Oklahoma City University Annual Report—Fiscal Year 2023 by Oklahoma City University

Fiscal Year 2023 ANNUAL REPORT

One Student at a Time Creating Boundless Opportunities

A Message from Dr. Kenneth R. Evans, President

Empowering Every Student

D E A R O C U S U P P O RT E RS,

At Oklahoma City University, we are all about helping students find and celebrate their identities. Here, they can break out of the stereotypes that defined them in high school. Here, they aren’t defined by their major. OCU offers a robust array of academic minors and student organizations, giving them opportunities to gain deep experience in a variety of arenas and hone traits such as servant-leadership. Our small class size allows professors to tailor the education students receive, and students are surrounded by staff members and administrators who are committed to their success—they won’t fall through the cracks. We encourage our students to embrace the fullness of their identities while discovering their passions. In our supportive community, they discover themselves among friends and develop into self-assured leaders who can ultimately take the stage alone, backed by the OCU team cheering them on. Here, we truly approach higher education one student at a time. We are also committed to ensuring the university’s success well into the future. A group of stakeholders underwent the rigorous process of strategic planning this past academic year, and we have outlined goals to ensure our financial health, implement innovative learning experiences, pursue strategic partnerships within the community, ensure OCU is welcoming and enriching, and more. Key indicators of our success include providing students with experiential learning, increasing student retention, and achieving high rates of job and graduate school placement. We are also

committed to increasing enrollment and fundraising, along with leveraging partnerships and technology, to support OCU’s financial health and sustainability and better serve our students. We are already off to a great start: This fall, we have the highest freshman enrollment in 13 years, and this past fiscal year, we raised the most donations in 13 years. We continue to build out our online programs to meet students where they are and provide a top-notch OCU education in every modality. Our Master of Science in computer science degree continues to be our fastest-growing program, and on a related note, our international enrollment has rebounded significantly. Our business degrees are also major draws internationally. New master’s degrees in community health, financial analytics and business analytics will continue to make OCU more attractive and enhance our academic portfolio. We are also adapting existing degrees to market needs to keep OCU graduates at the vanguard of their fields. Oklahoma City University is uniquely situated to provide a personalized education for every student and build programs and partnerships that give students on-the-ground experience and connections—plugging them into OCU’s strong network of supporters that make all of this possible. Thank you! Sincerely,

A Message from University Trustees

A Strong Year and Commitment to the Future Fiscal year 2023 was truly a banner year for Oklahoma City University. Fundraising was the best in 13 years, with notable gifts in business, music and nursing. Donations established new scholarships and professorships and supported emerging programs, including data analytics. We are also seeing substantial growth in fundraising at the grassroots level, with more donors and more gifts. OCU’s fourth annual Giving Day in April continued to build a strong base of new donors, representing a broad swath of supporters, from alumni and parents to community members and OCU employees. The event and its success have grown by leaps and bounds every year. At the same time nationwide, charitable giving is down and has not kept pace with inflation, and education has dropped to the third largest cause supported. As you will see on the following pages, donations make up about 13% of OCU’s annual budget. Although we are outperforming the national downward trend, we must continue to support our beloved OCU financially and through our networks. We know—and Giving Day has demonstrated—that supporters are much more likely to respond to a friend’s suggestion to support a cause than an organization’s request. At a time of large classes elsewhere, OCU is committed to an education where professors, students and advisers know one another well and the entire strength of the university supports every student. Graduates leave OCU ready to take on their industries as servant-leaders, well-equipped and chock full of passion. We want to thank you—OCU’s top supporters—for paving the way for students and the university to thrive. This success and progress would not be possible without you. In turn, we remain committed at the highest level to stewarding your gifts through prudent and conservative investment practices. In this report, you will gain an overview of the university’s finances, including its endowment performance. We oversee OCU’s endowment to ensure it will produce earnings in perpetuity to fund scholarships, professorships and more. Non-endowed annual gifts also provide a significant impact, creating a margin for excellence as opportunities emerge while also covering the needs of the university, from maintenance to microscopes—all important in adhering to excellence. Thank you again for your support that is so essential and inspiring. O CU T RU ST E E JE NE E NA IFE H LIST E R Board of Trustees Development and Strategic Planning Committee Chair

Jenee Naifeh Lister (top) and Deborah S. Fleming (bottom)

O CU T RU ST E E DE BOR A H S. FLE MING Board of Trustees Investment Committee Chair

$14.2 Million

13-Year High

53%

In cash and pledges raised for OCU, the most in 13 years. July 1, 2022–June 30, 2023

For the number of first-year students attending OCU in fall 2023, at 376

Increase in international students— to 257—from fall 2022 to fall 2023

$16,329

90%

95%

Average discounted undergraduate tuition, Fall 2022

Of undergraduate students received scholarships from OCU, Fall 2022

Of undergraduate students received academic, merit, performance or need-based financial aid, Fall 2022

Fiscal Year 2023

University Finances

Endowment

The market value of endowment funds, including endowments held by other entities for the benefit of OCU, was $186,421,630 as of June 30, 2023—an all-time high for the university. This report highlights those funds directly managed by OCU trustees through the Oklahoma Methodist Foundation: $85.9 million in fiscal year 2023. After a challenging year for the markets in fiscal year 2022, the markets rebounded in 2023 in the face of rising interest rates, stubborn inflation and continued concerns surrounding the possibility of an economic recession. U.S. large-cap stocks in the S&P 500

Index led the way, up 19.6%. International developed market stocks in the MSCI EAFE Index gained 18.8%. While bonds have recovered recently, it was a difficult year as a whole due to rising interest rates and inflationary pressure. Bonds in the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index were down 0.9% for the year. Our generous and faithful donors continue to provide a significant margin of excellence for students and the faculty, staff and programs that support them. Your philanthropy makes a profound, positive impact and continues to help make Oklahoma

City University the best educational institution possible. Many of our donors choose to direct their gifts toward endowed funds. OCU’s endowment, including endowment held by other entities for the benefit of OCU, is made up of 675 individual funds designated to provide perpetual financial support for scholarships, faculty professorships and chairs, the various schools, library resources, and other endowed programs. Of these funds, 584 are held by OCU, 69 by the Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation, and 22 by Oklahoma City Community Foundation.

