OSU Strategic Plan Steering Committee

Guiding OSU’s Strategic Vision

President Hess has launched a comprehensive strategic planning process to engage the entire OSU System in shaping the next chapter of its land-grant mission. This effort, beginning in December 2025, will define how the university continues putting students first while serving Oklahoma and beyond.

While the current plan has guided significant progress, the higher education landscape continues to evolve. To remain responsive, OSU will examine how best to support student success, strengthen academic programs and fulfill its land-grant responsibilities.

A systemwide steering committee will lead and coordinate this work, guiding discussions, gathering input and ensuring a thoughtful, inclusive process. Grounded in the principles of the Cowboy Code, the committee and the broader OSU community will approach this effort with a commitment to doing what is right for students and stakeholders.

Brent Marsh

Co-chair, Vice President for Student Affairs

Melanie Morgan

Co-chair, Dean of the Graduate College

Tracie Brown

Assistant Vice President of Student Union Business Affairs

Larry Burns

Chief Data Officer, Institutional Research and Analytics

Stephen Clarke

Incoming Dean, College of Education and Human Sciences

Melinda Cro

Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

Craig Freeman

Vice Provost and Dean, College of Professional Studies, OSU-Tulsa

Karlee Belle Gholson

Deputy Director of Public Policy, Board of Regents

Megan Horton

Associate Vice President, Brand Management

Jennifer McClendon

Director of Undergraduate Recruitment

Kelly Murphy

Director of Budget

Heather Ortiz

Dean, School of Technology, Arts, Sciences and Health, OSU Institute of Technology

Stephen Perkins

Faculty Council Chair

Jennifer Rudd

Associate Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine

Scott Senseman

Associate Vice President of Research, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Kenneth Sewell

Vice President for Research

Jeff Stroup

Provost and Vice President, OSU Center for Health Sciences

Becky Taylor

Assistant Vice President for Provost's Priorities and Strategic Initiatives

Brij Thapa

Vice Dean, Spears School of Business

Ronna Vanderslice

Provost and Vice President, OSU-Oklahoma City

John Veenstra

Associate Dean, College of Engineering Architecture and Technology

Chad Weiberg

Athletic Director and Vice President

We Are Land-Grant Steering Committee

The We Are Land-Grant Steering Committee members were responsible for engaging in a system-wide process of listening. From January to May 2022, committee members formed into working groups in key areas to take a deep-dive into specific topics and gather data. Our goal was to construct the broadest, most accurate view of the future for Oklahoma State University. From May through August, they constructed a strategy that was presented to the OSU A&M Board of Regents for approval and launch in September 2022.

The work ahead was hard but transformative. It required commitment, effort and time. But the investment in the project reaped untold rewards. We listened to all of our stakeholders, made a clear set of choices and crafted a plan that propelled OSU to the next level. Throughout the spring, there were multiple opportunities for formal and informal feedback from our campus community.

We Are Land-Grant Steering Committee Members

Jeanette Mendez, PhD
Jerome Loughridge
Chris Ormsbee, PhD
Tom Coon, PhD
Paul Tikalsky, PhD
Keith Garbutt, PhD
Gina Peek, PhD
Tashia Cheves

Jawauna Harding
James (Jim) Hess, EdD
Christie Hawkins, PhD
Stacie Warner, Graduate student
Jack Edwards, Undergraduate student

We Are Land-Grant 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

We Are Land-Grant 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 #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 #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 #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 #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 #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

^{We Are Land-Grant Strategic Initiatives Working Groups as of January 2024.}

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