SPRING 2022
THE POWER of Partnership OK L A HOMA C I T Y UN I V E RS I T Y A LU M N I MAGAZ INE
CONTENTS
Focus Alumni Magazine 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73106 405-208-7000 • okcu.edu/focus STORY IDEAS: focus@okcu.edu ALU M NI NEWS: alumni@okcu.edu Focus is produced semiannually by the Communications & Marketing and Alumni departments for alumni and friends of Oklahoma City University. OCU is an equal-opportunity institution.
University Administration Kenneth Evans, President Helen Gaudin, Interim Provost Corey Bray, Director of Athletics Amy Ayres, Vice President for Student Affairs Kevan Buck, Chief Financial Officer Talia Carroll, Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Amy Cataldi (MA ’98), Interim Assistant Provost Joey Croslin, Vice President for Human Resources and Chief HR Officer Gerry Hunt (BS ’89, MBA ’05), Chief Information Officer Casey Ross (BSB ’00, JD and MBA ’03), General Counsel Lynann Sterk-Brooks, Vice President of University Advancement Kevin Windholz, Vice President for Enrollment Management
Alumni Relations Megan Hornbeek Allen (BA ’03), Director of Alumni Engagement Kimberley Worrell (BS ’08), President, Alumni Advisory Board
Editorial Staff Nick Trougakos, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications Rod Jones (MBA ’12), Editor of Focus and Associate Director of Communications Lechelle Calderwood, Designer of Focus and Senior Graphic Designer
Writers
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The Power of Partnership Herman and LaDonna Meinders’ partnership with the university is transformational
Terry Phelps, Professor of English April Marciszewski, Donor Relations Manager Destry Holzschuh, Social Media Manager
Photographers Ian Weston, Senior Photographer/Videographer Eric Gomez, Photographer/Videographer Assistant Michaela Childs, Class of 2024, Mass Communications
ON THE C OVE R
A variety of partnerships, including Herman and LaDonna Meinders Illustration image copyrighted by Mike Wimmer www.mikewimmerportraits.com STORY PAGE 6
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Heart and Soul: OCU Religious Life supports local food drive Degree partnership aims to boost students’ employability Through canvas and tech, artist promotes Native American heritage OCU alumnae leave their mark in state government Humility marks couple’s philanthropy
F ROM THE PR E S IDE N T
During the Societies of OCU annual Awards of Excellence ceremony in October, President Kenneth Evans greets Ashleigh Robinson (BM Music Theater ’20), who was crowned Miss Oklahoma last summer.
Greetings Alumni & Friends, The more I settle in here on campus, the more two things become clear to me. First, the OCU community is made up of amazing, talented, and accomplished individuals. From our students, to our faculty, to our alumni, to those in Oklahoma City who may not be tied directly to the university, but support us because they understand the impact OCU Stars can make. Each of these stakeholders inspires us with their passion and dedication. Second, for all that each of these individuals do to make OCU great, the
power of amplification that comes from partnering with one another is even more awe-inspiring. That’s why I hope you enjoy the theme of this edition of Focus magazine: The Power of Partnership. Partnerships can be powerful at any level: all the way from the multi-million-dollar philanthropy of Herman and LaDonna Meinders to a student volunteering a few hours on the weekend to help provide food for those less fortunate in our city. In this edition, you’ll read about a Law School alumnus who’s trying to ensure an OCU education is available to a diverse next generation of students; about a partnership
between two schools at OCU aimed at producing acting students who are masters of their industry; and about numerous other efforts to unite purpose with practice for the betterment of the OCU community. I hope the examples of partnerships big and small leave you excited by the work being done here at OCU. I also hope that in these partnerships, you find inspiration for how you can team up, get involved, and give back in your own way. The more we work together — for and with one another — the greater heights we can reach, and the greater OCU can become.
S I N C E R E LY ,
Photo by Ian Weston
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THE BIG PICTURE
Homecoming Jump OCU alumni and current students gathered for fun and games when Homecoming returned for a week of in-person and virtual events in fall 2021. Planning for Homecoming 2022 celebrations is underway. www.okcu.edu/homecoming Photo by Michaela Childs
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Oklahoma City University Alumni Magazine
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Scan QR Code to see more. Spring 2022
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A LNUI VMENRI S I T Y U P D A T E U
Tuition and Fees To Remain Flat
Online Course Offerings Expanded
University officials announced in November that tuition and fees would be held flat for the 2022-23 school year — the second straight year that students will not see an increase in their education costs. The move extends to housing and meal costs, as well, and applies to students at all levels, including undergraduate, master’s, law and doctoral programs. President Kenneth Evans said the decision to keep costs flat was made in order to “recognize the collective effort of our students to persevere through the challenges of the pandemic. “These have included economic challenges, and we acknowledge those struggles continue for many.”
The university’s Board of Trustees in January approved a partnership with Everspring, a Chicago-based online program manager that will assist OCU in competitively advancing online offerings for prospective students who seek to be educated in place. The partnership will begin with OCU’s RN-BSN and MSN programs, with Everspring conducting lead-generation, advertising, marketing and student retention services in support of enrollment in the two programs. The agreement allows for additional online programs to be added over time. President Kenneth Evans said the partnership with Everspring allows the university to better serve students who, due to work-related demands or geographic location, do not have the wherewithal to attend in-person class. “This collaboration with Everspring is particularly timely as the anticipated level of traditional or entry-level freshman students is expected to decline over the next decade,” Evans said. The plan calls for the first cohorts of online RN-BSN and MSN students to begin classes in August. Evans credited several university employees who were instrumental in development of the partnership, including Interim Provost Helen Gaudin, Vice President for Enrollment Management Kevin Windholz, Interim Nursing and College of Health Professions Dean Gina Crawford and Arts & Sciences Dean Amy Cataldi.
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Oklahoma City University Alumni Magazine
Photo by Ian Weston
Celebration of Life: Florence Birdwell A group of talented OCU musical theater alumni gathered in Oklahoma City in October to honor their former voice teacher, the late Florence Birdwell. The celebration of life for Birdwell was held at the Will Rogers Theatre and featured tribute performances by Kelli O’Hara, Erin McCracken, Tiffany Borelli, Susan Powell, Angela Polk, Lara Teeter, Barbara DeMaio, Jerry Steichen, Rick McKee, Brian Hamilton, Stacey Logan Lewis, Heather Botts, Drew Wutke, Stephen Coker and Scott Guthrie. The evening’s master of ceremonies was Jayne Jayroe Gamble. The night included messages from Birdwell’s children, Brian and Robyn Birdwell, and a performance on the bassoon by her grandson, Colin Birdwell Rockson. Birdwell passed away in February 2021 at the age of 96. She taught at OCU for 67 years, beginning in 1946 and continuing until her retirement in 2013. Birdwell with her children, Brian and Robyn, in 2015
Participants at the celebration of life for Birdwell
Photos by Josh Robinson
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Image copyrighted by Mike Wimmer
The Power of Partnership Herman and LaDonna Meinders’ partnership with the university is transformational
BY NICK TROU GAKOS
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Oklahoma City University Alumni Magazine
O N O C T O B E R 1 9 , 1 9 5 4 , A N 1 8 -Y E A R - O L D LaDonna Jane Kramer arrived on the Oklahoma City University campus, and with blue ink, in neat, slanted handwriting, filled out her matriculation card to begin a decades-long relationship with the university. A little less than two years later, another 18-year-old arrived on the OCU campus. It was July 19, 1956, and Herman Meinders, fresh from his hometown of Pipestone, Minnesota, was filling out his matriculation card. Those pen strokes — perhaps inauspicious at the time — lay the foundation for likely the most significant, and easily the most prolific, partnership the university has ever known. “Herman and LaDonna, in my opinion, are the king and queen of partnerships for and with OCU,” said Lois Salmeron, dean emerita of the Kramer School of Nursing. “Their contributions are the ultimate of giving and dedication to OCU.” Nearly 70 years after they enrolled at OCU as teenagers, the Meinders’ partnership with the university has been far-reaching. The business school and the nursing school hold their family names. Numerous scholarships have been funded to allow students to attend OCU. Their example of philanthropy sparked other donors to give and help re-shape the campus. Herman and LaDonna Meinders are now synonymous with OCU. The partnership between the two, however, didn’t begin in the summer of 1956 when Herman journeyed from Pipestone to Oklahoma City. That partnership took nearly 30 years to materialize, but the results have been transformational for the couple’s alma mater.
Illustration located in the atrium of Meinders
Transformational impact Although they attended school at the same time, Herman and LaDonna Meinders didn’t meet while they were students at OCU. After leaving Pipestone in favor of Oklahoma City’s warmer weather, Herman Meinders left OCU after one year, again moving south for a more hospitable climate. He and a friend ventured to Lakeland, Florida, where Meinders planned to enroll at Florida Southern University. Finding work was difficult, however, and without funds to pay for tuition and housing, the plan for Florida Southern didn’t materialize. Meinders eventually landed a job in a grocery store, and later teamed up with the store manager to open a bar in Tampa, Florida. While that venture ultimately fizzled, Meinders had the fortune one evening of meeting a patron — a traveling floral directory salesman — who helped him secure a job as a salesman with the flower-by-wire service National Florist Directory. From there, Meinders’ path was set. He became one of the best and most-successful floral directory salesmen in the country, and eventually parlayed his knowledge, skill and connections into his own company, American Floral Services, which he incorporated in Oklahoma City in 1970. The company grew rapidly and steadily, and by the mid-1980s was the fastest-growing floral wire service in the world. After years of great success, and seeking to focus more on his family and philanthropy, Meinders sold the company in 1994 to a New Yorkbased investment firm.
