@uTulsa Magazine - Winter 2023

A distinguished career in public service, law, and education with a bold vision for TU.

Meet President Brad Carson

Resilient Greenwood Q&A with Dr. Alicia Odewale

Educating NextGen Dr. Tyler Moore on TU’s strength in Cyber

B.C. Franklin Lecture TU Law launches 100th Anniversary

AUGUST 2022 – ONE OF THE LARGEST FIRST-YEAR CLASSES EVER, WHICH WAS ALSO THE MOST DEMOGRAPHICALLY DIVERSE CLASS TO DATE.

UNIVERSALLY ADMIRED. NATIONALLY RANKED.

A Top 100 private research institution

U.S. News & World Report

Listed in the Princeton Review’s Best 387 Colleges guide

#1 university in Oklahoma

Wall Street Journal and WalletHub.com

#7 College for Engineering Majors Money.com

#20 among universities that emphasize science, technology, engineering and math Forbes

#79 Best Value among all national universities

U.S. News & World Report

#179 among all 800 U.S. research universities and liberal arts colleges

Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education

America’s Best Colleges

STORIES OF RESILIENCE

TU Assistant Professor Alicia Odewale, Ph.D. shares stories of resilience from the site of the Tulsa Race Massacre with Disney’s National Geographic LIVE.

Page 16

CYBER’S NEXTGEN

Cyber Studies program expands on its Top 25 cybersecurity program to anticipate the solutions for tomorrow.

Page 24

GIRL UNSCRIPTED

TU Music Composition senior, Kyleigh Taylor, earns critical acclaim through her original score.

Page 48

Brad Carson, President

Tricia Milford-Hoyt, Vice President, Marketing and Communications

Tina Fincher, Publication Designer

Mona Chamberlin, Senior Executive Director, Marketing and Communications

Ty Lewis, Photographer

Kelly Kurt Brown, Photographer

Leslie Cairns, Senior Creative Director

Matthew Burgett, Graphic Designer

Lily Rogers, Graduate Assistant

To contact the publication team or comment on this magazine, please email magazine@utulsa.edu

ISSN 1544-5763

is published by

The University of Tulsa

800 South Tucker Drive Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104.

Publication dates may vary according to the university’s calendar, events, and scheduling.

POSTMASTER: Please send Change of Address to: The Magazine of The University of Tulsa Office Marketing and Communications

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The University of Tulsa has a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. With this commitment, we strive to implement initiatives that inspire action and further our relationships with Indigenous communities. It is in this effort that TU recognizes the Tribal lands on which our main campus resides. We would like to honor and acknowledge the Indigenous tribes, and tribes who were forcibly removed, including the Ni-u-kon-ska (Osage), Kitikiti’sh (Wichita), Kadohadacho (Caddo), Mvskoke (Muscogee [Creek]), and Tsálăgĭ (Cherokee) Tribal Nations as the original inhabitants and keepers of the land and water that we now call Tulsa, Oklahoma. TU recognizes that our main campus is located on the Mvskoke (Muscogee [Creek]) Nation Reservation, whose Tribal members were forcibly removed from their homelands as a result of white supremacist and discriminatory laws, including the U.S. Indian Removal Act of 1830. We acknowledge that the university was first established as a Presbyterian School for Indian Girls with its own history and relationship to the land, Tribes, and campus. We recognize this foundation and assume the responsibility to educate ourselves and others on the Indigenous history and importance of the land and water that we occupy.

With this effort we profess the truth that is often buried. Our presence here today is a result of broken treaties, genocide, and ethnocide by colonial powers against those who have maintained and cared for the land and water since time immemorial. The effects of colonization have created historical and ongoing injustices impacting Indigenous peoples today. Truth and recognition of this reality is essential to reconciliation and building meaningful relationships and partnerships with Tribal communities, as well as creating opportunities for active community engagement and support; including, but not limited to, collaborative programming, internships, and bridge programs. By revealing this history, its continuing impacts, and correcting miseducation, we will no longer overlook how this land was occupied. We respect and recognize all Indigenous peoples as the original and contemporary stewards of this land.

Mark your calendars

UPCOMING EVENTS

The University of Tulsa brings together the greater Tulsa community through a robust schedule of community events. Here are a few highlights.

JANUARY

1/16/23

11:00 a.m.

Tulsa’s 44th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Parade

Join TU students, faculty, and staff as we march together to commemorate Dr. King and his legacy: we are stronger working together.

Downtown Tulsa

1/18/23

11:00 a.m.

Collins College of Business Friends of Finance Luncheon

Allen Chapman Student Union

1/19-3/9/23

Hogue 125 Inspired: Oklahoma Landscapes

Phillips Hall

FEBRUARY

2/13/23

7:30 p.m.

TU Symphony performance

Lorton Performance Center

MARCH

3/3/23

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Route 66 Conference

Allen Chapman Student Union

3/27–31/23

Student Research Colloquium

Allen Chapman Student Union

3/28/23

7:30 p.m. Presidential Lecture Series featuring Pulitzer Prizewinning author Anthony Doerr Reynolds Center

3/30/23

TEDxUTulsa

Lorton Performance Center

3/31–4/1/23

“The Work of Sovereignty” Conference and Hager Lecture College of Law

APRIL

4/4/23

TU Giving Day

utulsa.edu/support

4/14-15/23

7:30 p.m.

