Former OSU art professor gives $250,000 to encourage students to become art educators
Gift will establish art education professorship in the College of Education
(STILLWATER, Okla. July 15, 2008) - Oklahoma State University announced a $250,000 gift from Dr. Audrey Oaks of Oklahoma City to create an art education professorship at OSU. Once fully matched dollar-for-dollar by T. Boone Pickens' $100 million chair match commitment, as well as the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the gift will have the impact of $1 million in endowed funds.
A former OSU art professor and art education advocate, Oaks received a Ed.D. from OSU in 1971. The gift will create the Audrey E. Oaks Professorship in Art Education located within the College of Education.
"The response from our alumni and friends has exceeded our wildest expectations," said OSU President Burns Hargis. "Inspired by Boone Pickens' astounding generosity, donors answered the call to make a lasting difference and open a new and exciting chapter at OSU. We sincerely appreciate what Audrey is doing for OSU academics and research."
In order to take full advantage of the state's dollar-for-dollar match, and make the most significant impact on OSU academics, Oaks made the gift prior to the July 1 change in the state's endowed chair matching program. This gift is part of the $66.8 million in endowed faculty gifts OSU announced recently.
"I have enjoyed and profited personally from art education all of my life, yet I think it is an area in danger of being eliminated from school curriculums," said Oaks. "I would like others to have the opportunity to enjoy art education and am hopeful this professorship will entice a person interested in the field to teach and encourage others to incorporate art education in their curriculums."
Jean Van Delinder, chair of the OSU Faculty Council, said, "OSU is poised for growth and further prominence but to realize its full potential we must continue to attract and retain top scholars and researchers. These chairs highlight the important role that scholarship and teaching play at Oklahoma State University, and they are made possible through the generous support of donors who value excellence in scholarship and want to help OSU continue to nurture a strong faculty."
Endowed professorships and chairs are academic designations which provide support for faculty salary, graduate assistantships, equipment and research needs, as well as other support. These endowed faculty positions allow a university to attract and retain the best and the brightest academic minds in the world.
Oklahoma's only university with a statewide presence, Oklahoma State University is a five-campus, public land-grant educational system that improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation, and the world through integrated, high-quality teaching, research and outreach. OSU has more than 32,000 students across its system and nearly 21,000 on its Stillwater campus; with students from all 50 states and around 110 nations. Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 200,000 students who have made a lasting impact on Oklahoma and the world.
The Oklahoma State University Foundation serves as the private fundraising organization for OSU, as designated by the OSU Regents. Its mission is to unite donor and university passions and priorities to achieve excellence. For more information access the Foundation's Web site at OSUgiving.com.