Ten years after the sale, thanks to an $18 million gift from Meinders to the university, the new Meinders School of Business building was dedicated on the OCU campus. To date, Herman and LaDonna Meinders have contributed a total of nearly $40 million to Oklahoma City University. “Herman’s well-documented success in the business world provided the platform for multi-million-dollar philanthropy,” former OCU President Tom McDaniel said. “For OCU, the impact of Meinders’ giving was transformational.”
Greatest partnership While Meinders crisscrossed the country in the floral business, LaDonna Kramer was making a name for herself at OCU. In 1956, she was crowned Miss Oklahoma, and traveled to Atlantic City, New Jersey, for the annual Miss America competition. While at OCU, she became an accomplished pianist and sang in the university’s choir. She graduated in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree in music and moved with her first husband to Kingfisher, where for years she taught piano and raised her four children. After a divorce in 1981, she took a job as a reporter and photographer for the Kingfisher County Chronicle. In 1983, she reached out to then-OCU President Jerald Walker about a job opening at the university. Walker offered her the job of assistant director of graduate admissions. She would eventually earn her MBA from OCU, aided by the employee tuition remission program, and be promoted to director of alumni relations. It was in that role, in the spring of 1985, that she met Herman Meinders, first at a fundraising breakfast in the president’s conference room, and later that year as LaDonna interviewed Meinders for a story she was writing for OCU’s Focus magazine. The connection between the two began to grow stronger, and within a month they went on their first date. By February of 1986, Herman had proposed to LaDonna, and in May of that year, they were married at OCU’s Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel. “This resulted in my greatest partnership,” Herman Meinders said, noting that although the couple has supported numerous causes over the years, “OCU has been the largest recipient of our philanthropy.”
Invaluable support Former President McDaniel said the type of support and partnership that the Meinders have offered OCU is invaluable, especially when it comes to running a private university. “Universities, and particularly private institutions like Oklahoma City University, depend heavily on partnerships to create programming, maintain infrastructure, and provide student scholarships — all of which are vital to the long-term viability of the school,” McDaniel said. Herman Meinders said the role of the university’s leadership is important in fostering such partnerships.
Herman and LaDonna Meinders view the Vietnam Women’s Memorial maquette by Glenna Goodacre during the new Kramer School of Nursing building dedication in 2011. Photos from OCU archives
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“My interest in OCU was rekindled in the mid-1980s thanks to President Jerry Walker — he persuaded me to establish endowed scholarships for the business school,” Meinders said. “OCU had gone through some difficult financial times, and in my opinion, it survived due to the efforts of President Walker and certain trustees.” The Meinders’ involvement from a financial perspective certainly helped the university. Salmeron, the former dean of the Kramer School of Nursing, said they’ve partnered with the university in a number of other vital ways, as well. “They have given in many ways: their time; serving on university committees; sharing their expertise in business and the arts; and contributing significantly as the nursing program evolved,” Salmeron said. In fact, many may not realize that 10 years before the Meinders School of Business was dedicated, Herman and LaDonna Meinders retired the debt on the original one-story nursing school building at OCU. In exchange, they were given naming rights for the building. The nursing school now bears the name of LaDonna’s parents, E.J. and Alma Kramer. Years later, the Meinders continued their support for the nursing school by contributing to a campaign to construct the current threestory nursing building, and leading another campaign to build the Meinders Simulation Center, which allows health professions students to train with cutting-edge technology.
Oklahoma City University Alumni Magazine
Generational impact Herman Meinders is quick to point out the value of partnerships and relationships when it comes to his long-standing connection to and interest in OCU. “First and foremost would be my Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity brothers,” he said. “I only attended OCU one year, but the bonds I forged with the Lambda Chi’s kept me connected with OCU during the years I was gone from Oklahoma.” He cited McDaniel as a key partner, noting his support during the time the Meinders School of Business was constructed, as well as former Board of Trustees Chairman Bill Shdeed, whose term as chair overlapped McDaniel’s as president. The partnership of McDaniel and Shdeed “significantly changed the appearance and stature of OCU,” Meinders said. He acknowledged the work of former Meinders School of Business deans Vince Orza and Steve Agee, current interim business Dean Russell Evans, as well as Burger and current OCU President Kenneth Evans. Orza and Agee “greatly increased the visibility of the Meinders School of Business in the Oklahoma City community, as well as moved the school to AACSB accreditation,” he said, adding that he’s glad Russell Evans is continuing on the path they established. He said Burger and Kenneth Evans “have done an excellent job keeping me informed of needs at OCU that I can support.” Burger said working to develop partnerships like the one with Herman and LaDonna Meinders “contributes to the bedrock upon which our university is built.” Perhaps no university partners have done more to strengthen that bedrock than the Meinders. “Their connection to OCU and their love for the university has been demonstrated time and time again in transformational ways,” Burger said. “I can think of no other individuals who have done more to help OCU move forward and stay strong than Herman and LaDonna Meinders.” Added McDaniel: “The impact of OCU’s partnership with Herman and LaDonna Meinders will be felt for many generations to come.”
Scan the code to watch the video “A Thank You to Herman Meinders.”
Herman and LaDonna Meinders in front of Kramer School of Nursing
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While the Meinders have helped provide the facilities where students learn, they’ve also helped the students who study inside those facilities, former OCU President Martha Burger noted. “So many things come to mind when I think about Herman and LaDonna’s impact,” Burger said. “First and foremost is the sheer number of students they have helped access the university through scholarships. Many of these students would simply not have been able to attend OCU without the assistance provided by Meinders’ scholarships.”
Photo from OCU archives
OCU Partnerships Carrying on in the tradition of partnership set by alumni and OCU leaders before them, the university’s students, faculty, graduates and other stakeholders are finding ways to embark on new partnerships. Dance students team up with local elementary school
Oklahoma City University dance students in late October continued their partnership of creating Halloween costumes for elementary school students at Positive Tomorrows, the state’s only elementary school and social services agency specifically for children and families experiencing homelessness. OCU students in the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment costume lab hold consultations with Positive Tomorrows students, then make the costumes by hand. The costumes are then worn during an annual trick-or-treat day at the Oklahoma City school. “That’s hope-building for our kids,” OCU alumna and Positive Tomorrows President Margaret Creighton said.
OCU alumna assists Marketing & Communications staff
Azuri Salgado, a 2012 graduate of Oklahoma City University and a former Clara Luper Scholar, is leading a group of high school students as they partner with OCU’s Marketing & Communications office. Salgado teaches AP Spanish at Santa Fe South High School in Oklahoma City, and this semester her students are assisting the Marketing & Communications office with translation for a Spanish-language microsite aimed at helping promote OCU to Spanish-speaking parents and grandparents in the Oklahoma City area. The partnership allows Santa Fe South students to earn volunteer service hours in exchange for their efforts.
Alumni & Admissions team up on recruiting efforts
The Alumni office and Admissions department have partnered on a variety of events during the past two semesters, including newstudent recruitment fairs, Blue and White Welcome meetings in Tulsa and Dallas, and STAR Talk guest visits to campus. For Blue and White Welcome events, Admissions invites admitted students from a particular city or region, usually high school seniors and their families, along with approximately 10 alumni from that area. The alumni are encouraged to mingle, welcome and actively engage with the new admits to share their positive experiences at OCU. STAR Talks have featured alumni visits from performing arts, nursing, business, pre-law, humanities and more.
Honors Program proves benefits of student/professor mentorship
Senior biomedical science major Elizabeth Gwartney placed first in the Natural Sciences and Mathematics division of the student poster competition at the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) conference in Orlando last October. Her research project was titled “Novel Antibiotics from Oklahoma Soil.” Gwartney partnered with Dr. Karen Youmans, Honors program director, in practicing and perfecting her presentation skills. “With poster presentations, people and judges come by to view your work and ask questions about your research,” Gwartney explained. “It was great to have someone like Dr. Youmans to work with, someone who can ask intelligent questions and know how the entire process works. Her support was crucial for this project.” Youmans praised Gwartney for her project, which involved hours of work over two years. “The student poster sessions are highly selective to begin with, so placing first out of a large and extremely competitive category is a truly outstanding achievement,” Youmans said.
Music you can dance to
Students from the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment teamed up with students from the Bass School of Music to produce a show called “Fusion” this semester utilizing their respective talents. The dance students choreographed a show to accompany original music by students in Project 21, a music composition group. Dance Management senior Lizzie Anderson, the liaison for the project, said the collaboration served as a mutually beneficial experience for students in both schools. “I would describe this experience as a large group of creatives working together on a really complex puzzle,” Anderson said. “During the process, we each got to contribute our puzzle pieces, and on the official filming day for the show, we all got to see the completed puzzle together, and that was a spectacular feeling to experience.”