Computer Simulation & Gaming Conference

Allen Chapman Student Union

4/15/23

3:00 p.m.

TU ’Cane Crawl

TUAlumni.com/CaneCrawl

For additional details and a complete list of events, scan the QR code or visit calendar.utulsa.edu

Leading the Charge

Carson’s plan is to transform TU into a leading research university, attracting world-renowned academics and companies, and to contribute to Tulsa’s growing civic and cultural landscape.

As a Rhodes scholar, lawyer, businessman, and public servant – a two-time Oklahoma congressman and a former U.S. Department of Defense under secretary – Carson, 55,

has the expertise needed to execute his vision. He also has the funds to do it, thanks in part to a hefty $1.5 billion university endowment that is one of the largest in the country, and a mission to further boost TU’s fundraising profile in order to support academic scholarships and attract highly regarded researchers.

“My goal as president is to make TU one of the three best universities

between the Rocky Mountains and the Mississippi River alongside Rice University in Houston and Washington University in St. Louis,” said Carson.

But he’s not stopping there.

Eighteen months into his term, Carson – TU’s 21st president – is leading a recruiting drive to bring in world-class scholars and research dollars that will draw young people

“Every great city in America, if not the world, has a great university that is part of it,” says TU President Brad Carson. “It helps drive the culture while giving back to the community. The city of Tulsa needs The University of Tulsa to be that kind of university.”

to Tulsa and create jobs for them, too.

As an expert in areas like national defense, energy policy, Tribal issues and American politics, Carson is further developing TU’s prestigious programs in fields like cybersecurity.

U.S. News & World Report placed TU’s cybersecurity programs on par with Harvard’s, while Money magazine named TU’s engineering programs as seventh best in the country.

Carson comes to the job with a unique perspective. As a native Texan raised on Indian reservations across the country – his father worked for the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs – Carson understands the importance and practice of what he calls “radical empathy”

for those across political, economic, and socio-economic divides, which is particularly important in these times.

Already, his unique touch is evident; TU’s fall 2022 incoming class is almost 40% larger than two years ago and it’s the most diverse group of first-year students in school history.

And that, he says, is just the beginning.

“I’ve always believed that the most important jobs are ones where you can impact the lives of other people, whether it’s in politics, teaching, or now in higher education administration. I became president of The University of Tulsa because I believe that I can have a big impact on the future of our students and also on the region, which I’ve called home for a very long time,” Carson said.

As the university attracts more students and researchers, it’s also enriching the city.

“The university is not just about educating young people. It’s about transforming the very community in which we live. When the university thrives, the entire region thrives, too.” says Carson, who together with his wife, Julie, are raising their teenage son, Jack, here.

“The city has transformed itself over the past decade,” Carson said. “It makes The University of Tulsa a better place, a more attractive place for students to come and spend their four or five years with us. At the same time, TU must be a catalyst for still further change. We need to create businesses that bring young people to work in them. Our faculty needs to spin out intellectual property to

“I’ve always believed that the most important jobs are ones where you can impact the lives of other people, whether it’s in politics, teaching, or now in higher education administration.”

robotics or cyberspace companies that help bring investment and people from across the globe.

We’re in a symbiotic relationship with the city. When it grows, we benefit, and when we grow, the city benefits. I think that combination means that the next 10 or 20 years are going to be the best times that this city and this university have ever seen,” he said.

Carson isn’t just speaking as an academic, lawyer, and public servant. He’s also worked as a senior adviser with Boston Consulting Group and as a former president and CEO of Cherokee Nation Businesses. That expertise –along with his past teaching at storied places like the University of Virginia – fuels Carson’s understanding of TU’s particular needs, like raising its profile. It’s not enough to create world-class

programs and bring in top researchers if people don’t know the programs exist.

“We need to promote our programs better,” Carson says. “The University of Tulsa is one of the great schools in the entire nation, maybe even the world when it comes to particular programs like petroleum, engineering, energy, cyberspace, and computer science.”

At the same time, Carson stresses the importance of a liberal arts education and hopes that his story inspires others.

The best universities, he says, “expand the imagination of what the students can do” with their lives.

“We’ll also tell [our students] that this is the world. It can be yours, and you should aspire to go out and change

it in some way, whatever discipline you choose. That’s what I hope to do mostly at The University of Tulsa, to expand the imagination of what people can do in their lives and what the city of Tulsa can be,” Carson says.

He adds that humanities are key: “We are more committed than ever to the liberal arts and to the humanities.” Carson studied history and political science and earned a graduate degree in philosophy.

“To be successful, you have to understand poetry as well as you do computer science, programing and history, and economics, these are all things that are critical. If you’re going to understand your place in the world, it comes back to what kind of university we are. We are a great cyber school. We are a great

The best universities, he says, “expand the imagination of what the students can do” with their lives.

President Carson teaches leadership among other classes at the Collins College of Business.

President Carson pictured with wife, Julie, and son, Jack.

engineering school. We’re very proud of those programs, but we’re about more than that. We’re about teaching people to be wise, and you do that by reading the great authors and understanding literature and history and reading philosophy.”

