Editor’s Letter

STATE

BRAND MANAGEMENT

Megan Horton | Interim Associate Vice President of Brand Management Erin Petrotta | Director of Marketing Shannon Rigsby | Public Information Officer Mack Burke | Editorial Coordinator Dave Malec | Design Coordinator Jordan Bishop | Managing Editor Codee Classen, Paul V. Fleming, Valerie Kisling, Lauren Knori, Chris Lewis, Michael Molholt and Benton Rudd | Design Phil Shockley, Gary Lawson and Brandee Cazzelle | Photography

Kurtis Mason | Trademarks and Licensing Leslie McClurg and Kinsey Garcia | Administrative Support

Department of Brand Management | 305 Whitehurst, Stillwater, OK 74078-1024 405-744-6262 | okstate.edu | statemagazine.okstate.edu | editor@okstate.edu osu.advertising@okstate.edu Contributors: Jordan Bishop, Mack Burke, Bonnie Cain-Wood, Aaron Campbell, Will Carr, Chelsea Dinterman, Alexis Embry, Samantha Hardy, Harrison Hill, Avery Hudson, David C. Peters, Sara Plummer, Grant Ramirez, Shannon Rigsby, Donald Stotts and Kylee Sutherland

OSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Tina Parkhill | Chair

Kurt Carter | Vice Chair Tony LoPresto | Immediate Past Chair Rob McInturf | President Gina Lowe | Vice President of Marketing David Parrack | Vice President of Finance and Operations Aaron Owen, Ann Caine, Baloo Subramaniam, Becky Endicott, Ben Davis, Darin Schmidt, Joe Ray, Michael Carolina, Scott Eisenhauer, Taylor Shinn, Todd Hudgins,

Treca Baetz | Board of Directors Lacy Branson, Will Carr, Chase Carter, Avery Hudson | Marketing and Communications

OSU Alumni Association | 201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, Stillwater, OK 740787043 | 405-744-5368 | orangeconnection.org | info@orangeconnection.org

OSU FOUNDATION

David Houston | Chair Blaire Atkinson | President

Robyn Baker | Vice President and General Counsel Donna Koeppe | Vice President of Administration and Treasurer Scott Roberts | Vice President of Development Chris Campbell | Senior Associate Vice President of Information Strategy Pam Guthrie | Senior Associate Vice President of Human Resources Blaire Atkinson, Bryan Begley, Brian Callahan, Bryan Close, Jan Cloyde, Ann Dyer, Joe Eastin, Jennifer Grigsby, David Houston, Gary Huneryager, A.J. Jacques, Brett Jameson, Griff Jones, Robert Keating, Diana Laing, John Linehan, Joe Martin, Greg Massey, Robert McInturf, Ross McKnight, Gail Muncrief, Bill Patterson, Jenelle Schatz, Becky Steen, Terry Stewart, Vaughn Vennerberg, Beverly Walker-Griffea and Jerry Winchester | Trustees Samantha Hardy, Jennifer Kinnard, Lauren Knori, Chris Lewis, Amanda O’Toole Mason, Heather Millermon, Michael Molholt, Grant Ramirez and Benton Rudd |

Marketing and Communications OSU Foundation | 400 South Monroe, P.O. Box 1749, Stillwater, OK 74076-1749 800-622-4678 | OSUgiving.com | info@OSUgiving.com

STATE magazine is published three times a year (Fall, Winter, Spring) by Oklahoma State University, 305 Whitehurst, Stillwater, OK 74078. The magazine is produced by the Office of Brand Management, the OSU Alumni Association and the OSU Foundation, and is mailed to current members of the OSU Alumni Association. Magazine subscriptions are available only by membership in the OSU Alumni Association. Membership cost is $50. Call 405-744-5368 or mail a check to 201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, Stillwater OK 74078-7043. To change a mailing address, visit orangeconnection.org/update or call 405-744-5368. Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Higher Education Act), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, genetic information, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, or status as a veteran, in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This provision includes, but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. The Director of Equal Opportunity, 401 General Academics Building, OSU, Stillwater, OK 74078-4069; Phone 405-744-1156; email: eeo@okstate.edu has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies. Any person (student, faculty or staff) who believes they are experiencing discrimination may discuss his or her concerns and file informal or formal complaints of possible violations of Title IX with OSU's Title IX Coordinator, 405-744-1156. This publication, issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the vice president of enrollment management and marketing, was printed by Royle Printing Co. at a cost of $1.06 per issue: 37,605. | April 2022 | #9287 | Copyright © 2022, STATE magazine. All rights reserved.

Letters

From the Editor's Desk

If there were a “Rookie of the Year” award for university presidents, then Dr. Kayse Shrum would have to be on the short list. A proven leader and rural health champion coming into the role last July, she was certainly prepared for the challenge, but her first year in office included a unique combination of obstacles that many university presidents don’t face over the course of a decade or even a career. Despite a global pandemic and some Big 12 turmoil, Shrum’s first academic year at the helm has been punctuated by major advancements for Oklahoma State University.

Following a combined $50 million donation from Harold Hamm and Continental Resources, OSU announced the creation of the new Hamm Institute for American Energy at Oklahoma State University in December. The institute, which will be housed in the OKC Innovation District, aims to cement Oklahoma’s legacy as an energy leader and empower the next generation of innovators (Page 62).

That announcement followed another landmark announcement in August — the creation of the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education — and was followed by yet another celebrating the creation of the DOD Counter-UAS (unmanned aerial systems) Center of Excellence in January.

In February, we welcomed Linda Booker to campus to celebrate the grand opening of the new Ray and Linda Booker OSU Flight Center. The 11,600 square-foot building replaces OSU Aviation’s outdated facilities and more than doubles the space available to students and flight instructors (Page 48).

Following the ceremonial groundbreaking in October for the new Veterans Hospital in Tulsa, the Oklahoma Center for Health Sciences has revealed plans for a new OSU Academic Medical District. The district will include the new VA hospital and a new mental health hospital, which will allow more hands-on learning opportunities and expand health care access for Oklahoma veterans and mental health patients (Page 16).

As we take stock of another whirlwind year, we celebrate with pride the achievements of our alumni, faculty and staff and look with hope toward the future.

Mack Burke Editor

CORRECTION: On page 79 of the Winter 2021 issue, OSU Alumni Association Board Chair Tina Parkhill was incorrectly identified. The OSU Alumni Association apologizes for this error.

STATE Magazine

305 WHITEHURST OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY STILLWATER, OK 74078 EDITOR@OKSTATE.EDU STATEMAGAZINE.OKSTATE.EDU