Photo by Ian Weston
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COMMUNITY
Heart and Soul:
OCU Religious Life Supports Local Food Drive BY DESTRY HOLZSCHU H
“ When I walked in, the women who lead Billy Hooton hugged me. They said, ‘We couldn’t wait for you to get here. We’re so excited for you to be here.’” KRISTEN OLMSTED
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Oklahoma City University Alumni Magazine
From left, Marie Sensibaugh, Alfreda Hibbard and Kristen Olmsted
T U C K E D AWAY I N A N industrial area just a couple miles south of the Oklahoma City University campus you can find Billy Hooton Memorial United Methodist Church. A well-worn wooden picnic table sits in the yard beside the small church building, which is framed with brown clapboard siding. A small sign planted in the grass outside the front gate urges passersby to invite someone to church this month. Most Sunday mornings, Billy Hooton welcomes about 20 congregants, but the church’s mission is reaching dozens in the community — with a little help from OCU’s Religious Life Organization. In 2019, former OCU student Rebekah Small was instructed to venture into the community and find places that needed help and could benefit from a few college student volunteers. When she landed at Billy Hooton, she knew she found the right place. Once a month, Billy Hooton hosts a neighborhood food drive for community members in need. Many come to the church by foot or bicycle to pick up a box overflowing with enough food for the next few weeks. Some are experiencing homelessness or delivering boxes to neighbors who are struggling to buy enough groceries for their families. All are welcomed by Billy Hooton church and the OCU student volunteers. For two years, Small was the student leader of the partnership between OCU Religious Life and Billy Hooton. When she graduated in 2021 with degrees in youth ministry and Spanish and a minor in children’s theatre, leadership passed to Kristen Olmsted, a senior who is studying vocal performance with a minor in economics. Olmsted recalls going to Billy Hooton for the first time and feeling nervous and unsure of how well she would fit into her new role. Once she arrived, her nerves were quickly calmed by the congregants. “When I walked in, the women who lead Billy Hooton hugged me,” Olmsted said. “They said, ‘We couldn’t wait for you to get here. We’re so excited for you to be here.’” Those women — church matriarch Alfreda Hibbard and sisters Jo Wynn and Marie Sensibaugh — have been serving the community through the neighborhood food drive for more than 20 years. Each month, Jo and Marie pack the boxes with cans, cereal and other dry goods from the food bank. When OCU student volunteers arrive for the food drive, they load those boxes onto carts, add perishable items like frozen foods and meat, and help hand out the boxes to community members. “You would think it would be hard to get college students to get up and go hold boxes and work on a Saturday morning, but after they go once, they’ll always go,” Olmsted said. “It’s that special and that enlightening and exciting to be in a place where you get to make change, even if it’s not seen.” Olmsted said the experience of volunteering for the food drive has helped the OCU students involved recognize the food-security struggles many community members face. For Olmsted in
particular, serving alongside Billy Hooton church members has opened her eyes to the needs of the community in Oklahoma City and changed what she wants to do after college. When she started at OCU, she planned to get a master’s degree in opera performance after she finished her undergraduate studies and then travel across the country singing. After getting involved at Billy Hooton, Olmsted realized she had a passion and potential for being an arts administrator and advocate. She now plans to earn an MBA from OCU after graduation and work with an arts nonprofit focusing on bringing art to all types of communities. In addition to assisting with the monthly food drive, OCU Religious Life partnered with McFarlin United Methodist Church for a day of service at Billy Hooton in the fall of 2021. They used the day to clean out and clean up the space used for the food drive. With four rented trucks and a crew of helping hands, they spent the day cleaning up leaves and trash, moving old appliances and furniture, and making the space easier to navigate to subsequently help more people. Since then, church leaders have been able to put new refrigerators into that space, and they now have space to expand the food drive where they didn’t before. In a typical month, Billy Hooton church and OCU students hand out between 50 and 60 boxes of food. Olmsted said she would like to see OCU’s involvement expanded to play a role in the project from beginning to end. Congregation members are primarily older than age 60, and Olmsted believes OCU students should be a valuable part of keeping the food drive alive when congregants are less able to do the literal heavy lifting. “I really hope this program can continue in the long term,” Olmsted said. “Billy Hooton is a huge part of my soul and my heart and who I am, and I think that it has thoroughly changed most of the students who have gone.” Olmsted recently started a job at the Oklahoma Hall of Fame as a marketing associate and decided to hand leadership of the Billy Hooton partnership to OCU first-year student Kohl James. Although she was sad to move on, Olmsted said she still plans to volunteer for every food drive at Billy Hooton that she can and knows it is in good hands. “This partnership between Religious Life at OCU and Billy Hooton means so much to me,” James said. “It’s an opportunity to not only be involved with a community of people, but also to help such amazing and friendly people. Getting to lead this project just means so much to me.”
Scan QR Code to watch Kristen Olmsted describe this partnership. Photos by Ian Weston
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ACADEMICS
Degree Partnership Aims To Boost Students’ Employability BY TE RRY PHELPS
BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS OF ITS NEW MASTER of Fine Arts in Screen Acting degree program, the Oklahoma City University School of Theatre will now offer two Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting tracks: BFA Acting — On-Camera and BFA Acting — Stage and Screen. Theatre students will have courses in film and theater acting, along with courses in the Film Department of the OCU Petree College of Arts & Sciences, including screenwriting and editing, producing and directing. “The trend in the 21st century entertainment market has been toward on-camera work, and the COVID crisis has accelerated this trend,” said Lance Marsh, OCU professor of acting and head of performance. He said the new tracks will enhance employable skills for acting in front of a camera for film and television. The Stage and Screen track will include three semesters of oncamera acting, along with extensive training in musical theater skills and Shakespeare. The On-Camera track will include seven semesters of dedicated on-camera acting classes with class work in commercials and voiceovers, along with 27 hours in the Film Department, including classes in screenwriting and editing, producing and directing. “The students will graduate as content-creators, not just actors, and will be perfectly positioned to create their own digital material and not wait to be discovered,” Marsh said. Because professional actors working on-camera often do commercial and voice-over work as well, a Commercial Acting and Voiceover class will work on those skills. A variety of special topics in screen acting classes will explore different on-camera genres, including sitcom and computer-generated virtual reality, as well as advanced audition techniques. Students will also learn to create and produce their own work in the field of digital media. Film courses include workshops that emphasize storytelling and technical skills. Bryan Cardinale-Powell, chair of the OCU Film program said, “We’re looking forward to seeing what students make when they collaborate across disciplines like film and performance. We think OCU is in a great position to offer a program where students get to explore roles in front of and behind the camera. There are few places where learning about performance and filmmaking will be as closely aligned as it will be at OCU once these programs get off the ground.”
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Oklahoma City University Alumni Magazine
Photo by Ian Weston
“ The students will graduate as
content-creators, not just actors, and will be perfectly positioned to create their own digital material and not wait to be discovered. ” LANCE MARSH
The BFA tracks will benefit from the MFA in Screen Acting program, which began in the 2021 fall semester. The Los Angeles-based MFA is an intensive two-year program preparing graduates to work in film, television and related recorded media. It has included classes led by OCU alumna and Tony-winner Kristin Chenoweth, and Academy and Emmy Award-winner Aaron Sorkin. Students have worked with actors, directors, casting directors, writers, agents and producers. In the first year of the program, MFA students take part in courses taught by industry practitioners and Los Angeles-based OCU faculty amidst major production studios, such as Amazon Studios, Sony Pictures, TriStar Pictures and HBO Studios. In addition to actor training, on-camera work and working with industry professionals, the students generate their own digital media projects and a research project on screen history or film/TV theory. MFA students study with OCU partner programs in London in the second year of the program, developing technical skills in voice, movement and character. This will include acting styles outside of contemporary realism, requiring physical, vocal and cultural transformation. Unlike the MFA, the BFA tracks don’t have a built-in study abroad format, but summer experiences in Los Angeles, London, Rome and Cyprus are expected.
Lance Marsh, OCU professor of acting and head of performance, and Bryan Cardinale-Powell, chair of the OCU Film program
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“Indigenous Brilliance” by Joseph Erb, a two-story mural in the main entryway of the First Americans Museum
ALUMNI
Through Canvas And Tech, Artist Promotes Native American Heritage BY ROD JON E S
Joseph Erb
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FROM LARGE SCULPTURES TO GRAPHIC animation to geocaching notable locations along the Trail of Tears, artist Joseph Erb (BFA Studio Art ’97) has a variety of ways to preserve and promote his Cherokee heritage. Even the diversity of style in his various animation projects makes it hard to believe it’s all from the same artist. “I was one of those people who had a dream as a kid and kept with it for the rest of my life,” he said. As an asthmatic child in allergy-prone Oklahoma, Erb said he spent more than his fair share of sick time on the couch at home. “So I drew all the time. I always enjoyed the narrative process and excelled in art classes,” he said. His artistic abilities were apparent right away. He was winning with (and selling) his work since he was 7 or 8 years old. He competed in art shows throughout junior
Oklahoma City University Alumni Magazine
high and high school, gathering first-place awards along the way. When it came time to pursue a higher education, Erb had narrowed his options to three: Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, the University of Oklahoma or Oklahoma City University, where his mother earned a degree. He chose OCU after visiting with professors and administrators, who demonstrated a dedicated interest in Erb’s success from his very first visit through graduation day. “The smaller class sizes and attention from professors means a lot to a young artist. It means so much when you’re engaging directly with professors who are also professional artists themselves,” he noted. During his undergraduate days, Erb landed an internship with sculptor David Phelps, who has created
“ A lot of Cherokee sites were
destroyed in wars, but our genealogical record is substantial. We can piece together so much of our history based on stories passed along from generation to generation.”