Bottom line, he says, is a desire to help students nourish their dreams -- and watch them fly.

“I was often audacious about what I wanted to do, and I took great risks in trying to pursue a career in politics or do other things. That is part of the leadership style I bring here, too. I encourage people to be bold, to be willing to make mistakes, to recognize that many times you’ll fail when you take those kinds of risks. But that’s fine, so long as you learn something from it. Dream big, don’t accept, don’t settle for things, charge ahead. I spent a lot of time on the grounds of this place when I was just a teenager. I always believed that this was a great, great school. And what I’ve tried to do is to encourage people to dream of greatness, demand excellence from everything around you, and settle for nothing less. And if we do that, incredible things will result.”

• REINSTATED THE FOLLOWING DEGREE PROGRAMS BEGINNING IN FALL 2023: bachelor of arts in philosophy and religion; bachelor of music; doctorates in chemistry and physics; and master of jurisprudence in Native law.

• WELCOMED ITS MOST DIVERSE CLASS EVER, the largest transfer class ever, and one of the largest first-year classes in school history this past August.

• Now offers FREE TEXTBOOKS to all incoming students.

• GUARANTEES GRADUATES A JOB or graduatestudy placement within six months under the CaneCareers Job Placement Guarantee.

• Now offers a full-ride scholarship to all NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLAR SEMIFINALISTS, beginning fall 2023.

• FORMED THE SECOND BOOK INSTITUTE to assist promising faculty from across the U.S. as they work to advance their careers in the humanities.

• HIRED A NEW VICE PROVOST FOR GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT, Vivian Wang, Ph.D. to return TU to a top destination for international students and expand our study-abroad opportunities for domestic students.

• INCREASED THE MINIMUM WAGE for staff members to $15 per hour or $31,200 per year for salaried employees.

• WAS RECOGNIZED WITH A NATIONAL AWARD for Higher Education Excellence in Diversity.

Toronto-born Jennifer Gould is an award winning journalist and author.

“The University of Tulsa is one of the great schools in the entire nation, maybe even the world when it comes to particular programs like petroleum engineering, energy, cyberspace, and computer science.”

In recent months under President Carson’s leadership, The University of Tulsa:

Charting a Nimble Path for Collins College of Business

Since the Honorable Kathy Taylor took the reins as the Genave King Rogers Dean in July 2021, her focus has been to leverage the academic and research experience that already exist at The University of Tulsa to educate the next generation of business leaders. By layering in the robust alumni and regional expertise, her team has created immediate and consistent access to the entrepreneurial opportunities exploding throughout Tulsa.

“Our job is to prepare our students for a rapidly changing world. In response to what we saw, we doubled-down on our student-managed investment fund, we established ‘JOLT,’ a hub of entrepreneurial creativity engaging our students from their first day on campus, and we launched a serial prototyping class in partnership with an international marketing and branding firm in less than one year,” said Taylor. “As a small university, we can nimbly adapt to prepare for the business of tomorrow.”

That serial prototyping class, titled “Zero to One,” takes students through a complete product development process. Through iteration, failure, adjustments, and launch, students present their product to a group of investors in a real-life simulation with venture capital on the line.

Before President Carson’s invitation to join TU, Taylor served as a merger and acquisition lawyer, an executive in a major transportation company, a Mayor, a Secretary of Commerce, a chief of education strategy, and started a K-12 nonprofit. With a resume that reads more like a corporate CEO than an academic dean, Taylor uses her unique skill set to support the college’s faculty and students by breaking down barriers, moving at an enterprise pace, and building relevant opportunities for a global economy.

At TU’s Collins College of Business, the study of accounting, marketing, finance, and management is enhanced by teaching students how to use technology to make evidence-based decisions and implement innovative solutions to complex problems, whether the goal is to enhance corporate profits or create societal impact.

“Our faculty incorporate their latest research and current events into their curriculum from cyber

impacts the energy industry. This is one example of how research and co-curricular work in the areas of energy, real estate, and entrepreneurship continue to expand within the college. Taylor credits the university’s size and interdisciplinary structure with how Collins College of Business can keep a visionary eye on the future.

“We provide multidisciplinary experiences and classroom opportunities across the university

A formula for success isn’t anything new for TU. The Collins College of Business has a significant legacy that includes alumni like Doug McMilon, President and CEO of Walmart Inc.; Bob Prince, cofounder of Bridgewater Associates, the largest hedge fund in the world; Tulsa entrepreneur Eric Marshall, founder of Marshall Brewing Company; Mo Abdullah, founder and CEO of Good Faith Energy; Farhad Azizi, CEO of Azizi Developments, whose company is currently

to crypto,” said Taylor. “We can be very flexible and incorporate the latest in experiential learning for our students based on our faculty and the active involvement of our alumni and corporate stakeholders.”

The finance and data analytics professions and computer information systems teach blockchain technology, FinTech, and crypto. Students were recently offered a series on the history of crypto and are well equipped with the latest in financial modeling but also how that segment

in the arts, energy, health sciences, and law to prepare students for leadership when they leave TU through collaboration. We want our students to be prepared for working in teams across disciplines, cultures, and evolving workplace norms,” said Taylor.