* The fiscal year 2023 audit is in progress; audited financial information for fiscal year 2023 will be posted when complete on okcu.edu.

Unrestricted Gross Operating Revenues

Fundraising Overview Cash and New Pledges

$102.7 million | FY22

15 12

Millions of Dollars

9 6 3 0 ’19 Clockwise from top of graph: Tuition and Fees (Gross) • 77.3% Net Assets Released from Restriction • 13.2% Auxiliary Enterprises (Housing and dining revenues) • 5.8% Unrestricted Gifts & Other Contributions,

’20

’21

’22

’23*

Including the OCU Fund • 1.1%

Capital (Building)

Operating (OCU Fund)

Endowment

Programs

Return on Investments Designated for Operations • 0.7%

Excellence Fund

Other Sources (Educational department sales, service revenues, and miscellaneous income) • 1.9%

Endowment Growth Millions of Dollars 200 160

Net Assets Released from Restriction

120

Sources of Restricted Funds Used During FY22

Includes Funds Received During Current and Prior Years but Used During Current Year

’14

’15

’16

’17

’18

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

Net Assets Millions of Dollars 250 200 150 100 Clockwise from top of graph: Endowments (Distributions) • 45.4% Grants (Federal, state, and private) • 24.6% Gifts (Restricted, non-endowed contributions) • 30.0%

50 0 ’18

’19

’20

’21

’22

Endowment Management Oklahoma City University is committed to prudent, time-tested investment strategies and fiscal policies. The Board of Trustees Investment Committee is charged with overseeing its funds and measuring the returns they produce against nationally recognized standards and metrics for investment performance. The Board of Trustees Investment Committee actively monitors the financial markets to control risk and evaluate exposure for all asset classes. The Oklahoma Methodist Foundation serves as the advisor and record keeper, and Wespath Institutional Investments serves as investment manager to the committee.

In managing the endowment, the university seeks to balance the dual objectives of enhancing the future purchasing power of endowment funds and meeting current spending needs. The endowment is invested with a long-term horizon to ensure that it will grow at a rate above inflation, while providing a stable stream of income to support the purposes for which its funds were created. Endowment growth is due not only to the generosity of thousands of alumni, friends, corporations and foundations through the years, but also to the careful stewardship provided by the Board of Trustees.

Total Endowment

Endowment Assets by Purpose

$186.42 million | FY23*

$85.9 million | FY23*

OCU Endowment Managed by the Oklahoma Methodist Foundation • 46.04% Oklahoma Methodist Foundation Endowment for the Benefit of OCU • 50.82%

Scholarships • 57.71%

Other Private Foundations • 3.13%

Other • 28.52%

Academic Professorships & Chairs • 13.77%

Endowment Assets by Department/School $85.9 million | FY23* Clockwise from top of graph:

Music • 15.78%

Alumni • 0.09%

Nursing • 2.42%

Arts & Sciences • 10.47%

Religion • 9.74%

Athletics • 2.15% Business • 18.36%

St. Paul School of Theology • 0.12%

Dance & Entertainment • 1.72%

Student Aid • 14.08%

Law • 16.58%

Theatre • 1.14%

Library • 0.47%

University-Church Relations • 0.57% Other • 6.32%

* The fiscal year 2023 audit is in progress; audited financial information for fiscal year 2023 will be posted when complete on okcu.edu.

OCU’s directly managed endowment portfolio of $85,852,612 was composed of these asset classes as of June 30, 2023. The guiding principle of OCU’s consolidated endowment program is that funds should be managed so that a gift today will fund a donor’s objective in perpetuity. + The spending policy for OCU’s Endowment is 5% of the average market value of the endowment for the previous 20 quarters (five-year rolling average). This rolling, multi-year average helps to provide more predictable spending budgets. Distribution for the 2022–23 fiscal year was $3,509,021.

100

0 ’19

’20

’21

’22

Millions of Dollars

Asset Class Overview

Millions of Dollars

Assets & Distribution Policy+

’23*

Assets Under Management Distributions from Assets Under Management

Broad Asset Allocation

Detail Asset Allocation

OCU Endowment | $85.9 million | FY23*

OCU Endowment | $85.9 million | FY23* Clockwise from top of graph: Cash • 3.7% U.S. Equity Funds • 34.4% International Equity Funds • 28.8% Fixed Income Funds • 22.8% Inflation Protection Funds • 8.8%

Equities • 64.7%

Alternatives • 0.6%

Alternatives • 1.5%

Mineral Interests • 0.9%

Fixed Income • 33.8%

Investment Performance* 12

Net of Fees | As of June 30, 2023

The historical returns presented herein represent the actual historical returns of the OCU Endowment, which reflect the deduction of fees charged by third parties. The information in this document was obtained from sources believed to be reliable; however, accuracy is not guaranteed. Historical returns are not indicative of future performance.