JOSEPH ERB
several large-scale pieces in private and public collections around the country. Oklahoma City locals may know him from his work “Inclined” in Bricktown. The large bronze piece depicts the torso of a man preparing to push a giant boulder up the banks of the canal. Erb and two of his OCU classmates — Shawn Meyers (MLA ’96) and Jeremy Riddle (BFA Studio Art ’00) — assisted with the piece. “It was great having the three of them in the studio,” Phelps said. “We had a wonderful time working together. “Joseph was very focused on whatever he was doing. He was always concentrating on his work and found ways to get involved in projects every step of the way.” Phelps met Erb by way of classmate Meyers. His large-scale works occasionally require extra sets of hands, and Phelps has always been willing to share his knowledge with his interns. Meyers introduced them after Phelps won a commission from the Desert Wildlife Commission in 1995 for a set of five large animal sculptures to grace the Las Vegas airport terminals. Erb credits Phelps not only for strengthening his sculpting knowhow, but also the process of winning work. He paired that artistic/ business savvy on a more recent commission, a prominent two-story mural in the main entryway for the recently opened First Americans Museum on the banks of the Oklahoma River. At the time of his pitch for the work, Erb was in New Zealand with his partner, who was sent there to work on a health research project.
Erb gave his presentation to the art committee via a 4 a.m. online presentation, New Zealand time. After OCU, Erb attended the University of Pennsylvania to study sculpture-making. While there, he made connections with a professor who taught animation. That led Erb back to illustrations. Since then, Erb has filled a catalogue of short animation videos, including the first Cherokee animation in the Cherokee language, “The Beginning They Told.” Much of his art and non-art projects are his way of preserving and advancing his cultural heritage. While he doesn’t consider himself fluent in Cherokee, he has a strong desire to help keep the language alive. That desire manifested in a few significant projects involving technology. Erb was part of a group that prompted tech companies to include the Cherokee language in their products, especially Google, Apple and Microsoft. This makes it possible to search databases in the Cherokee language and place the original text on such things as websites and videos. To highlight the tribe’s sovereignty, Erb was part of another effort to have Google Maps show the Cherokee Nation boundaries. “It was in federal law, upheld by the Supreme Court recently. At the end of a long trail, there’s a promise. That promise is a nation,” he said. Erb also participated in a massive geocaching project called “Remember the Removal.” Members of the Cherokee Nation go back to their southeastern region roots and mark sites of significance on a digital map. Participants ride bicycles for 27 days, as many as 70 miles each day, in homage to their ancestors’ forced removal. Along the way, they find locations based on journal writings that mention specific landmarks like rivers and mountains. “A lot of Cherokee sites were destroyed in wars, but our genealogical record is substantial,” he said. “We can piece together so much of our history based on stories passed along from generation to generation.” Erb aims to share with the world the impressive achievements of the Cherokee and Native American cultures overall. “Just in Oklahoma alone, we have 39 tribal nations, each with distinct cultures and histories,” he said. Erb now teaches digital storytelling at the University of Missouri, sharing the importance of his craft with future generations. “We need to show the outside world that we’re not defined by any one thing, but by our whole existence,” he said. “For us, we’re still fighting to be acknowledged. We define ourselves by our relationships with each other.”
From left, Joseph Erb (BFA ’97), Jeremy Riddle (BFA ’00), David Phelps and Shawn Meyers (MLA ’96) pose with part of a sculpture series in the Phelps Sculpture Studio circa 1995.
Photos provided
Spring 2022
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ALUMNI
OCU Alumnae Leave Their Mark In State Government BY D E ST RY H OLZS C H U H
Jennifer Grigsby sees herself as someone who champions, encourages, and facilitates cooperation and coordination among state agencies to be more efficient for the benefit of Oklahomans.
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F R O M S U P E R V I S I N G S TAT E AG E N C I E S and first responders to overseeing billions of dollars in state and federal funding, three Oklahoma City University alumnae have recently served in state government with pride and diligence. In her role as secretary of economic administration for the state, Jennifer Grigsby (MBA ’99) serves as liaison between the agencies she oversees and their respective commissions, boards or elected officials. Grigsby sees herself as someone who champions, encourages, and facilitates cooperation and coordination among state agencies to be more efficient for the benefit of Oklahomans. Although she didn’t intentionally set out to work in state government, Grigsby said she feels “truly honored” to have the opportunity to use her experience and skills in service to the state of Oklahoma. “I believe it is so powerful when smart, competent Oklahomans stop complaining about state government and become part of the solution by shifting their careers to the state,” Grigsby said. Grigsby grew up in Oklahoma City. She earned a degree in accounting from Oklahoma State University in 1991 and returned to Oklahoma City to start her career. A few years later, Grigsby set out to obtain her MBA while working full time, which is how she landed at OCU, completing the MBA program in 1999. “I love the role and the responsibility that OCU proudly owns in being ‘Oklahoma City’s university,’” Grigsby said. “Sitting in the very heart of our city, OCU represents the pulse of Oklahoma City, and its students, faculty and staff really reflect who we are, as citizens, and continually challenge us to be better.” Though she’s typically busy overseeing large and important state agencies such as the Oklahoma Tax Commission and the Office of the State Treasurer, Grigsby loves to find time to support Oklahoma State tennis, baseball or basketball teams. She and her husband also love to travel and cheer for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Oklahoma City University Alumni Magazine
Grigsby encourages young women starting their careers to be open to opportunities in state government as well as the private sector. “There are many women in leadership positions throughout the state that, I believe, are excellent role models for younger women who are considering a career in state government,” Grigsby said. “As I talk to women and men currently working for the state of Oklahoma today, I am so impressed by their intense desire to improve our state at the same time that they are progressing their careers.” Tricia Everest (former OCU trustee, HDH ’18) is no stranger to public service. Before she was named secretary of public safety, Everest worked as assistant attorney general and chairperson of the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority, among other roles in hospitality, philanthropy and law. In her current position, she holds primary oversight over all law enforcement, corrections officers, and first responders. Her responsibilities include 55 agencies, around 9,000 employees, and budgets totaling more than $1.2 billion. A fourth-generation Oklahoman and native of Oklahoma City, Everest earned her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University before returning to Oklahoma to earn her law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. While serving the state as an assistant attorney general in 2007, Everest was asked by former OCU President Tom McDaniel if she would join the OCU Board of Trustees. Even with the time constraints of her job in the Attorney General’s office, Everest served on around 20 boards and commissions during her time as a trustee — many of which were leadership positions. “In total, I served as a trustee for around 11 years and attest that each trustee is truly invested in furthering the mission of OCU and creating the best private-school option for Oklahomans and beyond,” Everest said. Everest was inducted into the Meinders School of Business Oklahoma Commerce and Industry Hall of Honor in 2019 and holds an honorary doctorate
Amanda Rodriguez, former CFO for the state of Oklahoma
Jennifer Grigsby, secretary of economic administration
Tricia Everest, secretary of public safety
in Humanities from OCU. Her philanthropic efforts continue steadfastly as ever as she serves the state as secretary of public safety, but Everest also enjoys hiking and adventuring in the outdoors in her free time. “One of the best skills experience teaches me is to assess situations from a 5,000-foot perspective and look at the big picture,” Everest said on advice for students. “On a lower level, this same practice encourages me to approach people with kindness and an open mind. There is always more to a person or situation.” As the chief financial officer (CFO) for the state of Oklahoma, Amanda Rodriguez (MBA ’18) provided advice directly to the governor and cabinet secretaries on all state financial matters. In the recently created role, she was guided by the expertise gained from 13 years in finance at Chesapeake Energy before she was recruited to be the state’s first CFO. Rodriguez left the CFO position in February. “Being in public service is a complete honor,” Rodriguez said. “I feel fortunate to have served in this capacity and utilize the competencies I developed in my career and translate those into true, added value for the state.” Now living in Edmond with her husband and their three children, Rodriguez grew up in a military family that emphasized service to others as a core value. After moving around the United States and Europe, she settled in Oklahoma, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Oklahoma in 2003. Rodriguez went on to get her MBA at OCU in 2018 and looks back fondly on the professors and friends she made along the way. One of her favorite memories is finishing the MBA program while pregnant with her third child and ultimately walking across the graduation stage with all three of her children in the crowd cheering her on. “I received such great support from my professors navigating the end of the program, allowing me to do it all,” Rodriguez said. “I will always be incredibly appreciative.” When she’s not busy overseeing multi-billion-dollar budgets, Rodriguez likes to bake, host gatherings, read, and spend time at the beach. She encourages young women who are looking to follow a similar path to strive for excellence, not perfection. “Come in each day ready to give it your all, and when you see an opportunity — go after it!” Rodriguez said. “Shine bright, demand respect and have courage. Always remember to never underestimate your influence and your voice.”
