Retaining & Graduating Our Students

Dr. Chris Ormsbee
Jack Edwards
Dr. Cynda Clary
Larry Burns
Dr. Wyatt Hoback
Dr. Amy Martindale
Dr. Abbey Davis
Dr. Tonya Hammer
Dr. Rob Lofton
Dr. Leon McClinton
Justin Morris

Teaching & Developing the Ideal Graduate

Jawauna Harding
Latasha Tasci
Dr. Udaya DeSilva
Dr. Erika Lutter
Dr. Alexis Washington
Dr. Heather Fahlenkamp
Dr. Carol Powers
Dr. Richard Frohock
Andrew McGee
Dr. John Mark Day

Pursuing Research that Impacts Society

Dr. Paul Tilkalsky
Stacie Warner
Dr. Gail Wilson
Dr. Steph Link
Dr. Jacqueline Vadjunec
Dr. Rebecca Eastham
Dr. Jeff Stroup
Dr. Jason DeFreitas
Dr. Clarke Iakovakis
Dr. Veronique Lacombe
Dr. Ron Van Den Bussche

Re-imagining a 21st Century Extension

Dr. Keith Garbutt
Dr. Gina Peek
Dr. Steve Beck
Dr. Colony Fugate
Dr. Ron Cox
Dr. Josh Ramsey
Andrew Ranson
Josh Taylor
Dr. Kim Barron
Zach Miles
Dr. Lyndi Gilliam

Building an Effective & Efficient System

Dr. Christie Hawkins
Dr. Jim Hess
Dr. Raj Murthy
Casey Shell
Jean Kerr-Hunter
Dr. Ina Agnew
Dr. Susan Johnson
Michael Widell
Jason Ramsey
Dr. Jeanine Porck

^{Steering committee members are in bold.}

Strategic Initiatives Working Groups

Strategic Initiative #1

Increase outreach to underserved communities.

Dr. Matt Lovern - Co-leader
Dr. Clyde Wilson - Co-leader
Kristen Kulling
Ciara Speight
Lisa Crane
Dr. Josh Ramsey
Kristi Seuhs
Grace Pack
Dr. Jovette Dew
Dr. Tina Newton

Strategic Initiative #3

Develop an outreach and enrollment strategy for the Tulsa campus.

Nekki Reagan-Neeley - Co-leader
Chris Campbell - Co-leader
Philip Curry
Hope Geiger
Rachel Eng
Jeff Hartman
Kelsey Pitts
Dr. Christine Ormsbee
Dr. Jim Smay
Dr. Khaled Sallam
Dr. Tom Brown
Dr. Michael Stuart
Dr. Tonya Hammer
Dr. Mallory Casebolt
Dr. Trey Hill
Dr. Bob Firth
Rob Lofton

Strategic Initiative #5

Increase retention and graduation rates.

Dr. Marlys Mason - Co-leader
Dr. Jill Joyce - Co-leader
Alysia Ropp
Dr. Joe Haley
Dr. Howard Sanborn
Dr. Lynn Boorady
Amy Martindale
Scott King
Melissa Cooper
Dr. Darius Prier
Dr. Sundar Madihally
Dr. Christopher Haygood
Dr. Jon Ramsey
Rita Peaster
Teri Cocke

Strategic Initiative #2

Improve the conversion rate of student prospects into enrolled students by strategically addressing all aspects of the student experience.

Erin Petrotta - Co-leader
Dr. Josh Taylor - Co-leader
Kenzie Kepple
Kala Davis
Jenny Thoma
Dr. Sheri Vasinda
Elizabeth Payne
Linda Millis
Jessica Medina
James Powell
Karla Gutierrez
Shawna Goodwin
Chad Blew
Dr. Aleigha Mariott
Brenda Dawes
Jennifer McClendon
Dr. Nate Todd
Dr. Aditya Jayadas
David Mariott
Aryanna Tapp

Strategic Initiative #4

Create a more cohesive advising structure across campus, including the creation of a centralized first-year advising team under Student Success.

Dr. Shannon Baker - Leader
Nick Holmes
Larry Burns
Brenda Dawes
Marissa McIntyre
Dr. Gretchen Mafi
Tom Joyce
Travis Herhold
Dr. Caleb Hamman
Lucy Berger
Dr. Adrienne Sanogo
Dr. John Andrews
Lindsey Brownlow
Dr. Jason Belden
Nathan Richardson

Strategic Initiative #6

Explore opportunities to improve efficiencies across all colleges and divisions under the domain of the Office of the Provost.

#6A

Specific areas of focus: Staff level duplications, process/technology efficiencies, and administrative efficiencies across all colleges and divisions.

Joe Diaz - Leader
Dr. Todd Misener
Dr. Julie Swaringim-Griffin
Jeannette Parrish
Dr. Maureen Sullivan
Dr. Chad Depperschmidt
Michelle Stewart
Dr. Erica Townsend
Jason Pogue
Kristi Wheeler

#6B

Specific area of focus: Program/non-Gen Ed course duplication across the entire university.

Kenneth Kern - Leader
Dr. Dani Bellmer
Dr. Keith Garbutt
Dr. Tieming Liu
Jeremy Minyard

^{Strategic Initiatives Working Groups as of January 2024.}

OSU Strategy Steering Committee

Committee Members