UNIVER S ITY UPDATE
Naifeh Garden
Heralds Spring “Earth laughs in flowers.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
Arguably the most beautiful, and unarguably the best-scented, area on the Oklahoma City University campus is the Robert & Jeaneen Naifeh Student Garden next to the Wanda L. Bass Music Center. The oasis on the northwest side of the building features bright pink tulips, white and blue pansies, knockout roses, hyacinth, jonquils and holly shrubs. The garden contains approximately 1,500 bulbs and hundreds of pansies. Being below ground level gives the space a feel of getting away from distractions while holding in the smells of spring. Cathy Leichter led the effort to landscape the garden, which began in the fall with some of the planting. Leichter gathered funds and insight from Louise Bass, daughter of the building’s namesake; the family of Jenee Lister, daughter of the garden’s namesake; Ann Simmons Alspaugh; Kurt and Cathy Leichter; and President Robert and First Lady Jan Henry. All of the landscaping was made possible through private donations—no university funding was required. Leichter said the garden will change with the seasons, and a water feature will likely be installed in the center. She was pleased to hear that students have been making use of the space as an inspirational place to practice their instruments. “We both (Louise) feel like Wanda Bass is smiling from above when she looks at this garden. We were excited and thrilled to be able to do this,” Leichter added.
Enrollment Services
Outdoor Laboratory
Oklahoma City University has named Kevin Windholz as vice president for enrollment management. Windholz will assume the role May 29. “Kevin Windholz brings experience in domestic and international recruitment and tremendous energy to our vibrant enrollment services program,” said President Robert Henry. Windholz spent the last five years as associate director of admission for Saint Louis UniKevin Windholz versity. He previously worked in admissions at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fort Hays State University in Kansas and a Master of Liberal Studies degree with an emphasis in higher education research from Washburn University.
The biology department at Oklahoma City University was awarded a grant from the Oklahoma City Zoo and the Oklahoma Zoological Society to help fund a project at its Gamble-Buchanan Outdoor Laboratory. OCU is in the third year of a biodiversity inventory at the outdoor lab, which is a 27-acre urban wilderness area located near the intersection of South Council Road and Airport Road. Biology professor Tony Stancampiano is the lead investigator for the project. This year the inventory process involves a survey of mammals and other organisms. Surveys are conducted along established transects, as well as random sites throughout the landscape. Plant, bird, herpetological and fish surveys have already been conducted at the outdoor laboratory. The $2,500 grant is part of the zoological society’s Conservation Action Now program, which was established to support imperiled species, habitats and their surrounding communities through conservation, research and education. OCU received the grant last year for the second phase of the project. Researchers anticipate completion of baseline surveys by spring 2013. The department will continue doing surveys to monitor floral and faunal changes.
VP Selected
Project Boosted by Grant
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