Photos by Ian Weston
Everest was inducted into the Meinders School of Business Oklahoma Commerce and Industry Hall of Honor in 2019.
One of Amanda Rodriguez’s favorite memories is finishing the MBA program while pregnant with her third child and ultimately walking across the graduation stage with all three of her children in the crowd cheering her on.
Spring 2022
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GIVING
Former President Donates Life Insurance BY A PRIL M ARCIS ZE W S K I
Former Oklahoma City University President Martha Burger
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Oklahoma City University Alumni Magazine
FORMER OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT MARTHA Burger has purchased a $3 million life insurance policy naming OCU as the beneficiary. The proceeds will be an unrestricted gift to university operations. “This gift is transformational for OCU,” President Kenneth Evans said. “Unrestricted resources are critical for the ongoing health of the institution, and Martha’s generosity will help ensure that OCU can continue to provide exceptional educational opportunities. This gift is so very special, coming from the past leader of OCU.” Burger (MBA ’92), who retired as president in June, had intended for years to include OCU in her long-term financial plans. She said she believes in giving back to institutions that helped her. “The only reason I’m in a position to give back is because institutions like OCU gave me the tools to succeed,” she said. “I want OCU to be one of the cornerstones that helps Oklahoma City demonstrate it is a top-tier city,” said Burger. “I believe every city needs a great private university. For me, that’s OCU. Having a great private university in the heart of Oklahoma City helps the city to attract new business and resonates with creatives who want to see a strong commitment to the arts.” Burger described OCU as unique because it is both a destination university — for performing arts students, for example — as well as a place where local residents can study and develop the skills they need. She wanted to donate without strings attached after having served as president. “Of course we celebrated each and every gift, but an unrestricted gift always caused me to give an extra cheer,” Burger said. “An unrestricted gift meant that the funds could be used for things that might not otherwise get funded.” Burger hopes her gift will inspire others to think about the many ways they can donate to OCU. The university owns the policy, and Burger donates the annual premium in a setup that guarantees the money to OCU in a way that wills — which can be rewritten — sometimes do not. It also gives Burger a tax deduction, and it will leverage her payments to provide an even larger sum to OCU when she dies. Because it is not part of her estate, estate taxes will not be deducted from the amount OCU receives. “If I were 25 and doing this, the premium would probably be $500,000” for a $3 million policy, she said. “The younger and healthier you are, the less expensive it will be.” Alan Herndon, OCU director of planned giving, said that if 10 people made similar donations, “it would take OCU to the next level.” Donors have a variety of planned giving options to accomplish a range of financial goals. Examples include gifts of retirement plan assets, bequests, charitable trusts and more. Many types of assets can be structured as planned or estate gifts. More information is available at oculegacy.org. Burger underwent exams to determine her physical fitness for the policy. She couldn’t choose just any charity as the recipient — it had to be one she had supported long-term. “There are so many ways that I have been entwined with OCU that this seemed like a logical next step,” she said. “I went to graduate school here, and my partner attended undergraduate and graduate school at OCU; I gave my heart and soul to working to move the university forward.”
Photo courtesy of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame
Humility Marks Couple’s Philanthropy BY AP RIL M ARCISZEWS K I
R AY A N D PAT P O T T S H AV E B E E N L I V I N G generously for decades. Now they have pledged $1 million to Oklahoma City University to create the Potts Family Scholars program, build up the existing Ray Potts Endowed Scholarship, and establish the Ray and Pat Potts Oklahoma City University President’s Enrichment Fund. “Ray and Pat’s gift will create a powerful impact at OCU,” said OCU President Kenneth Evans. “Their incredible generosity will give students access to a top-quality education and will allow OCU to expand in innovative directions. They have long set an example as pillars of the community, and this gift invites students into similar paths of service.” The Potts Family Scholars program will provide first-generation students and those with a commitment to diversity and community engagement with front-row seats to nonprofit leadership. The Ray Potts Endowed Scholarship expands access to legal education for students who excel. The President’s Enrichment Fund will provide start-up capital to build new programs and generate sustainable partnerships. Pat said that like OCU, the couple shares a commitment to people. “OCU, being a faith-based university, can emphasize the potential of humans,” she said. “It provides that balance of focus that’s really important to us. An education at OCU also teaches students to think deeply and critically.” Ray said that at his age, he wants to contribute more to organizations that have made a difference in his community and in Oklahoma. Pat and Ray met when they were each president of their respective sorority and fraternity at the University of Missouri. After they got married, Ray served in the U.S. Air Force from 1955-57 and then worked for Pure Oil Co. When the company did layoffs during one of the inevitable oil and gas downturns of the time, he thought he would better secure his future with a law degree from OCU. OCU Trustee Bill Shdeed was in a four-person law school study group with Ray. “I studied for the bar with Ray, and I probably wouldn’t have passed without him. He was a bright student,” Shdeed said. “Ray Potts is one of the finest, most honorable and generous men I know. You don’t have to come to him — he’ll come to you. He’s a fun guy to be around. He’s a family man. He and Pat have always worked as a team.”
Ray and Pat Potts Ray co-founded Potts Stephenson Exploration Co. Inc. and later Potts Exploration. Two of the Potts’ three sons now run the business. The couple have four adult children: Steve, Mark, Larry and Paula. Meanwhile, Pat, armed with a master’s degree in business administration, co-founded the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits and the Potts Family Foundation. “Because of Ray’s financial support, we were able to start the Center for Nonprofits in 1981” to provide nonprofits with the management help they needed to think like for-profits while also raising money, managing volunteers and working with boards, Pat said. The center has since expanded to Tulsa and grown from two employees to more than two dozen, and its nonprofit advocacy has given those organizations a seat at the table with policymakers. Sitting side-by-side, Pat said, “I give all the credit to him.” Ray responded good-naturedly, “She’s being overly generous.” The couple said they hope their example might inspire more alumni to give to OCU. Their law scholarship fills an important need, they said. “A lot of people can’t afford law school, but scholarship support makes it possible for many of them to get a law degree,” Ray said. They also felt inspired by President Evans to contribute to new programs. “He described how education is changing,” Pat said. “We’re pleased to help OCU innovate to address training for the jobs of the future.” The couple downplayed their contributions, acknowledging others’ achievements they have built on. “We are fortunate,” Pat said, “to be able to build upon the work of community and state leaders with these gifts.”
Photo by Ian Weston
Spring 2022
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AT H L E T I C S
New Director Leads Student-Athletes
Photo by Ian Weston
BY NI CK TROU GAKOS
OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY leaders didn’t have to look far to identify the school’s new athletics director. In fact, they found their candidate just a few hours up Interstate 44. OCU President Kenneth Evans in February named Corey Bray as the university’s new director of Athletics.
Before accepting the position at OCU, Bray was the vice president and director of athletics at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. He was selected after a multi-month national search to replace long-time athletic director Jim Abbott, who retired at the end of the fall 2021 semester. “I would like to thank President Evans and the Board of Trustees for the opportunity to serve as the next OCU director of athletics,” Bray said. “I am extremely excited about the chance to lead an athletics department with such a rich history of national championships and academic success.” Bray served as Drury’s athletics director since 2019, leading the NCAA Division II school into competition in 28 sports. Prior to that he served seven years as the associate athletics director for compliance at the University of Alabama at Birmingham; six years as assistant athletics director for administration at Eastern Kentucky University; and six years in various administrative roles at the NCAA offices in Indianapolis. Bray said he hopes to build on the work Abbott accomplished during his long tenure at OCU.
“I look forward to building on the tradition of excellence created by Jim Abbott and other OCU athletics directors as our outstanding student-athletes strive to be more than champions in the classroom, in the community, and in competition,” he said. Evans said Bray fits the mold for what the university seeks in the leader of its athletics programs. “We appreciate Corey’s experience, energy and enthusiasm,” Evans said. “His philosophy of creating champions not only on the playing field, but in the classroom and community as well, aligns with the vision of our university.” Bray earned his undergraduate degree in psychology, with a minor in coaching, from Pacific Lutheran University, before earning a master’s degree in social psychology of sport and exercise at the University of Oregon. He is a long-time member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and has served numerous times as a volunteer or youth coach in baseball, basketball, football and track. Bray’s wife, Leslie, is a high school math teacher, and the couple has two sons, Luke, 14, and Landry, 11.
Corey Bray, director of Athletics
Scan the code to read an interview with Bray.