8 6

Percentage

Notes

2 0 1 Year OCU Endowment

3 Year

5 Year

10 Year

Lipper Median

35% S&P 500 / 25% MSCI EAFE / 40% US Intermediate

1 Lipper Median returns from the Lipper mutual fund universe for balanced funds in the asset class category. As of 7/17/23, the universe consisted of 4,053 peers. Source: Wilshire Associates, Lipper, and Wespath. 2 Historical returns are time-weighted. Returns greater than one year are annualized. 3 Past performance is no guarantee of future returns.

New Endowments BY L ISA L IT T RE L L

Dr. John M. Davis Endowed Scholarship Dr. John M. Davis, a psychologist and psychology professor at Texas State University, established this scholarship with a $1 million gift to OCU. Davis grew up on a farm in Oklahoma and attended public school in the small town of Yale. He received scholarships to OCU in 1962 as a freshman majoring in physics. As a sophomore, he changed his major to biology and as a junior, to psychology. Working full-time at the OCU School of Law library, he graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. He remained at OCU to complete a Master of Arts in teaching in 1967 while also studying German. Davis believes that higher education should be accessible

to deserving students regardless of their financial means. “Although I always loved learning, the wonderful faculty members and students at OCU greatly expanded my universe of interests, knowledge and aspirations,” Davis said. “I still reflect with fondness and gratitude on the impact that individual faculty members and students have had on my life.” The scholarship will benefit students in the Petree College of Arts & Sciences majoring in psychology, biology, modern languages, chemistry, physics or religion. First-generation college students and students demonstrating financial need are prioritized for scholarship awards.

A.W. Martin Jr. and Annie Beatrice Martin Endowed Scholarship Fund This scholarship was created to continue A.W. (Bill) and Bea Martin’s legacy of activism and dedication to service at the intersection of education, social justice and community. The couple had long careers in education. Bill Martin was an OCU professor and the acting dean of the Wimberly School of Religion from 1981 to 1998, and Bea Martin taught in several schools, most notably the Navajo Methodist Mission School in New Mexico. They met in Nashville at a sit-in for civil rights and continued their activism throughout their lives. Bill Martin was one of the founders and an early chairman of Amnesty International in Oklahoma City. The couple worked tirelessly for the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the

Death Penalty and received a lifetime service award from the coalition. They both actively supported the Reconciling Ministries Network and Methodist Federation for Social Action and participated in committees that petitioned the General Conference of the United Methodist Church for LGBTQ+ acceptance. This scholarship is designed to provide a matching scholarship for student(s) who receive the existing World House Scholars Program tuition reward, are engaged in the World House Scholars international education travel experience or participate in service-learning projects with local partners focused on social justice and strengthening communities.

Guy and Faye Millard Endowed Scholarship Fund This scholarship was established by Mary Millard to honor her parents-in-law, Guy and Faye Millard, who were lifelong Methodists. Guy was a Methodist minister at Camp Gruber, an infantry training base in Braggs, Oklahoma, and managed a Methodist Service Center called “The Wigwam” for the U.S. Army during World War II. Guy and Faye’s son, Glenn—Mary’s late husband—served as OCU’s Vice President of Univer-

sity-Church Relations and retired in 2001. Glenn was also involved in developing Camp Cavett, a camp for children with chronic illnesses. This scholarship will provide financial assistance to United Methodist students. Those with financial need—and especially those with emergency financial situations—will receive preference.

Wayne T. Craney Endowed Scholarship Wayne T. Craney attended graduate school at OCU and received his MBA in 1975 while stationed at Tinker Air Force Base. The GI Bill funded his education. Craney appreciates the educational assistance he received for his graduate

degree and wants to pay it forward and provide that same assistance for business graduate students now. His scholarship will benefit MBA students who demonstrate community service and engagement.

Ronald Grant Jacob Achievement Scholarship Ronald Grant Jacob graduated from OCU with a Bachelor of Science in business in 1962. He worked long hours at Otasco, a Tulsa home and auto store, to pay for all of his college expenses and maintained top grades throughout. He advanced through the company even while he was in college. He lived frugally with the goal of financial independence. Jacob went on to earn an MBA from the University of Tulsa. He believed hard work and education were the

keys to a fulfilling life. Jacob retired from Otasco after 30 years and became a professor and director of the Small Business Institute at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He retired from teaching 10 years later with tenure. This scholarship will be awarded to second-year students pursuing business degrees who are U.S. citizens and have financial need.

Josephine Freede Endowed Professorship in Instrumental Music Created by the Freede family in memory of Josephine “Jose” Freede, this gift creates an endowed instrumental professorship in the Wanda L. Bass School of Music. Freede was a classically trained pianist. “She understood the inspirational and artistic value of classical music, as well as its ability to enrich the lives of everyone who heard it,” her daughter, Margaret Freede, said. Jose Freede valued and gave generously to the arts, as well as local theaters and education. During the 70th anniversary of the Oklahoma City Orches-

tra League, she was honored at the Maestro’s Ball for her service to the league and the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. The Josephine Freede Endowed Professorship in Instrumental Music will support the training and education of future music educators, allowing them to share their talents with OCU students. The recipient of the endowment, which will be selected by the music school dean, must have a record of excellence in performance and teaching; preference is for a violin professorship.