“At the Collins College of Business, we believe that all students - whether engineers, artists, or musicians - need to understand the skills of innovation and entrepreneurship,” continued Taylor.

building the second tallest building in Dubai; and Amanda Aragon, founder and CEO of New Mexico KidsCAN, a nonprofit dedicated to public education in New Mexico.

“The Collins College of Business has an amazing history with exceptional alumni peppered around the globe,” said Taylor. “I’m grateful to lead this chapter of our history alongside our remarkable faculty and staff; we are inspired daily by our students, the next generation of global business leaders.”

“At the Collins College of Business, we believe that all studentswhether engineers, artists, or musicians - need to understand the skills of innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Taylor.

An Assistant Professor at The University of Tulsa, Alicia Odewale, (MA ’12, PhD ’16) specializes in African Diaspora archaeology in the Caribbean and Southeastern United States with a theoretical focus on community-centered, anti-racist, and Black feminist archaeology.

She recently spoke with the @utulsa editorial staff on her work in Tulsa’s historic Greenwood neighborhood and her speaker series with Disney’s National Geographic LIVE, titled: “Greenwood: A Century of Resilience.”

Q:

Tell us about your National Geographic LIVE series.

The National Geographic LIVE Show, “Greenwood, a Century of Resilience” is about Greenwood, one of over 50 all-Black towns across the state of Oklahoma, which grew into one of the wealthiest communities in the country, earning the moniker, “Black Wall Street.” It’s a story of survival, and changing the narrative from a story of death and Black trauma, to one of Black power and Black resilience and Black survival that is over several generations, and Greenwood is still going strong.

Q:

What happened in Greenwood?

Greenwood was the site of some of the worst acts of violence against Blacks in the history of the United States. On May 30, 1921 a young Black man was accused of inappropriate behavior toward a white woman, which led to an attack by a white mob on Black citizens that led to the murder of hundreds of Black and Indigenous men, women, and children in Greenwood and caused over half a billion dollars in property damage as thousands of Black persons were made homeless over night.

People think they know all about Greenwood, or they know about the Tulsa Race Massacre - maybe they’ve heard stories, they might have even read a book or two. But now, we’re in this new season, where a lot of our survivors have passed on; it’s left to the next generation to carry the story forward. One of the small things that I can do is use my skills in archaeology to tell the story in a new way.

I’m coming through this story as a Black archaeologist, born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but also as a descendant of a survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, his name was Robert Ware, he was my great, great uncle.

Greenwood continues to be a space of community and life and people are thriving and we’re still here.

Q:

Tell us about your work in Greenwood.

With archaeology we can tell a story while focusing on sites of life. We have a mass graves investigation (through the City of Tulsa) that’s focused on how we find those who were murdered and sometimes were cast into an open grave. But we want to tell a story that’s not just about how our community members died and were murdered, but how did they live? What did they build? What did they leave behind to tell their story? And how can we take pieces of that story and share them with the next generation? Greenwood continues to be a space of community and life, and people are thriving and we’re still here. So we want to bear witness to that longer story and not just one point in time.

Q:

Why is this work especially important to you?

I was born in Tulsa and I went to Booker T. Washington High School, one of the few structures left standing after the (1921) attack. I took Latin, because all the other foreign language courses were full when I started as a freshman. I

fell in love with Latin and I started taking Latin and Greek and learning about the history, learning about these myths, and all these deities and everything.

(Over time) I grew bothered by not seeing myself represented in these stories, not being represented in this history, so I kept looking for, “where are the people who look like me in these epic stories of history?” After I went to college, I kept searching, looking for that, and then I discovered something called “African Diaspora archaeology.”

African Diaspora archaeology is an interdisciplinary study of the social and material worlds of people of African heritage all over the world, and includes sites of African and African American heritage before, during, and long after the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. All of these sites show the diverse experiences and heritages of Africans and peoples of African ancestry.

The way history comes alive is when we compare archaeological evidence with the mapping evidence with someone’s oral testimony with census records with a lot of

data that’s connected to someone’s lived experience and layer those things together to present a really strong case of what happened in a space.

We actually were able to do that here (in Greenwood) with my own story. I was able to find some maps to see that one of my ancestors, Mary Ware, owned a grocery store, which is just one of many people’s stories whose legacy is just sitting underneath the surface. For some that legacy has been erased. But for some it’s still there, we just need to go and find it. There’s so much that we have left to do; we’re just getting started.

The archaeology that we’re doing with National Geographic started with a community-led effort funded through the Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission in 2019. The community raised money for us to do this research project, which The University of Tulsa matched. The Greenwood community were the first ones to believe that archaeology could tell this story in a different way and they raised money to allow us to do that work. It’s a grassroots effort that I love to be a part of; it is communityled and community-centered.

Q:How does this work translate to your TU classroom?

I teach two classes at The University of Tulsa that connect my research, one called “Anthropologies of Race in the Age of ‘Black Lives Matter’,” and another called ‘Greenwood Unbroken: Archaeology of Black Heritage in Oklahoma’.” This context and time is important because I think right now, the country is in a space of racial reckoning and people are just waking up to the fact that: 1) something happened in Tulsa; and 2) there’s an ongoing legacy that lingers from that. We’re still trying to understand what the legacy is and how we, as a nation, can face it.