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Oklahoma City University Alumni Magazine
Photo provided
Photo by Rich Tortorelli
Zouhair Talbi
Men’s Track and Field Team Wins National Championship BY L ECHELLE CALD ERWOOD
T H E O C U S TA R S W O N T H E I R F I R S T M E N ’ S T R AC K A N D field team national championship title at the NAIA National Championships on March 5 at the Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex in Brookings, South Dakota. Oklahoma City University has now claimed a total of 71 national championships, including at least one each year dating back to 1994. OCU also won three individual national titles when senior Zouhair Talbi placed first in the mile, 3K and 5K. For the second consecutive year, Talbi was awarded the title of most valuable performer. The Stars took home 12 all-American honors, beating a previous high of eight. Talbi earned seven all-American finishes. Sophomore Shimales Abebe took home three all-American honors with second-place in the mile and 3K and third-place in the 5K. Freshman JaQuavious Harris earned all-American honors with fourth-place in the 1K and eighth-place in the mile. Coach Freezer Legesse was named coach of the year.
Shimales Abebe
Photo by Ian Weston
Spring 2022
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IN MEMORY
In Memory 22
Oklahoma City University Alumni Magazine
Photo by Ian Weston
Dale Leroy Hall Feb. 21, 1937–Oct. 30, 2021 Dale Leroy Hall, set designer, lighting designer, technical theater professor, builder and painter, died at the age of 84, on Oct. 30, 2021, in Pueblo, Colorado. Dale was also an avid bird watcher, outdoorsman, gardener and explorer. Most importantly, he was a loving husband, father, uncle, granddad and great-granddad to the family he leaves behind. Born in 1937 in a small Oklahoma town to Clyde and Ivy Hall, Dale’s childhood was spent helping in the family creamery, delivering papers and running after his older brothers: Don, Eldon and Delbert. It wasn’t until college, when he met the love of his life, Danelle Tucker, during a production of “The Monkey’s Paw,” that he realized theater was his calling. The two eloped, were married in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and moved to the east coast. After summer theater in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, and Brockport, New York, and several years in Wallkill, New York, teaching at the high school, the couple returned to Oklahoma with their two toddlers. Dale earned his MFA in theater design at the University of Oklahoma and began his career at Oklahoma City University, where he taught technical theater. He also worked with the local theater organizations in the area, building shows for the Civic Center, the Stage Center Theater, Lyric Theater and Ballet Oklahoma. On the OCU campus, he mentored and taught several generations of students the
One performer said, “I so remember my first ‘Dale’ sighting as he strode down the center aisle at the theater. I thought: ‘If that’s not what God looks like...he should.’”
intricacies of technical theater (the first lesson he taught every student who worked with him in the scene shop was the correct way to sweep the stage). Many students commented that Dale taught them not only about theater, but about life and being adults. Dale was a big man with a big voice suited to the stage. His commanding presence, charisma, and sense of humor left an impression on all who knew him. One performer said, “I so remember my first ‘Dale’ sighting as he strode down the center aisle at the theater. I thought: ‘If that’s not what God looks like...he should.’” Dale and Danelle traveled to New York several times a year to see as many theatrical productions as possible. On those trips, whenever he was in the theater district, his tall form and trademark cowboy hat were frequently recognized by past students, actors, singers, dancers and technicians, who were thrilled to see a little bit of home in the big city. Dale retired from Ballet Oklahoma at the age of 74 and moved full-time to Silver Cliff, Colorado. He and Danelle used the historic mining town as a home base while exploring much of the Southwest, tracking bird migration patterns, and following the trail of their favorite fictional characters, always coming home to their view of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
Photo provided
Spring 2022
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IN MEMORY
Irene Elizabeth Phillips April 30, 1946–Jan. 24, 2022 Irene Elizabeth Phillips, 75, of Oklahoma, formerly of Mercer, Pennsylvania, passed away in January. Phillips was born April 30, 1946, in Mercer, to David C. and Willa Mae (Sorrels) Phillips. Irene was a nursing professor in the Kramer School of Nursing since 2006.
She graduated from Mercer High School in 1964, received a diploma in nursing from Sharon General Hospital in Sharon, earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, and a master’s degree from Southern Nazarene University in Bethany. Irene worked at Shenango Valley Osteopathic Hospital in Farrell, Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, Sewickley Valley Hospital in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, and both the Mercy Hospital and Montefiore Hospital in Pittsburgh. She later moved to Oklahoma in 1980 to work at the Saint Anthony Hospital in
Oklahoma City and the Midwest Regional Hospital in Midwest City. She was employed as a nursing instructor at Platt College from 2005 to 2006. Since 2006, she was employed as a nursing instructor at OCU as a full-time faculty and then as adjunct faculty. She was a contributing sponsor of the nursing school’s Meinders Simulation Center. Irene was a member of the Midwest City Church of God of Prophecy.
Robert Noel Sheets June 16, 1954–Dec. 8, 2021 Robert “Bob” Noel Sheets was born June 16, 1954, in St. Louis to Robert Lee Sheets and Betty Sue Read Sheets. He passed into life eternal on Dec. 8, 2021. Bob graduated from the Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1979 and was later a law professor there. Bob grew up in Florissant, Missouri, where he was active in DeMolay. He graduated from McCluer High School and Washington University in St. Louis before OCU. He married Mary Patricia Flanagan in 1981. Bob was a founding partner of the original law firm McFall, McVay, Sheets, Lovelace and Juras. The firm is known now as Phillips Murrah. Bob retired from the firm in 2020, and since then was an adjunct professor of law at OCU. Next to the Lord and his family, Bob’s love in life was the St. Louis Cardinals. He
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Oklahoma City University Alumni Magazine
was a fan throughout his life. In childhood, he won a game ticket most years for earning straight As in school. He loved taking his family to games and was a regular season-long viewer of Cardinal games on TV. He was also a history buff, especially about the Civil War. Numerous family vacations were trips to Civil War battlefields. He could spend hours strolling in museums and looking at monuments, and he readily entered discussions with park rangers about history. Bob was active in the church and community. He held numerous leadership positions at Wesley United Methodist Church and taught the lnspirers Sunday School class. He was a board member for
Photos provided
several years with Heartline, and a longtime volunteer in the Oklahoma Bar Association’s education outreach efforts. He taught “The Law and You” short courses for high school students and read to preschoolers at Head Start locations in Oklahoma City. He recently volunteered for TEEM, The Education and Employment Ministry. Most of all, Bob was a family man. He loved his wife of 40 years dearly, as well as his children and grandchildren, on whom he bragged every chance he got. When his children were young, he coached their YMCA baseball and Little League baseball teams.
Abbey Grace Renner Aug. 5, 1997–Nov. 22, 2021 Abbey Grace Renner (BS Biomedical Science ’19) was born into this world Aug. 5, 1997, and passed away on Nov. 22, 2021, at the age of 24. Abbey grew up in Edmond, Oklahoma, attending Deer Creek schools. During her time there she was a three-time state basketball champion, valedictorian, Miss DCHS, senior class officer, national honor society president and Spanish Club president. She participated as a Girls State Delegate and the University of Oklahoma High School Leadership Conference as well as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Abbey attended college at Oklahoma City University, graduating Magna Cum Laude, Cum Honore with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science and minors in Spanish and chemistry. Abbey was a member of the OCU women’s basketball team for two years during which time the team won the NAIA national championship. She was a twotime academic all-conference player and twice selected as the OCU student athlete of the year. She was a beloved member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. She participated in many activities and clubs, including
Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society (president), Student Athletes Advisory Committee, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Government Association, and OCU Leads Presidents Leadership Class. She was awarded the Petree College of Arts & Sciences Outstanding Sophomore as well as the Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Award for her research and presentation on “Bacteriophage: A Potential Replacement for Antibiotics.” After graduating from OCU, Abbey worked as an emergency physician scribe at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City while preparing for medical school. In 2020, Abbey was accepted to Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. In pursuit of her medical dream, Abbey continued to give back to the community. She was selected as an Albert Schweitzer Fellow for her study and teaching of diabetes management and education to Spanish-speaking members
of the community at Xavier Clinic. She was awarded the Mona Whitmier Scholarship through the Tulsa Medical Society. She continued to participate in student government, was a student ambassador, and a member of the VASSAR research team. Among other organizations and memberships, she was president of the Student Osteopathic Internal Medicine Association and vice president of American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians. She was recently nominated for the 2022 Student Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine of the Year. She participated in any opportunity to further her medical education and dream to become a servantcentered physician helping those in need.
Our Condolences 1940s Charles E. Mehr (’43) Albert H. Brooks (’47) 1950s Natalie H. Kopplin (’50) Wayne H. Edge (’51) Dickey Campbell (’53) Raymond P. Manning (’58) Richard L. Rice (’59)
1960s Willie R. Points (’60) Ralph Carlson (’66) James B. Zongker (’66) R. Kent Zirkle (’68) 1970s Phillip A. Martinez (’71) Carolyn McAlister (’71) Arthur L. Woodall (’71)
Thomas E. Barnett (’72) Wade Ferguson (’72) Anthony W. Speck (’72) Chris H. Eulberg (’74) Robert W. Shockey (’76) Franklin W. Hobbs (’78) Mike Y. Dehdari (’79) 1980s Susan J. Rahhal (’81)
Mardea M. Warner (’87) Deborah J. Bruce (’87) 1990s Joe B. Hobbs (’94) Jack T. Vannatta (’95) Perry L. Williams (’98) Ronald Jackson (’99) 2000s Arden M. Gatlin (’01)
Ashley M. Kellert (’05) 2010s Oscar J. Kincheloe (’12) Zachary M. Whittaker (’16) Janet C. Love (’17) Abbey G. Renner (’19)
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Spring 2022
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CLASS NOTES
Share Your News Send personal and professional developments, along with large photos, to alumni@okcu.edu.
