Search Committee

The 33-member committee represents the broad and diverse constituencies of OSU and the System.  The composition of the committee includes representatives of faculty, staff, administration, students, City of Stillwater, OSU Foundation, Cowboy Athletics, each of the branch campuses, OSU-Tulsa Trustees, Regents, and alumni who are leaders in business, agriculture, and government.

Brief biographical information for each member of the Search Committee (listed alphabetically) follows.

Dr. Joe Alexander represents the Administration on the Search Committee.  He is President of the OSU Center for Innovation and Economic Development, Inc., and serves in the Cabinet of Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry as Secretary of Science and Technology.  Dr. Alexander is a Professor in Veterinary Clinical Medicine and was formerly Dean of the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine for over 15 years.

Mr. Calvin Anthony is a Regent representative on the Search Committee.  He is a pharmacist and agribusinessman in Stillwater, Oklahoma.  The immediate past Chairman of the National OSU Alumni Association Board of Directors, Regent Anthony is a former Mayor of Stillwater and State Representative.

Dr. Raj Basu represents Oklahoma State University-Tulsa on the Search Committee.  He has been in his current position of Vice President for Academics at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa for six years and prior to that served on the Stillwater campus.  He is an Associate Professor of Management.

Ms. Jolie Britt is a Student representative on the Search Committee.  She was a Freshman Representative Council Coordinator on the Student Government Association Executive Committee at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater.  She is a junior from Oklahoma City double majoring in Biochemistry and Management.

Mr. Doug Burns is a Regent representative on the Search Committee and is serving as the Chairman of the Committee.  He resides in Norman and is a practicing attorney in Oklahoma primarily focused on oil and gas interests.  He is serving his second term on the OSU/A&M Board of Regents.  Mr. Burns received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Oklahoma State University in 1975, received a Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1978, and received a Master of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 1981.

Mr. Gary Clark is an At-Large representative on the Search Committee.  He is Vice President and General Counsel of the OSU Foundation.  He is an OSU alumnus, past President of the Oklahoma Bar Association, and former member of the OSU/A&M Board of Regents.

Mr. John Clerico is an At-Large representative on the Search Committee.  He is chairman and a registered financial adviser at ChartMark Investments, Inc., in Tulsa, and serves on the board of directors of Community Health Systems, Inc., headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee; Global Industries, Inc., of Houston, Texas; and Educational Development Corp. of Tulsa.  Among Mr. Clerico’s donations to OSU is the refurbishing of what is now the Beverly Clerico Plaza at the entry to the Edmon Low Library.

Mr. Sam Combs, III, represents the Alumni on the Search Committee.  He is President of ONEOK Distribution Companies responsible for the operations of all of ONEOK’s natural gas distribution companies—Kansas Gas Service, Texas Gas Service, and Oklahoma Natural Gas Company.  He is the incoming President of the OSU Alumni Association.  He holds a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering from Oklahoma State University, graduated from the Executive Program at the University of Michigan’s Business School, and has completed advanced studies at Harvard University.

Mr. Steve Doede represents Oklahoma State University-Okmulgee on the Search Committee.  He is Division Chair of Automotive & HEVI Technologies at Oklahoma State University-Okmulgee.  Mr. Doede holds a Bachelor of Science degree and has been with OSU-Okmulgee for 20 years.

Dr. Jeff Edwards is a Faculty representative on the Search Committee.  He is an Assistant Professor in the College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources at Oklahoma State University.  Dr. Edwards is a Small Grains Extension Specialist in the Plant and Soil Sciences Department.

Ms. Nancy Payne Ellis is an At-Large representative on the Search Committee.  She is Co-Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Heritage Trust Company, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  She has been inducted into the College of Human Environmental Sciences Hall of Fame and the OSU Alumni Hall of Fame, has an OSU residential life facility named in her honor, has been recognized as “Philanthropist of the Year” by the Women in Philanthropy, and was the first woman Chair of the OSU Foundation.

Mr. Ken Greiner represents the OSU Foundation on the Search Committee.  He is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the OSU Foundation.  He is Retired Chairman of Grace Living Centers headquartered in Oklahoma City.

Mr. Joe Hall is a Regent representative on the Search Committee.  He is from Elk City, Oklahoma.  He is owner and CEO of Joe D. Hall General Contractors, LLC, and is involved in construction/engineering and real estate development in western Oklahoma as well as ranching operations. Mr. Hall received a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Oklahoma State University in 1983.

Mr. Jay Helm is a Regent representative on the Search Committee.  He is a real estate developer and manager in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  He received a Bachelor of Science degree in General Business from Oklahoma State University in 1970.  Mr. Helm served as Chairman of the Board of Regents from April 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005.

Dr. James D. Hess represents the OSU Center for Health Sciences on the Search Committee.  He is Vice President for Healthcare Administration, Chief Operating Officer-OSU Medical Authority, and Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at the OSU Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma.  He has served OSU in several capacities, including that of Vice President of Administrative Services/COO at OSU-Tulsa.