In The University of Tulsa Special Collections, there is a wealth of data thanks to the work of the late archivist, Mark Carlson, who personally collected a lot of material and ephemera from Greenwood, especially around this story of the Tulsa Race Massacre. What is often not visible online are the pamphlets and books and correspondence. For example there are National Guard correspondence in the Special Collections that is not publicized, it’s not digitized, because it is so fragile. Researchers have to be able to see it for themselves; so I would encourage everyone to come and take a look at what we have in Special Collections at The University of Tulsa.

Q:What do you hope the public learns from your work?

I hope they learn the living side of Greenwood. In the archeology that I do, and even when I’m on stage telling the story for National Geographic, I am really selective of what photos I use. I would love for the first image that people think of Greenwood to be one of a family living in their sprawling two-story house or children playing in front of busy storefronts not the image of a human being that had been burned and left lying in the street.

We have to think about the power of those images, which is what’s beautiful about our archive at The University of Tulsa Special Collections: all of these stories can exist side by side. Stories of the destruction but also the rebuilding. All the things that happened before the massacre in the building of Greenwood and then after in the 1940s, the Renaissance of Greenwood, even today. We have to look through all the data to get that story.

At the time of publication, Dr. Odewale has National Geographic LIVE events scheduled in 2023 for Chicago, Las Vegas, Denver, and Tampa, among other locations. For more information, visit utulsa.edu/odewale

TU’s newest college continues TU’s oldest tradition: STUDENT SUCCESS

Nursing, exercise and sports science, Athletic Training, and speech and language pathology – these programs have long been associated with student, faculty, and alumni success at The University of Tulsa. However, since organizing under one college in 2015, TU has been able to strategically leverage local partnerships and advances in technologies to propel their programs in a few short years.

Oxley College of Health Sciences Interim Dean Ron Walker (BS ’95, MEd ’96) isn’t exaggerating when he says the college has a lot to brag about.

In 2020 nearly 100 percent of the college’s graduates passed their certification and licensing exams.

“Our placement rates are incredible. We are consistently at or near 100 percent across every program. Our students have employment, many of those before they even graduate,” Walker said.

The college houses all The University’s health sciences programs including nursing, undergraduate and graduate; speech and language pathology, undergraduate and graduate; exercise science, undergraduate; and a master’s degree in athletic training.

“Across the board, our programs are exceptional because we have

fantastic faculty who are involved with the students. All of our students have opportunities for direct patient care, even as undergraduates,” Walker said.

One of the aspects that makes the college unique is the use of technology throughout all its programs, including virtual reality used by nursing students and diagnostic ultrasound used by athletic training students.

“The clinical placement, the hands-on patient care, the opportunities for research to participate with faculty as undergraduate students:

Oxley College of Health Sciences Interim Dean Ron Walker, EdD, AT, CSCS

“Our placement rates are incredible. We are consistently at or near 100 percent across every program. Our students have employment, many of those before they even graduate,” Walker said.

there are other programs who do each of those. There are very, very few places in the United States that take all of those things and do them with all of those programs,” Walker said.

Nursing students can practice and build confidence before ever interacting with real patients via the simulation lab staffed by a full-time nurse practitioner.

The Master of Athletic Training program features a state-of-the-art diagnostic ultrasound unit. Those students also take advantage of highfidelity simulation offered on campus.

“There are very few athletic training programs across the country who have their own simulator, whose faculty runs their own simulations. That happens here and it’s a wonderful opportunity,” Walker said.

The exercise science program also features state-of-the-art biometric and human performance labs that allow students to conduct research alongside faculty. That research often involves area civil workers, fire, police, and military, where students and faculty are working

to help solve real-world problems.

“There are lots of opportunities for students to not only be exposed to technology but use that technology for the betterment of people’s well-being, for the betterment of healthcare,” Walker said.

The college also works with several Tulsa-area partners to provide these opportunities for its students. Nursing students have clinical placement in area hospitals including Saint Francis Healthcare System, Ascension St. John, and Hillcrest, and spend a total of five semesters working with both hospital and local nonprofit agencies.

The athletic training program partners with local public and private schools as well as area colleges and universities to provide four semesters of clinical experience for the students in the program.

Speech language pathology students work not only on campus in the Mary K. Chapman Speech & Hearing Clinic but also out in the community with local schools and nonprofits like the Little Lighthouse, an educational and therapeutic school for children with

“There are very few athletic training programs across the country who have their own simulator, whose faculty runs their own simulations. That happens here and it’s a wonderful opportunity,” Walker said.

“The difference between our graduates and the graduates of other programs is that when you go into a hospital and you interact with the staff, you find the graduates from our programs are not just the ones providing technical care. They’re the leaders,” Walker said.

special needs, where they are able to provide a high-level of care not often available through other programs.

Another example of the benefit of local partnerships is the exercise science program’s partnership with the City of Tulsa and the Tulsa Fire Department where TU students and faculty fully evaluate every cadet to the Tulsa Fire Academy to determine if that person may have a pre-existing condition that could lead to an academy-ending injury or a career-ending injury if it’s not properly addressed, based on the work of Roger Kollock, ATC, CSCS and Davis Hale, Ph.D, CSCS both assistant professors of athletic training, exercise & sports science.

