UNIVERSITY
OSU ’ s Hargis Set to Retire
Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis will retire July 1 after leading the university for 13 years .
His tenure has been marked by record-setting
fundraising , enrollment growth , new and enhanced facilities , and a growing national reputation for academic and research advances that the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce can highlight while recruiting companies to Stillwater .
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COMMERCE | 2021 P r o fi l e Magazine of the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce
“ The City of Stillwater is a real asset to the university ,” Hargis said . At the same time , “ the university is a tremendous source of employees and knowledge ” for the community .
Bringing commercial airline service back to Stillwater via American Airlines was a major partnership between the city and the university that was years in the making .
Justin Minges , president of the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce , is grateful for all Hargis has done over his tenure . “ President Hargis will be missed , but he will have a lasting impact on our community ,” Minges said . “ He continually reminds us what is good for the university is good for Stillwater and what is good for Stillwater is good for the university . His leadership helped strengthen the ‘ town and gown ’ relationship for many years to come .”
Hargis became OSU ’ s 18th president on March 10 , 2008 , and is the second OSU graduate to lead the university .
“ We have had the time of our lives . Ann and I have absolutely loved it . It exceeded all of our expectations ,” Hargis said . “ We just want to thank the entire Cowboy nation for the love and support that you have provided us . I know the best is yet to come for Oklahoma State .”
Hargis announced his retirement in October during a regular meeting of the OSU / A & M Board of Regents in the Performance Hall at The
LEFT : Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis , accompanied by his wife Ann , waves goodbye following his retirement announcement , Friday , Oct . 23 , 2020 . MIDDLE : The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts at Oklahoma State University opened with a performance by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra on Oct . 11 , 2019 . RIGHT : Burns Hargis ( right to left ), Ann Hargis , and T . Boone Pickens celebrate the Branding Success campaign — which raised more than $ 1.3 billion — during a homecoming football game Nov . 15 , 2014 .
McKnight Center for the Performing Arts on the Stillwater campus , one of several significant new facilities built during his presidency .
Under Hargis ’ leadership , OSU has flourished , including the university ’ s first-ever billion-dollar fundraising campaign called Branding Success , which raised more than $ 1.3 billion . In all , OSU has raised $ 2.2 billion during the Hargis years . The university has developed more than 2.5 million square feet of new or enhanced facilities on its Stillwater and Tulsa campuses . Enrollment growth includes five of the largest freshman classes in OSU ’ s history . Twenty four percent of all graduates over OSU ’ s 130-year history have occurred during his tenure . OSU has increased Alumni Association membership by nearly 30 percent and added nearly 82,000 new donors .