Josephine Wyndham, Margaret Wyndham, and Catherine Annette Freede Professorship in Gerontology Dr. Margaret Freede established this endowed professorship in gerontology in the Kramer School of Nursing. Named to honor both her mother and recently departed sister, the Josephine Wyndham, Margaret Wyndham, and Catherine Annette Freede Professorship in Gerontology was established to celebrate the legacy of the Freede family’s work to advance health care in Oklahoma. All three women work or worked in health care-related professions: Jose Freede received her Charter Society in Physiotherapy degree before training at an orthopedic hospital in England; Margaret Freede managed several clinical trial sites and partnered

with major pharmaceutical companies to help gastroenterology patients with autoimmune diseases gain access to new medications; and Catherine Freede worked as an orthopedic surgical nurse and physician’s assistant alongside her father, Henry, for nearly 50 years. Catherine Freede’s sudden passing in fall 2022 makes this gift even more poignant, and this professorship will forever honor her memory. The nursing school dean will choose the gerontology professorship recipient, looking for nursing and teaching excellence and a preference for a specialty in gerontology, with an additional preference for candidates who also have experience in rheumatology.

The Business of Innovation BY K AT E DOWNING

Clockwise from above left: Meinders School of Business donors Herman Meinders, Ronnie K. Irani and Paul McLaughlin

Oklahoma City University’s Meinders School of Business celebrated major gifts from leadership donors this year: Herman Meinders, Ronnie K. Irani and Paul and Jonalee McLaughlin. Meinders’ latest $3 million gift is expanding undergraduate and graduate programs to reach more students and prepare them to meet the needs of a variety of industries. His donation is also funding two new academic programs focused on health care analytics and financial analytics, which will serve educational and community needs as consultancy providers. Meinders’ support will help students obtain industry internships, facilitate career connections for alumni and incentivize professors to engage robustly in scholarship, pedagogy, corporate partnerships and student engagement. “I always encourage OCU students, alumni and supporters to work hard, do good and set an example for those who come after,” Meinders said. “My hope is this gift can create a new generation of OCU students who can follow this example and eventually show their support for our university.” Irani gave $2 million to expand the school’s data analytics center, which he also supported with a $1 million gift in 2017. His gift will allow the Ronnie K. Irani Center for Data Analytics to hire a dedicated clinical faculty member, enhance community and corporate engagement, and increase the number of data and artificial intelligence seminars offered to students. “I firmly believe that data analytics and artificial intelligence are vital tools that can shape the future of business and beyond,” Irani said. “By investing in these areas, we can foster innovation and drive progress for the betterment of our city and state for generations to come.” The McLaughlins established the McLaughlin Family Athletics and Business Program Fund with a $1.5 million gift. Their support will help renovate the Sutton Baseball Facility, establish the Center for Banking and Real Estate, and create the McLaughlin Family Fellows program. The scholarship, in conjunction with the new center, will allow students to pursue degrees in banking, finance and real estate. Innovative curriculum will include experiential learning and professional development. These new programs and opportunities build on the school’s growth. Sri Beldona started as dean in July 2022, bringing energy and a distinguished résumé of experience. The school launched new online MBA concentrations this summer. “These visionary investments will shape the future of so many here at OCU,” Beldona said. “The new data analytics programs, the expanded Ronnie K. Irani Center for Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence, the new Center for Banking and Real Estate and the McLaughlin Family Fellows all raise the bar on the educational experience and the development of tomorrow’s leaders.”

Clara Luper and American Indian Scholars past and present gathered for a reception in fall 2022. Above: Danny Phan is second from right, standing, and Avony Green is second from right on the front row. Right: Avony Green.

Breaking Down ‘Invisible Walls’ The Legacy of the Clara Luper Scholarship Program BY R AYE L E E M cFE E

Throughout her life, Oklahoma civil rights leader Clara Luper remained committed to bettering her community, particularly at the intersections of public service and access to education. The Clara Luper Scholarship at OCU is awarded to first-year students from diverse backgrounds who demonstrate financial need. Recipients participate in the President’s Leadership Class. Devon Energy and OG&E, as well as the university itself, support the program, which uniquely positions students to break through invisible walls as lifelong servant-leaders. Danny Phan, BS ’13, studied finance and information technology on the scholarship. Being part of the program had a dramatic effect on his life that still resonates today, he said. “I was actually applying for a different scholarship with Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation,” Phan said. “But their board recommended I apply for the Clara Luper Scholarship, which I’m grateful for because I absolutely wouldn’t have been able to come to OCU without it.” He spoke fondly of his time on campus, serving as president of Kappa Sigma and a member of multicultural organizations, rather than worrying about paying for school. His favorite use of free time was mentoring peers and teaching religious education classes at his local church. “I will always associate service and leadership with OCU because that was my experience everywhere on campus,” he said. “And Clara Luper is the ultimate servant-leader to aspire to.” Even now, he integrates his OCU experience into his life. He is a system administrator for Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores and started his own IT consulting business, Phantom Tech. He remembers his favorite professor, Ken Carlton, sparking his love for IT. He scored his initial internship at Love’s through a chance encounter at a holiday party for business students, which opened the door to the career he always wanted. “OCU gave me the space to dream,” he said. “I made lifelong