Read All About It Alumni news available 24/7
okcu.edu/alumni/news
1960s
Joseph Bud Sahmaunt (BA History ’60) received the Jim Thorpe Sports Excellence Award from the Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission during the Dream Keepers Award ceremony.
1970s
Col. Jeanette Sterner (BA ’72) was reappointed to the Sabine River Authority board of directors in Texas.
The Rev. Chuck Horton (BA Religion ’80) recently began as senior pastor at Weatherford First United Methodist Church. Donald Jordan (BA Speech Theatre ’80) retired as artistic director of OKC Repertory Theatre.
1 Don Polk (BM ’61), owner of the Norman Music Center, announced the closure of his family-owned music shop of 56 years.
David Skilling (JD ’84), a volunteer with the Kossuth Regional Health Center and Clinic in Iowa, was named one of the Senior Health Insurance Information Program’s Advance Award Volunteers of the Year.
The Cherokee Phoenix ran a story about Barbara McAlister (BM Music ’64) and her 10 years as vocal performance instructor for the Cherokee Nation. Gerald L. Gamble (JD ’68, HD Commercial Science ’97) received the Walter Powell Award from the Bachelors Club of Oklahoma City, which is given to an individual who has shown loyal support and exemplifies the ideals of the club. In her religion guest column in The Oklahoman, Jane Jayroe Gamble (BM ’69, HDHL ’11) discussed guest performances by Eryn LeCroy (BM Vocal Performance ’14) and Isaiah Bailey (BM Vocal Performance ’14) in the “Esther Women” luncheon series, and shared a story about Kristin Chenoweth’s (BM Musical Theatre ’91, MM ’93, HDHL ’13) career. Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Yvonne Kauger (JD ’69, HD Laws ’92) was inducted into the Oklahoma Historical Society’s Historians Hall of Fame.
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Oklahoma City University Alumni Magazine
John Dorman (JD ’84) joined the Spencer Fane law firm.
Weldon Stout (JD ’74) joined the board of directors for Desert Mountain Energy Corp., a company based in Vancouver focused on exploration, development and production of helium, hydrogen and noble gases.
The Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas named Kit Addleman (JD ’86), a partner at Haynes and Boone LLP, as one of its 2021 Women of Distinction honorees. The award is given to those whose “leadership, accomplishments, and community contributions inspire young females to make the world — from the classroom to the boardroom — a better place.”
Jeanne Hoffman Smith (BA ’74, HDHL ’98) received the Regents’ Alumni Award from the University of Oklahoma.
Medical technology company Perimeter Medical Imaging AI Inc. appointed Jay R. Widdig (MBA ’86) as CFO.
1980s
The Rev. Scott Keneda (BA Philosophy/Religion ’88) of First United Methodist Church of Edmond was featured in a story in The Oklahoman headlined “How two Methodist ministers became
Oklahoma County District Judge Ray Elliott (JD ’80) announced his intention to retire this year.
leaders of metro-area churches during the COVID pandemic.” Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad in Malaysia appointed Choy Khai Choon (MBA ’88) as its non-independent non-executive director. Denise Hannah (BS Criminal Justice ’89) was selected as the William Woods University (Missouri) women’s basketball coach.
1990s
1 Gina Roy (BSB Accounting ’90) was awarded Member of the Year for the Exchange Club. The club presents college scholarships to graduating high school seniors and supports a group called Parent Promise. Roy is past president and treasurer. Jill Campbell (MBA ’90), executive vice president and chief people & operations officer for Cox Enterprises, was named one of Atlanta’s 500 Most Powerful Leaders in 2022 by the Atlanta Business Journal. Kristin Chenoweth (BM Musical Theatre ’91, MM ’93, HDHL ’13) and Madeline Powell (BM Music Theater
’21) performed together in “Kristin Chenoweth in Concert: For the Girls” with the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra in Texas. Chenoweth also was named the seventh Oklahoma Cultural Ambassador during the 44th Governor’s Arts Awards Nov. 9. Rob Ramage (JD ’92) is the new general manager of the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. Former OCU President Martha Burger (MBA ’92, HDHL ’12) received a 2021 OSU Agriculture Champion award. Anne Beard (MBA ’94) joined GeoSpatial Innovations as director of vegetation management solutions.
YOU, ME, AND GOODBYE The Short Fuse Film Studio, founded by Mia McGlinn (BFA Acting ’18) and Katie Hightower (alumni non-degree ’15-’17), released the first season of its Oklahoma City-set web series “You, Me, and Goodbye.” Crew members include Nicole Baumann (BA Political Science ’18) and Megan Duffy (BS Kinesiology & Exercise Studies ’11). The series is a coming-of-age story about two friends navigating who they are, who they want to be and how that relates to where they’re going. Mallory Scheidel (BFA Acting ’20) will join the show in a supporting role for the second season.
Buzz Williams (BS Physical Education ’94), head coach of the Texas A&M men’s basketball team, was inducted into the Navarro College Hall of Fame. Andy Halko (MS Accounting ’94) was appointed CFO of AirX Climate Solutions. Brian Marcum (BPA Dance ’94) took the reigns as producing director of Music Theatre Wichita.
Photos provided
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CLASS NOTES
Cynthia L. Andrews (JD ’94), a lawyer in the Crowe & Dunlevy firm, was recognized by the Best Lawyers publication in the Employee Benefits Law category.
Lynn Britton (MBA ’96), president and CEO of Mercy (St. Louis), was included in a Becker’s Hospital Review roundup headlined “Meet the CEOs of the 10 largest nonprofit health systems.”
Tasha Casey-Loveless (BA Religious Education ’02, MA Nonprofit Leadership ’14), senior director of admissions, was interviewed for a how-to story in The Oklahoman about college application essays.
Karrie Rodriquez (BS competency based degree program ’94, MBA ’04) was promoted to assistant vice president and deputy head of business integration for the FedNow Service program at the Boston Federal Reserve.
State Sen. Greg McCortney (BA Religion ’96) was chosen to serve as majority floor leader.
M. Nicole Warehime (BS Adult/Juvenile Corrections Sociology ’02) was named interim assistant dean of the University of Central Oklahoma’s College of Liberal Arts.
KOLD-TV in Tucson, Arizona, did a story about Nona Lee (JD ’95), executive vice president and chief legal officer for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and her diversity and inclusion efforts on behalf of the team. 1
Jennifer M. King (JD ’97) took the oath of office as Yukon’s new municipal judge. Keely Tidrow-Daximillion (BA Communications/ Public Relations ’97) was named associate director of philanthropy for the La Jolla Playhouse in California.
Greg Wheeler (MBA ’95) became Oklahoma City market president for Bank of Oklahoma. Ed McQueen (JD ’96), corporate lawyer for the Bell Nunnally firm, was named to the Best Lawyers in America list. Matador Resources Co. named G. Gregg Krug (BS ’96) as executive vice president for marketing and midstream strategy. Saif Malik (MBA Finance ’96) was named vice president of finance for Comcast’s western New England region.
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1 Soprano Katrina Thurman (BM Vocal Performance ’97) will make her Metropolitan Opera debut as Meretaten in Phillip Glass’ “Akhnaten” in May.
Oklahoma City University Alumni Magazine
Susan Nigh (BA prior learning & university studies ’02) was appointed as Rogers County associate district judge. Margaret Creighton (BS Dance Management ’02, MBA ’06) was named CEO of Positive Tomorrows. Gisela Rodriguez (JD ’04), an attorney in Florida, won an inspirational citizenship case for a man who fled from Cuba as a child in 1980.
Kerry Schultz (BA Political Science ’98, BS History ’98), attorney and partner with Fountain, Schultz & Associates in Florida, was appointed to the Florida Commission on Community Service.
Brandon P. Long (JD ’04), member of the OCU School of Law Executive Board, was elected as a member of the McAfee & Taft board of directors.
Sam John (MBA ’98), president of Innovative Products, is a judge for the 2021 LEAP Awards (Leadership in Engineering Achievement Program).
Lawyer Melissa Jackson’s (JD ’05) experience from investigating a child-protective unit was recounted in a New York Times in-depth story headlined “How ‘Shadow’ Foster Care Is Tearing Families Apart.”
Amy J. Pierce (JD ’99) was appointed as the first full time district court judge for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma’s Judicial Branch.
Deadline posted a story about Jay Wadley’s (BM Composition ’05) score for “Swan Song,” released on Apple TV+.
2000s
The Springfield Business Journal in Missouri named Lori Rook (JD ’06), owner and managing partner of Ozarks Elder Law LLC, as one of its 2021 Most Influential Women.
Anna Ables (BA Public Relations ’01) became director of brand strategies and community engagement for the Glenview Park District in Illinois. Catalina Pazos (MBA Finance ’01) was named a designated member of the Financial Policy and Regulation Board of Ecuador.