Mr. Mark Hodges is an At-Large representative on the Search Committee.  He is Executive Director of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission.  With the exception of two years in Oregon, he has been with the Oklahoma Wheat Commission for the last 11 years.

Mr. Mike Holder is a representative of Cowboy Athletics on the Search Committee.  He is Vice President for Athletic Programs and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater.  He was previously Head Golf Coach at OSU for 32 years and holds a BS and MBA from OSU.

Mr. Rex Horning represents the Alumni on the Search Committee.  He is President of the Stillwater Division of Stillwater National Bank & Trust Company.  He is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and is active in many Stillwater, OSU, and State of Oklahoma community activities.

Mr. Kirk Jewell represents the OSU Foundation on the Search Committee.  He is President and CEO of the OSU Foundation and former National President of the OSU Alumni Association.

Mr. Michael P. Johnson is the representative of the OSU-Tulsa Trustees on the Search Committee.  He is Senior Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer at Williams Companies, Inc., and also Chairman of the Board for the Williams Foundation.  He received a bachelor’s in business administration in 1969 from North Carolina Central University and is a graduate of the Advanced Executive Program from the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University.

Mr. Edward F. Keller is an At-Large representative on the Search Committee.  He was previously Chairman and CEO of JP Morgan Chase, Oklahoma; member of the OSU/A&M Board of Regents; OSU Alumni Association Hall of Fame recipient, and a member of the OSU-Tulsa Board of Trustees.  He is an OSU College of Business graduate.

Dr. Katherine Kocan is a Faculty representative on the Search Committee.  She is Regents Professor and Walter R. Sitlington Endowed Chair in Food Animal Research at OSU.  She received her PhD from OSU in 1979 and has served on the OSU faculty since 1980.

Mr. Andrew Mathiasen is a Student representative on the Search Committee.  He is a fourth year student at OSU majoring in Aerospace Engineering from Arlington, Texas.  He has served on the OSU Student Government Association at Oklahoma State University as Senate Chair.

Mr. Ross McKnight is an At-Large representative on the Search Committee.  He is a Texas rancher, banker, and oilman who heads up both RoMac Oil and RoMac Gas companies and is CEO of bank holding companies that own banks in 22 Texas and Oklahoma communities.  He takes leadership roles to benefit his alma mater, OSU, where he received an OSU Animal Science degree in 1971.  He was inducted into the OSU Alumni Hall of Fame in 2006.

The Honorable Roger McMillian represents the City of Stillwater on the Search Committee.  He is the current Mayor of Stillwater and an OSU alumnus.  He is President of The Bank NA.

Ms. Leslie Miller represents the Staff on the Search Committee.  She is a Senior Editor of Fire Protection Publications at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, and has been on the OSU staff since 1988.

Dr. Robert Miller is a Faculty representative on the Search Committee as the Chair of the OSU Faculty Council.  He is a Regents Professor and Head of the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater.

Ms. Jessica Moore is a Student representative on the Search Committee.  She is from Fairfax, Oklahoma, and is majoring in Landscape Architecture with an emphasis in Design.  Jessica is the former President of the Native American Student Association and is active with the Multicultural Greek Council and many campus organizations.  She holds the title of Miss Indian Oklahoma for 2007-2008.

Mr. Jason Pogue represents the Staff Advisory Council on the Search Committee.  He is Senior Financial Coordinator in the Office of the Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater.  Jason graduated from OSU in 1994 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and in 2000 with a Master’s of Business Administration.  He came to OSU as a freshman Lew Wentz Scholar in 1989 and began working full time in the Vice President’s office in 1995.

Ms. Ronda Reece represents Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City on the Search Committee.  She is Director of Institutional Effectiveness at Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City and also Chair of the OSU-Oklahoma City Staff Council.

Mr. Carl Segura is the Graduate Student representative on the Search Committee.  He is a Master’s student in the Educational Leadership program with a concentration in College Student Development.  He works as the Bennett Hall Director at OSU.  Prior to his time at OSU Carl served on the Connecticut State University System Board of Trustees and has voted on the appointments of four sitting presidents and the chancellor of the system.

Dr. Betty Simkins is a Faculty representative on the Search Committee.  She joined OSU in 1997 as an assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor in 2002, and was appointed as the Williams Companies Professor of Business in 2007.  She is an OSU alumnus and parent of a son and daughter currently enrolled at OSU.

Mr. David Terry is an At-Large representative on the Search Committee.  He is Senior Vice President of Bank of Western Oklahoma in Weatherford, Oklahoma.

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Dr. Carolyn Hernandez will serve the Search Committee in an advisory capacity as the Affirmative Action Officer.

Dr. W. Douglas Wilson, as the Executive Secretary of the Board of Regents, is an ex officio member of the Search Committee.