connections that have helped me dramatically.” Phan gives back through Bright Society, OCU’s leadership giving group, in part because of that sentiment of community. “I want to support presidential priorities and whatever the university needs, and I love to see increased enrollment because I want others to discover OCU for the treasure it is.” Alumni and donor support helps create opportunities for current students, such as sophomore Avony Green, to find their own space to dream big. After graduating from Piedmont High School in Oklahoma, Green wasn’t sure where she would land before being awarded the Clara Luper Scholarship, but after she toured OCU’s campus, she knew she belonged. “The community on campus made me feel like I part of something bigger and that I was capable of achieving greatness,” Green said. “I probably wouldn’t have been able to come to OCU without this scholarship, and the reality of that makes me so grateful and honored.” Green also appreciated the OCU community’s positive energy that propelled her through freshman year. “I was surrounded by people who cared about me and wanted me to succeed. And my experience as a member of PLC was so fun! I loved doing service work and made lifelong friends that I wouldn’t have crossed paths with had the program not existed.” Green continues serving the OCU community through organizations such as Blue Goes Green and OCU’s recently reinstated chapter of the NAACP. She hopes to get her Bachelor of Arts in psychology and go on to a career in organizational psychology. “I want to teach adults how to use mentally healthy habits and start a wave of being kinder to ourselves in our own minds.” Clara Luper’s legacy lives on through OCU’s mission to foster a diverse, inclusive culture with local and global impact, and through the many students who have realized their own potential for greatness through her namesake scholarship.

“You, too, may surprise yourself with the impact you can have on others.” —John Davis

A Philanthropic Heart BY KO BY H A RRI N GTO N

Dr. John M. Davis and his wife, Carol, live a self-declared simple life on a farm and ranch near San Marcos, Texas. “I’ve always lived frugally,” Davis said when reflecting on his life and career, “and in our later years, Carol and I have been amazed with what we’ve achieved through saving and investing. That has allowed us to give back to things we care about.” Davis, who recently retired from a 50-year career in faculty and leadership positions at Texas State University, has established the Dr. John M. Davis Endowed Scholarship at OCU through a $1 million gift to the university. The scholarship will support students in the Petree College of Arts and Sciences, with first generation students and students demonstrating financial need prioritized for the award. Davis grew up the oldest of five children on a farm near the small town of Yale, Oklahoma. When he was 12, his parents gave him a heifer calf to start his own small cattle herd, to learn basic business management (income, expenses, profit, loss), and to begin saving and investing for college. Those lessons stuck. Davis was the first in his family to go to a four-year college, and he credits his mother with encouraging him to attend OCU. “When applying for college, I knew I needed scholarships, and I was amazed when the OCU representative came to my high school graduation to present an OCU scholarship to me,” Davis said.

Davis received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from OCU, an experience that broadened his understanding of the world and opened many doors. After spending three years studying and teaching in Germany, he earned master’s and doctoral degrees in experimental psychology from the University of Oklahoma. In 1974, he accepted a tenure-track position at Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University). He held various faculty and leadership positions there until his recent retirement. Davis met his wife, Carol, in Hong Kong in 1980 while on sabbatical from Texas State to conduct research on stress and coping with Vietnamese Boat People in a U.N. refugee camp. Carol, a Canadian, was teaching English in another U.N. refugee camp. They met in an elevator on the bottom floor, and they remember talking the entire way up to the top. They have been married since 1985. When asked what advice he would pass along to younger generations, Davis likes to remind young people to begin saving early. “Money can dribble away a little at a time. If you save money by living frugally, if you regularly invest even a little and remember that life is about people and relationships, not things, you too may surprise yourself with the impact you can have on others.” “Carol and I try to live a life of purpose with Christian faith, values and beliefs. We live by the rule of loving your neighbor as yourself, and we feel very blessed to be able to make a difference at OCU.”

Coach’s Legacy Lives On Scholarship Honors Parrack, Who Started OCU’s Basketball Prowess BY CH R IS MAXO N

To many, the definition of a life well-lived is not what one acquired or accumulated, but the impact one had on those around them. By any measure, Doyle Parrack served this world a cut above the rest. Thanks to the Doyle Parrack Scholarship, his life and legacy will continue to impact students for years to come. After a brief career in professional basketball, Parrack’s first coaching job came as the Oklahoma City University head men’s basketball coach and athletic director. That was 1947. For the next eight years, Parrack took a small club program into membership with the NCAA, and he led the team to four tournament berths in what is now known as “March Madness.” Before leaving OCU for the University of Oklahoma in 1955, Parrack mentored a couple of savvy players named Abe Lemons and Paul Hansen, who continued what Parrack started and lifted OCU’s program into one of the most storied in the country. It wasn’t just those two fellow legends who reaped the benefits of playing—and knowing—Parrack. Success on the court was just a small piece of what set the coach apart. Those who knew him best shared—and echoed—a genuine love and concern for his players. “At his funeral, there were a number of players whom he had coached, including a very large number from OCU,” said Parrack’s daughter, Linda Livingstone. “They shared so many stories about my dad, and the experiences they had playing for him. Those stories rarely had anything to do with the basketball or what they learned from him on the court. It was much more about the life lessons he taught them, and the way he helped them grow into productive citizens and young men who could make a contribution in society.” Some of those former players raised money together in 2007 to name the clock tower at the Meinders School of Business in his honor. Along with the tower, they started a scholarship to benefit the men’s basketball program. It began as an annual scholarship, but after significant contributions in the past year, the Doyle Parrack Scholarship is fully endowed and will be awarded to students in perpetuity.