“Based on Roger’s [Kollock] and Davis’s [Hale] work, they are able to

prescribe a corrective exercise regimen to prevent an injury from occurring, which allows that person to remain in the academy to become a full-time firefighter and serve the rest of us as a first responder without fear of losing their career,” Walker said.

The college is housed in the Oxley Health Sciences facility in downtown Tulsa. The building, which formerly housed Blue Cross Blue Shield, was renovated in 2015 and features 50,000 square-feet of office, classroom, and labs. With the need to expand the programs based on economic demand of healthcare and the expectations that come with a TU education, administrators recognize that students and faculty will benefit from moving the college back to campus in the coming years. TU provides an interdisciplinary,

liberal arts education that connects academically and physically to other departments across the main campus footprint.

“The difference between our graduates and the graduates of other programs is that when you go into a hospital and you interact with the staff, you find the graduates from our programs are not just the ones providing technical care. They’re the leaders,” Walker said.

“They are the ones that are thinking about things on a much larger scale than patient by patient, and coming up with solutions.”

Mike Averill is a native Tulsan and has spent most of his career writing stories about people and issues in the area.

TU CREATES THE OXLEY COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND NATURAL SCIENCES

The University of Tulsa recently announced that the biology, chemistry, geosciences, and physics departments will join nursing, kinesiology and rehabilitative sciences, and communication sciences and disorders to form the Oxley College of Health and Natural Sciences in 2023-24. A structural change, this shift does not represent any changes in curriculum, faculty, or physical space.

“With the reinstatement of the Ph.D. programs in chemistry and physics by President Carson earlier this semester, this realignment demonstrates TU’s commitment to the natural sciences and creates fertile ground for growth in human health sciences through collaboration between departments,” said Provost George Justice.”

Approved by The University of Tulsa Board of Trustees, this reorganization has received overwhelming support from faculty and department chairs for a number of reasons including the potential for increased undergraduate, graduate, and faculty research. With the upcoming retirement of Jim Sorem, dean of the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences, this realignment creates an opportunity for TU to identify a candidate who can focus on growth as the dean of

the new College of Engineering and Computer Science.

“Engineering and Computer Science represent two of the most successful programs within The University of Tulsa with several programs ranking among the top 5 and 25 in the nation,” said Justice. “Creating the College of Engineering and Computer Science helps us attract the most visionary and ambitious dean to lead those programs.”

Effective fall 2023, university leadership anticipates no impact to students currently enrolled in or planning to enroll in these areas through this administrative change. “We welcome our colleagues from the natural sciences and look forward to the many collaborative opportunities this realignment provides,” said Ron Walker, interim dean of Oxley College. “We are excited to become the Oxley College of Health and Natural Sciences.”

Educating the Next Generation of Cyber Thinkers

In a short time, entire lives have been transformed into complex digital realms dependent on computers and computer networks. Economies, social lives, and a human’s very existence today requires secure and trusted information technologies.

The University of Tulsa continues a long tradition of academic and practical leadership in cyber theory and practice that emerged over the past several decades within the TU’s College of Engineering and Natural Sciences. TU is already ranked in the Top 25 nationally by U.S. News & World Report for undergraduate cybersecurity programs (tying with schools like Harvard University and New York University). The School of Cyber Studies, established in 2021, is a significant effort to advance TU’s global standing even further.

Leading the effort is Tyler Moore, Ph.D., the Tandy Professor of Cyber Security and Information Assurance in the Tandy School of Computer Science. He is the inaugural chair of the School of Cyber Studies, a new interdisciplinary department at TU that offers cyber degrees at the bachelor, master’s, and doctoral levels. Moore is a big thinker advancing strategies for creating trust and security in cyber to create positive change in the world.

“TU has a reputation for producing excellent cyber graduates, a reputation built over the past decades,” Moore said. “We’re continuing that tradition by building the School of Cyber Studies so that we can further grow and continue to do innovative educational and research programs that will make a difference in the future.”

And the future can be a little scary. Financial systems, critical infrastructure, social networks, international trade -- even personal data -- can be subject to malicious attacks, ransomware, and other criminal and espionage activities. It is a constant fight of “good versus evil.”

“Any kind of information that we’re storing digitally, unfortunately, is at risk and we have to be prepared for

a world in which that information is compromised,” Moore explained.

Unlimited demand

Moore says the need for cyber security “good”unsung heroes working to tip the balance away from the aggregations of nation-state actors, cybercriminals, hackers, industrial spies, hacktivists, and cyber terrorists - is so great that practically any student in the cyber studies school is assured employment when they graduate. It’s an exciting, important time to energize the TU program.

Moore is a perfect example of the kind of home grown talent that TU is contributing to the cyber world

and information technology. A native of Broken Arrow, he graduated from TU in 2004 with BS degrees in computer science and applied mathematics. A Marshall Scholar, he earned his Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge. Prior to joining TU seven years ago, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Research on Computation and Society (CRCS) at Harvard University, the Hess Visiting Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Wellesley College, and an assistant professor at Southern Methodist University.

