Since starting in my new role July 1, I’ve been busy meeting with campus leaders, students, and donors, and attending a variety of events and meetings as I continue to develop plans for my first academic year as president. Highlights include speaking by phone to OSU alumna and Blue Origins space passenger Wally Funk and meeting aspiring female engineers at an OSU Girls in STEAM camp. I never cease to be inspired by our alumni, current students and the prospective students we hope will join the Cowboy family someday.

 

Leadership roles update
A key priority of mine is to build upon synergies and create efficiencies across the entire OSU System. With that in mind, I have launched a search for a Senior Vice President of Operations who will report directly to me and oversee system-wide campus operations. This role will serve as a member of my cabinet, act as one of my strategic liaisons and will be responsible for a wide range of subjects related to the overall management and operation of the OSU System. Learn more.

 

In the near future I also will be launching a nationwide search for OSU’s new provost, as this critical role provides strategic academic leadership for our campus, oversees the office of Academic Affairs and serves on my cabinet.

 

As I continue to build my leadership team this fall, I am asking several campus leaders to fill interim positions. Karen Chen will serve as Interim Vice President of Enrollment Management. For the department of Brand Management, Megan Horton will serve as Interim Assistant Vice President of Brand Management and Monica Roberts will serve as Interim Assistant Vice President of Strategic Communications. All three roles will report to Interim Senior Vice President of Executive Affairs Kyle Wray.

 

 

Conference realignment
I want to speak briefly to the recent media coverage regarding the status of the Big 12 Conference. Over the last week, I have received countless phone calls, texts and emails from high-ranking officials and members of the Cowboy family showing their support for OSU as we navigate the road ahead. Regardless of what comes next, I am so very proud of how well-positioned we are for a bright future as a university. Our status as a Tier 1 research institution with world-class faculty, strong enrollment trends and top-notch facilities bodes well. As our loyal and true fans can attest, OSU also enjoys a proud athletic heritage with more national championships than any other Big 12 institution. As this process moves forward, my leadership team and I will be working diligently with OSU’s best interests at heart and will keep you informed as we know more.

Thank you to everyone for the warm welcome to the Stillwater campus these last few weeks. I’m very much looking forward to an exciting fall semester and working closely with all of you.

 

Go Pokes!

 

President Kayse Shrum