Although Doyle Parrack was an Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State) student-athlete and graduate, and later a coach at OU and OSU, his family was instrumental in fundraising for the OCU scholarship. That connection to OCU remained strong through the years. “Growing up, I remember a lot of stories from my dad about his teams at OCU and his players,” said Jim Parrack, the coach’s son and a former OCU student. “What he was most proud of were the accomplishments of his ‘boys,’ as he called them. He was so proud of them and what they did—not just what they did on campus, but as men after they graduated.” In 1985, Doyle Parrack was inducted into the OCU Athletics Hall of Fame with a 137–71 record, four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and a third-place finish in the 1953 tourney’s Western Regional. In doing so, Oklahoma City defeated UCLA, coached by John Wooden, 55–53. Many more victories followed in the years at the two state schools, plus a stint with the Israeli National Team in 1972 and a twoyear stint back at OU as the women’s coach from 1978 to 1980. No matter the travels, one undeniable tie to Oklahoma City was always his wife, Charlotte, who bucked a trend among her brothers and sisters of attending Oklahoma A&M. She was elated to receive a scholarship and go to OCU. “As Doyle and I talked about our times at OCU, he would mention the boys he had brought in from small towns—boys who hadn’t really expected to go to college,” said Charlotte Parrack, who was married to Doyle Parrack for 56 years until his death in 2008. “They worked and made his reputation as a fine coach.” It was a reputation well-earned, and one that went both ways. So many of the players who learned and competed under Parrack made their own impact on others, strengthening the legacy that began with their coach. How appropriate that long after playing and coaching careers have ended, the Doyle Parrack Scholarship will continue to provide a competitive advantage for OCU men’s basketball.

Doyle Parrack and those he coached— Abe Lemons and Paul Hansen—lifted the OCU men’s basketball program into one of the most storied in the country.

Bright Society Members Lead the Way Emily Herman

Fostering OCU’s Supportive Community BY E TH A N Z A MBR A N O

Bold Moves. Bright Future. This is what defines Bright Society, Oklahoma City University’s leadership annual giving program. While all OCU Bright Society members share this sentiment, Emily Herman has adopted it in every part of her life. Herman is a 2010 theatre performance graduate and serves on the Alumni Advisory Board. She lives in Dallas with her husband, Michael, and works as an adjunct professor of business communications for the University of Texas at Dallas. Herman’s initial draw to OCU as a student was the conservatory approach to performing arts and the close-knit campus community. She was able to join an intentional community of artists, leaders and servant-minded individuals. While in school, Herman was on the rowing team and part of the Student Senate. In Herman’s fourth semester of college, the Disney College Program offered her an internship. She gladly accepted it, and because of the courage instilled by OCU, she was able and ready to move halfway across the country. At Disney, she saw how unique and supportive OCU was. She was able to take her classes remotely when remote learning was not yet an established practice. “I felt the kindness from my OCU professors,” Herman said. “Thank you, Judy Palladino and Disco Donna (Hodkinson), for getting me through!” She was able to learn more about the business world, which set her on the path to earn her master’s in business communication. Herman gives to OCU through Bright Society because she

believes in the mission and the work of her beloved university. She said she loves that “OCU is dedicated to developing young people as agile and productive members of society.” Herman sees and knows the importance of giving because she saw firsthand the benefits of scholarships that allowed her to pursue her passions and attend OCU. For her, giving back to OCU feels like the right thing to do—to pay it forward so more students can experience the support, growth and readiness that comes from an OCU education.

John and Ginger Veal

Nurturing Dreams, Igniting Futures BY ME GA N H ORNB E E K A LLE N

John and Ginger Veal’s OCU journey began when John began contemplating his post-U.S. Army retirement plans. The satellite MBA program at Fort Sill emerged as the perfect fit, aligning seamlessly with his aspirations. He went on to earn two OCU degrees, an MBA in 1996 and a Master of Science in accounting in 2018. What initially began as a pursuit of personal education soon blossomed into a deep-rooted connection to OCU’s inclusive and supportive environment. A pivotal moment

Dr. Talia Carroll

‘My Giving Matters’ Removing Barriers so Students Can Flourish BY A P RIL MA RC IS Z E WS KI

“Our students are phenomenal human beings with exceptional intellect and talent, and I am fortunate to get to work with and serve them.” That dedication to students drives Dr. Talia Carroll to create a welcoming environment in her role as OCU’s first vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, which she began in June 2020. “I made a commitment to myself, once selected for this inaugural role, to join Bright Society because I wanted to meaningfully support the critical needs on campus,” Carroll said. “OCU is an institutional gem in the heart of Oklahoma City.” She works to clear barriers to education so students can successfully choose OCU, stay in school and ultimately graduate. She remembers and still appreciates the donors who provided her with scholarships. “I will continue to give to OCU knowing that my giving matters.” In her work, Carroll supports OCU’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and access through services, programs and events. She also supports faculty in the classroom and works in concert with admissions to meaningfully engage prospective students, she said. “It is my hope that OCU continues to be a destination university where everyone feels they truly belong,” she said. Each fall, she leads freshmen in small-group discussions called “critical conversations” that speak to the cultural moment and student experience. When she engages with students, she tries to convey that she cares and that they matter. “What excites me is when I get to connect with our community—but also when folks have these ah-ha moments,” Carroll said. “When students are given the opportunity to engage and they’re excited about that opportunity, it’s transformational.”

occurred when they received a call from an OCU student, prompting them to become active annual donors. John and Ginger Veal found themselves participating in various campus activities and taking an active role in supporting the university’s students, eventually leading to the couple to join Bright Society. The Veals believe education can transform lives, and they’re motivated to uplift students. “We believe in promoting opportunities for students to continue their education,” John Veal said. “By donating to OCU, we are a part of the process of helping the dreams of our students become reality.” John Veal’s background, including his current roles as an adjunct professor and OCU Board of Trustee member, positions him as a mentor and guide, providing him a platform to share his professional insights and experiences with the next generation. John Veal most recently served as the District Director for the Oklahoma District Office of the U.S. Small