He is a widely published author and public speaker focusing on security economics, cybercrime measurement, and cybersecurity policy. He is also a founding Editor in Chief of the Journal of Cybersecurity, a new interdisciplinary journal published by Oxford University Press.

Moore is quick to point out that TU’s current status is a product of previous programs. He acknowledges the role of previous faculty across The University of Tulsa but especially within the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences in inspiring him to address the most pressing cyber issues. His particular expertise is on cyber security, but he is advancing that cyber is much broader than secure information technology and technical best practices: it is about holistic approach to how systems and people

interact. The interdisciplinary nature of the program is not just computer sciences, it is also about human and organizational systems. Medical devices, for example, need to be safe and secure for sure, but they also must address big-picture privacy and ethical concerns. Oil exploration and petroleum technologies, too, have unique challenges today’s curriculum must address.

“Much of the challenge we face is technical in nature, and it’s going to require collaborations with those from computer science and engineering, alongside the psychologists and the economists,” Moore said.

Courses in the new bachelors of science degree are designed to be hands-on and project-based, emphasizing experiential learning and partnerships with employers.

The new doctoral program offered in the School of Cyber Studies is intended to foster research at the interface between traditional disciplines with cyber serving as the bridge.

“We have faculty who are computer scientists, but also engineers, people from business, law, social sciences,” said Moore. “Everyone who has something to say about cyber comes together and will conduct research and teach courses.”

Building a cyber pipeline

In addition to creating stars in academia like Moore, the TU computer science and cyber security programs have been providing talent to some of the biggest tech companies in private industry, as well as government and defense agencies. Industry collaboration and advisory board representation from Tulsa-area tech companies can help keep talent from moving elsewhere after graduation, Moore said.

Moore knows the program has to continually adapt, too. Technology moves so quickly; the curriculum has to continually evolve.

“We’re providing a foundation for our students, so they learn to use the tools of today, but they also learn concepts that are foundational and don’t change, and they’re essentially prepared for when they go out into the workforce,” Tyler said

“Sky’s the limit to how much we can grow. Because as many students as we can bring into our program, as many graduates as we can produce, we’re not going to have any trouble finding job placement for them. Because the need is everywhere.” 1

3 Tips to prevent cyber breaches

“We’re providing a foundation for our students, so they learn to use the tools of today, but they also learn concepts that are foundational and don’t change, and they’re essentially prepared for when they go into the workforce,” he said

Creating a pipeline of graduates to go out and solve big cyber challenges is great, but one of the more important innovations with the new school is creating new pipelines into the program. To that end, TU has partnered with Will Rogers College Middle and High School near campus to codevelop a cyber security and computing curriculum currently serving more than 100 students. If these students matriculate to TU, they can even earn college credits.

“These students get to learn foundations of computing, and foundations of cyber security courses; and the opportunity seems to be pretty popular,” said Moore.

The promise to transform the university to meet tomorrow’s workforce demands is well underway and Moore is excited to see the first graduates through the new School of Cyber Studies. He believes TU is uniquely positioned –geographically and strategically – to create the next generation of cyber thinkers.

“Sky’s the limit to how much we can grow,” exclaimed Moore.” Because as many students as we can bring into our program, as many graduates as we can produce, we’re not going to have any trouble finding job placement for them. The need is everywhere.”

The next generation of cyber experts is being created at TU, but how can people help protect their own digital lives? Moore says there is no surefire way to avoid a security breach, but a few practices can prevent easy access by the bad actors.

Where possible, use two-factor authentication to protect online accounts. This is essentially the use of two methods (an account login and a confirming text message sent to a phone are the most common authentications) to validate authorized activity.

2 3

Also, consider using a password manager for creating hard-to-break passwords and limit the number of passwords one must remember. A password manager will use a single password to unlock a “wallet” of stronger passwords.

Finally, email accounts are the most compromised assets. One should change passwords regularly and not use email passwords for other accounts such as banking and medical records.

Jeff Kauffman is a native Tulsan and a writer for technology companies.

$1,000,000

1,000 Donors

For more than 35 years, my wife Gentra and I have been a part of the TU family. We have met with countless alumni; the stories they share about their time at TU and their tremendous success in the years after never fail to inspire us. We have partnered with visionary community members and friends who believe in our mission and celebrate the difference our students are making in Tulsa and around the world. We have seen firsthand the dedication of our faculty to educating students at the highest level. We have witnessed the transformation of our campus and facilities. These wonderful experiences and countless others like them make my upcoming retirement on March 31, 2023 all the more bittersweet.

It has been my privilege as Dean to support our students in every way I can, and you have been an invaluable partner. Thanks to your support, we have been able to provide opportunities for our students and faculty to attend and present at national conferences, where new ideas and solutions are launched. When innovative and collaborative new projects have crossed my desk, loyal donors have provided the funding for those initiatives to move forward. Together, we have have extended scholarships at critical moments in students’ lives that allow them to stay in our classrooms and complete their degrees when circumstances put those dreams at risk.

I do not take for granted these moments that were made possible due to the generosity of others, which is why Gentra and I have also answered the call to give back throughout the years. As my term as Dean of this incredible college ends, I hope you will join me in continuing to support the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences. Dean’s Circle donors ($2,500+ annually) are the bread and butter of student support while alumni gifts of any size positively influence our national rankings.