Zack Zuhdi (MBA ’07) joined the J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Dallas as an executive director and banker.
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John Brasher (JD ’07) took the oath of office as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Oklahoma. The Phillips Murrah law firm promoted Robert K. Campbell (JD ’07) to director. Joe Michienzie (Theatre Performance ’08) is a costume stitcher for Disney’s “Hocus Pocus 2.” Trevor Pemberton (JD ’08) was appointed general counsel for Gov. Kevin Stitt. Dr. Tommy Jones (BS Biology ’08), a deployment specialist for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, was part of a national panel discussion titled “Indigenous Knowledge & Wisdom Drive Climate Action.” Abby C. Smith (MM Musical Theater ’08) directed the Axelrod Performing Arts Academy (New Jersey) production of “The SpongeBob Musical.” Barbara Klepper (MM Vocal Performance ’08, JD ’12) joined the Brown Rudnick firm as a partner in the Tax Practice Group. The Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas promoted Krystle Godwin (BA Liberal Studies ’08) to communications and marketing director.
Colin Anderson (alumni non-degree, Musical Theater ’08-’12) returned to Oklahoma to perform in the “My Fair Lady” national touring production. Melissa Simmons (BS Kinesiology & Exercise Studies ’10) was named as the first-ever female recipient of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s Medal of Courage. The Oklahoman ran a profile story on tenor J. Warren Mitchell (MM Conducting ’10). The Oklahoma Heritage Group, which includes Rocky Chavez (BSB Marketing ’10) as a partner, will soon begin development of a Capitol Hill commercial property with expected completion in late 2023. The building will be located on the northwest intersection of SW 25 and Robinson Avenue. The city of Lewisville, Texas, hired Marichelle Samples (JD ’10) as its new director of economic development. Bryan Baucom (MBA ’10) was named executive director of information services care delivery for Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Sasha Hutchings (BPA Dance Performance ’11) is starring as Laurey in the new national tour of “Oklahoma!” She previously was in the
Broadway cast. Tour dates through October 2022 include Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Enid attorney Dustin E. Conner (JD ’11) was named to serve a three-year term on the Oklahoma Bar Association’s board of governors. 2 Alumni Advisory Board member Ashton Gatewood (BS Cell and Molecular Biology/BA Spanish ’11, BS Nursing ’15) was named OSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Student Doctor of the Year and was named the runner up for National Student Doctor of the Year.
GRAND OPENING Several alumni participated in the grand opening of the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, including David Wilson (BA Mass Communications ’90), co-chair of the Festival Plaza committee; Kevin Chissoe (BBA Accounting ’19); Kyle Wallace (BA Mass Communications/Public Relations ’16); Dallas Parker (BBA Information Technology ’14); MacKenzie Wahpepah-Harris (BBA Marketing ’18); and Brent Greenwood (BFA Studio Art ’97).
Photos provided
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CLASS NOTES
FOUR IN THE MORNING Kyle Dillingham (BM Instrumental Performance ’02) won the Indie Music Channel Award for Best Christian Contemporary Song for his original work, “Four in the Morning.” It was also number one for three consecutive weeks on The Radio Cafe’s Top 10 Countdown. Dillingham, a Grand Ole Opry guest artist, and music education professor Peter Markes (BM Instrumental Education ’01), the 2014 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, were headed to Dubai this year to perform at Expo 2020, the first of which to be held in the Middle East. The two are among approximately 84 acts chosen to perform at the six-month-long global fair.
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Oklahoma City University Alumni Magazine
FloWrestling listed Kristie Davis (BS Kinesiology & Exercise Studies ’12) in its top 100 American wrestlers of all time. Marlen Nahhas (BM Vocal Performance ’12) performed as mezzo soprano for Santa Fe Opera’s “A Night at the Opera” on Christmas Eve. Nahhas was also cast in the Virginia Opera production of “La Boheme.” Bailey Perkins (BA Political Science ’12), state advocacy and public policy director for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, was interviewed for a NonDoc podcast about how her agencies are addressing hunger in Oklahoma.
Broadway actress Belinda Allyn (BM Music Theater ’12) was a guest on “The Salisha Show” podcast for an episode titled “The Beauty of Taking Ownership of Your Life.” Christin Byrdsong (BM Musical Theatre ’13) was cast in the HBO series “Euphoria.” The show follows a group of high school students as they navigate love and friendships in a tumultuous world. Byrdsong appeared in episodes one and eight of season two. Byrdsong was also announced as the Simba understudy for the national tour of “The Lion King.” Robin Ladd (BA Political Science/Philosophy ’13), an associate for the Haynes Boone firm, was named a 2022 FFA DEI Emerging Leader by the Fund Finance Association.
Jeff Sabin (JD ’14) was appointed to serve as city attorney for the city of The Village. Travis Weedn (JD ’14) accepted a position as policy advisor and legislative liaison for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Elliott Mattox (BM Musical Theater ’14) is in the ensemble of Broadway’s Marquis Theatre production of “Beetlejuice” opening in April. Oklahoma’s Nursing Times ran a feature story about Jenna Waddell (BS Nursing ’15), a flight nurse for Air Evac Lifeteam in Ada. Kaley Were (BM Music Theater ’15) starred in the title role in the Franklin Performing Arts Co. production of “Disney & Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins” in Massachusetts. 1 Jordan Beall (BPA Dance Performance ’16) was cast in the Broadway revival of “The Music Man” starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster. Erin C. Stratton (DPN ’16) wrote a guest column titled “Bringing Theory To Life” for Nursology. net, a website for nurse scholars. Isiah J. Williams (BFA Acting ’17) directed August Wilson’s “Gem of the Ocean” at the Civic Center Music Hall. 2
Andrew Carrillo (BM ’17, MM ’19) won the second trombone position in the Bozeman Symphony in Montana.
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Ryan Lambert (BM Music Theater ’17) was cast in the Arena Stage production of the musical “Catch Me If You Can” in Washington, D.C. 2 Shelby Quackenbush (BS Dance Management ’18) was hired to be an entertainment manager for Walt Disney World’s Epcot theme park for the holiday season. Patty Irwin (BM Music Theater ’18) and Rachel Weisbart (BM Music Theater ’19) were featured in a Sun Newspapers (New Jersey) story as Cherry Hill natives returning as national touring artists in the “Raising Dignity Cabaret” benefit show. The Oklahoma Gazette ran a feature story about Nikolas Thompson (MM Music Composition ’19) and his music career. Collin O’Neill (BM Music Theater ’19) returned to the city to perform Jerry Jubilee in the nationally touring musical “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Molly Eder (BS Dance Management ’19) performed in the Chicago Tap Theatre’s “For the Love of Tap.”
Gabriella Enriquez (BM Music Theater ’19) starred as Ana Maria in the Fort Worth Opera production of “Zorro.” Morgan Wanamaker (BS Dance Management ’20) was named arena event coordinator for the 13,000-seat Gas South Arena in Duluth, Georgia, near Atlanta. She joins Jordan Hopkins Douglas (BS Dance Management ’15), who serves as arena event manager. Littleton “Taz” Ellett (JD ’21) joined the Hall Estill law firm. Hae Young Cha (MP Physician Assistant Studies ’21) began her career as a family medicine provider at Variety Care Straka Terrace.
Laura Leigh Turner (BM Music Theater ’19) is starring in the upcoming film “Identity Crisis.”
Photos provided
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ALUMNI
Partnership of Light and Sound Lighting design students in the School of Theatre and composition students in the Bass School of Music collaborated on a multimedia outdoor concert of light and sound on the BOK Park Plaza building in downtown Oklahoma City on Oct. 30.
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Oklahoma City University Alumni Magazine
Scan QR Code to view performances of “Lights on Steel.”
C R E AT I V E O C U
Art professors and students help clients of the Homeless Alliance’s day shelter create screen-printed art.
Homeless Alliance Takes A Creative Leap The School of Visual Arts teamed up with the Homeless Alliance in the fall on a program titled “Fresh stART.” Art professors and students went to the Homeless Alliance’s day shelter to help its clients create original screen-printed art. The artwork was displayed in an exhibition at DNA Galleries. The Homeless Alliance is an Oklahoma City charity that provides housing and services for people who are experiencing homelessness. “Creative OCU” highlights one branch of the university’s mission — to create — by showcasing creative student work, providing a glimpse into the unique studies and projects undertaken at Oklahoma City University.
Photos by Ian Weston
Spring 2022
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Common Thread Oklahoma City University has partnered with William & Lauren of Oklahoma City to design three exclusive, high-quality apparel and accessory collections. Choose from the OCU Identity Collection, with the shooting star logo harkening back to the Gold Star Memorial Building; the OCU Legacy Collection with the classic Goldbug mascot; and the OCU Chapel Collection, honoring designer György Kepes’ stained glass windows. Options include socks, ties, scarves, headbands, tote bags, pocket squares, and suits lined in custom OCU fabrics. Ten percent of every sale from the OCU Chapel Collection benefits the Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel window restoration. Wear your OCU pride: okcu.edu/OCUapparel
OCU Chapel Collection socks