Business Administration until he retired this year. Beyond OCU, his dedication extends to volunteering with the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, the Oklahoma Association of Public Procurement and Opus Peace. Ginger Veal serves as the volunteer manager for Elara Caring Hospice, an endeavor deeply rooted in compassion and care. John and Ginger Veal see OCU thriving and continuing to provide a top-tier education to students from all walks of life. Their favorite OCU memory centers on Homecoming 2021. John Veal was interacting with students when they invited him to sit with them during the basketball game—an experience that encapsulates the warmth and camaraderie found in the OCU community. At OCU, John and Ginger Veal’s actions mirror their beliefs. Together they work to nurture dreams, ignite futures and foster a community where students flourish and transform the world.

From Pixels to Partnerships

The Rise and Reach of OCU Esports BY M ATT B U RK H O L DE R

Beneath the thriving ecosystem of Oklahoma City University’s Esports program pulses the visionary leadership of Connor Knudsen. Since arriving in 2022, Knudsen has blended a deep academic background with industry insights gained from roles at The Game Haus, Dexerto and significant coaching achieve-

ments. OCU Esports, under his direction, has swiftly positioned itself as a collegiate benchmark in the esports landscape. OCU Esports, established in 2019, emerged from the efforts of an ambitious coalition comprising visionary students, devoted university staff and generous supporters. Their combined efforts birthed the state-of-the-art Starcade Esports Arena, featuring an impressive array of facilities, including a production area, more than 20 computers, a myriad of digital displays, a cozy student lounge and a seating capacity for more than 50 spectators. American Fidelty Assurance Co. has supported the program. Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer Diana Bittle noted the link between esports and technology-related majors, which her company relies on. “We have worked together to build a partnership to ensure the university is teaching the technical skills their students will need in the workforce,” Bittle said. “The esports program at OCU is still relatively new; however, the growth of the program is phenomenal.” Beyond infrastructure, the program has flourished in its competitive spirit. By the 2022–2023 academic year, esports athletes clinched titles in both the Oklahoma Association of Collegiate Esports—including the spring 2023 OACE Rocket League Championship—and emerged as the fall 2022 National Association of Collegiate Esports Valorant national champions in the Varsity Plus division. Prominent endorsements from corporations including American Fidelity, Computer Connection and McDonald’s Gaming underpin the program’s rapid ascent. These partner-

Above, left to right: Valorant team members Edward Bennett, Caleb Cosgrave, Ryan McLaughlin, Karl Huber and Cooper Patrick celebrate their fall 2022 National Association of Collegiate Esports Varsity Plus Grand Finals win. Left, top: Esports Coach Connor Knudsen. Left, bottom: National champions show off their rings.

ships reinforce OCU’s stature in esports and blend past, present and future gaming cultures within the Starcade. Sponsors enjoy unprecedented exposure with over 50,000 social media impressions and 1,200 unique stream viewers annually. This patronage fuels aspirations, from enhancing the Starcade’s cybersecurity to offering robust scholarships. The influx of funds has elevated the program’s foundation, immersing students in unparalleled experiences from their first semester. The Esports community endeavors further distinguish it. Notable efforts include its 2022–2023 collaboration with the Putnam City Foundation, where, alongside other partners such as Cox Communications and the Oklahoma City Thunder, they hosted a charity tournament at the Starcade, attracting more than 50 competitors from around Oklahoma City. Moreover, their dedicated clothing and food drive for Sisu Youth Services amassed over 100 pounds of clothing and essential items. The program’s philosophy revolves around enriching the complete collegiate experience, Knudsen said. Esports at OCU isn’t merely competitive gaming. Holistic modules address physical requirements such as wrist vitality and visual health, while tailored mental wellness programs cater to the unique needs of esports enthusiasts. Aligning with academia’s increasing recognition of esports, OCU offers an esports management degree. Dr. Amy Cataldi, dean of the Petree College of Arts and Sciences, envisions the program as a launchpad, “giving students an unrivaled edge as they navigate the dynamic esports landscape.” From coaching to streaming, the career vistas for graduates are boundless. In line with OCU’s ethic of talent and hard work, scholar-

ship initiatives validate player skill, dedication and academic achievement. Currently, 13 students benefit from endowed funds, a figure expected to grow after upcoming tryouts with support from the Bob Moore family’s “Moore than Gaming” fund. Only some students in Esports actually compete. Many leverage the platform for broadcasting roles or serve in leadership capacities. The student leadership team, for instance, boasts a ten-member lineup encompassing diverse parts, from content direction to technical oversight. Game design and animation senior Edward Bennett offers insight into the program’s value. “Competing was a chance to win something I could never do in traditional sports,” he said. “I enjoyed playing them, but I was never the best of the best. Our teamwork here at OCU and our trials led us to winning. It left me feeling confident that the program could not only survive but thrive.” This academic year, OCU Esports will further its competitive reach, participating in the National Esports Collegiate Championship, competing against various Division I and NAIA institutions nationwide. “The simple truth is that our esports program very likely would not exist without the help of our amazing sponsors,” Knudsen said. “We owe them gratitude for the program’s birth and evolution from a modest team to a force nearing 100 students for the 2023–2024 academic year.” OCU Esports exemplifies passion, collaboration and dedication to the community. It’s not just about competition—it’s about crafting a unique trajectory in the esports realm, epitomizing the transformative power of collective ambition and tenacity.

Making Study Abroad Possible Alumna Creates Scholarship Through Her Will and Trust, Paving the Way for Transformative Experiences BY APR IL M A RC I S Z E WS K I

When Karen Hunold was a high school senior in rural Maryland, a brochure for Oklahoma City University showed up at the guidance counselor’s office. It checked several boxes: her own travel bug and her parents’ desire for her to have a safe college experience, since she’d be living in the all-girls’ Walker Hall with a curfew. She packed everything she could in a suitcase and took her first flight ever, to Oklahoma. “I lived in the dorms and made friends pretty quickly,” Hunold, BA ’79, remembered. One of her best friends brought her home for Thanksgiving. “It was a small community. I started making friends in the German department.” Longtime OCU Modern Languages Professor Christiane Faris had established an exchange program with a German university. Still, Hunold “did not have on my BINGO card ‘Go Overseas for Junior Year.’ It wasn’t even in my sights.”

She became close friends with the German exchange students and learned about the exchange scholarship. “I wanted it so much,” she said. Faris had a conversation in German with Hunold to test her, as the field was competitive, and Hunold was chosen. “It was a dream come true.” Studying abroad shaped Hunold’s understanding of life itself, along with enhancing her understanding of history and international relationships. “It changed the trajectory of my life because I got all of these experiences that helped me understand that the way I had been raised was one of many ways of moving through life,” she said. “My ambitions and my experiences both were very beneficially impacted by having gone abroad that year.” Hunold went on to earn a doctorate in linguistics from the University of California, Berkeley and then a law degree from Stanford University. She was immediately hired into the Attorney General’s Honors Program and then worked for

Karen Hunold and David Brahm visit the Borgund Stave Church in Norway (left), Iceland (above) and the Great Wall of China (right).

the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. She later practiced law in Massachusetts and ran her own business as a trust and estate attorney. She and her husband, David Brahm, are both retired and splitting time between Virginia and Massachusetts, near their respective families. “We both found our education experiences to be quite valuable,” she said. This year, the couple set up their will and trust, putting in place charitable giving for five of their alma maters, to be fulfilled upon their deaths. At OCU, Hunold established the Karen Ann Hunold Endowed Scholar Award Fund. The award will benefit students with financial need who study abroad and learn a modern language while there. “If I can help other people have that type of transformative experience, I think that’s a wonderful thing to leave behind,” she said. Hunold appreciates OCU’s connection to the United Methodist Church—“I’ve always been very respectful and inclusive of all people”—and she considers OCU small but mighty. “It’s a small school, and it does so many things right.” This year on Giving Day, OCU raised more than $10,000 for study abroad as the university develops new offerings. Study abroad is a priority of OCU President Ken Evans, and three current and former provosts and a former OCU first lady provided matching gifts for the fundraising effort. “We want our students to gain exposure outside the country,” Assistant Provost Adam Ryburn said. Faculty regularly lead students on shorter trips abroad, and students can also intern abroad. Every time OCU sets up an informational table about study

abroad outside the cafeteria, students express “so much enthusiasm and excitement,” he said. But, “for an experience so impactful, it’s expensive, so that’s where giving is so important,” Ryburn said. Students often get stuck in sticker shock. “The biggest hurdle to students realizing this is the expense.” Hunold remembers flying overseas and living in a dorm whose name she couldn’t pronounce. In the dorm, every student took shifts answering the phone. “I had to take my turn, just like everybody else. People would try to get me to understand who they wanted to talk to, and I would try to find them.” By the time she left Germany, her newly proficient language skills confused people—they didn’t expect to find an American fluent in their language, she said. She remembers Faris dropping by to visit her abroad. “She surreptitiously tested my German by asking where the lady’s room was, and when I answered promptly and correctly, her eyes glinted, ‘Oh yes, we chose well.’” Hunold’s love of languages has never ceased. In Berkeley, she met students delving into Native American languages, hieroglyphics and more. “I would talk to people for hours, and they would tell me about their field work.” Travel has continued to be a theme of her life with Brahm— they have visited all 50 states and many countries—and she watches TV shows in other languages—Italian, French and German, currently. “The differences can be quite profound, but people are human everywhere you go,” Hunold said. “You can really make some profound connections.”

Thanks to Donors

A Year of RecordBreaking Success For 1,440 minutes on April 27, 2023, Stars near and far united for the fourth annual #TrueBlueOCU Giving Day. More than 1,060 donors gave a total of $315,445, setting a new OCU record for donor participation and dollars raised in one day. Gifts from students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents and friends supported programs across the university, immediately impacting all OCU Stars. “I’m grateful for the outpouring of generosity from our network of Stars as we work together to continue enhancing the programs that make OCU such a special place,” said OCU President Kenneth Evans. “This year’s record-breaking support is greatly appreciated and significantly contributes to OCU’s upward trajectory while creating even more opportunities for student success.”

$315,445

12%

1,064

43%

Raised on Giving Day

Increase in dollars raised

Donors

Increase in participation

315

156

First-time donors

Young alumni donors

Giving Day Donors

OCU Fund: Meets OCU’s greatest needs

410 donors $165,727 raised

Office of University Advancement 405-208-7000 give@okcu.edu Read About Your Impact and More okcu.edu/give Endowment FAQ okcu.edu/endowment-faq

Thank you for your vital support! Alumni • 35%

Employees • 33%

Students • 10%

Friends of OCU • 15%

Parents • 7%