Our goal this year is lofty — $1,000,000 from 1,000 donors. Please join Gentra and me in reaching these goals, celebrating our legacy of academic excellence, and building a bright future for the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences.

Sincerely,

Jim Sorem Dean

“Our goals are ambitious, but ambition is what we are known for. This year, I invite you to be a part of the ENS legacy and help us lay the groundwork for education, innovation, and leadership for years to come.”

- Dean Jim Sorem

ON DECEMBER 6, THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA ANNOUNCED KEVIN WILSON AS THE SCHOOL’S 34TH HEAD FOOTBALL COACH.

Wilson comes to Tulsa following six seasons as the offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at The Ohio State University. With 31 years of coordinator experience, Wilson has directed some of the most innovative and prolific offenses in the nation over his 37-year collegiate coaching career.

“This is a great day for The University of Tulsa,” said university President Brad Carson. “Coach Wilson is a proven winner and great fit for TU as he has a history of building programs where student-athletes succeed both in the classroom and on the gridiron. I’m pleased to give my full support to Coach, his lovely wife, Angie, and their children as members of the TU family.”

Before his stint at Ohio State, Wilson spent six years as the Indiana University head coach. He has also coached at Oklahoma, Northwestern, Miami (Ohio), North Carolina A&T, Winston Salem and began his coaching career at North Carolina, as a graduate assistant.

“Angie, my family, and I are extremely excited with this opportunity and I’m honored to be the head coach at The University of Tulsa,” said Wilson. “With career ties to the state of Oklahoma, I’ve always had great appreciation for the university, the football program, its success through the years and the great city and people that live in Tulsa. It’s an honor to be here. Reign ’Cane!”

2023 football season tickets are currently available by contacting the TU ticket office at 918-631-4688 or TulsaHurricane.com/Tickets.

As a member of the 1984 Club, proceeds from your membership support our great institution and continues our legacy of excellence, o ering a unique way to blend celebrating and supporting our University!

Enjoy premium world class wine, hand crafted and made in America’s most renowned wine country, Napa Valley, from Fairwinds Estate Winery. Each package will be delivered to your doorstep in a handmade vintage fire-branded wooden crate.

TIRELESS COMMITMENT

The University of Tulsa College of Law hosted the 2nd Annual Buck Colbert Franklin Memorial Civil Rights Lecture on October 28, 2022, and welcomed B.C. Franklin’s grandson, historian John Whittington Franklin, as keynote speaker. John Franklin’s talk took attendees on a journey from 15th-century Africa through the Jim Crow South and on to Tulsa’s Greenwood District where his grandfather survived the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

“Attorney Buck Colbert Franklin was the seventh of 10 children born to David and Millie Franklin. David Franklin arrived in Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory in the 1830s. His son, B.C., as he was known, went to college, married his college sweetheart, and was admitted to the Oklahoma Bar in 1907. He practiced law in Springer, Ardmore, and Rentiesville before moving to Tulsa in 1921. He serves as an example of tireless commitment to the people of Greenwood,” John W. Franklin said.

B.C. Franklin moved to Greenwood in February 1921 and opened a legal practice with his partner, P.A. Chappelle. Franklin’s wife, who was a teacher, stayed in Rentiesville

with their children to finish the school year and planned to reunite in June. However, the Tulsa Race Massacre, which began on May 31, 1921, delayed the reunion for four years. Greenwood was burned to the ground, and punitive measures enacted by white officials meant rebuilding took an extraordinarily long time. Franklin was not deterred and began offering legal aid to other survivors from a makeshift office just days after his office building was destroyed.

“Grandpop set up his office in a tent. Together they processed insurance claims for the businesses and homeowners of Greenwood. None would be honored. It took years to rebuild Greenwood,” Franklin shared.

TU Law hosts John W. Franklin, grandson of attorney and Tulsa Race Massacre survivor B.C. Franklin.

John Franklin followed his talk with a question-andanswer session. He was joined by two TU Law students who work in the B.C. Franklin Legal Clinic, which opened in 2021 to serve current residents of the Greenwood District and nearby north Tulsa neighborhood.

“We have represented community members in cases of divorce, child custody, child support, protective orders, guardianships, expungements, and commutations among many other cases,” Mimi Marton, associate dean of experiential learning, told the standing-room-only audience at the lecture. Dean Oren Griffin, Chapman Endowed Chair at TU Law, said that in addition to family law and criminal law - the clinic would add a small business development wing to empower residents to fulfill their dreams.

“I am grateful that John agreed to return to Tulsa, visit with our students and faculty, and offer this important

presentation to the community at large,” Griffin said. “It is crucial that we never forget the past that has led us to the place we are today. It is only through the lens of history that we can create a vision for a more just future.”

Franklin is managing member of Franklin Global LLC. At the Smithsonian Institution, he served as program manager in the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies, curator at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, and senior manager at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. After 32 years of service, he retired from the Smithsonian with emeritus status in 2019. He lectures on African American and African Diasporan history and culture.

Franklin’s visit to TU was part of the university’s 2022 Homecoming week activities. The October 28 lecture and Q&A served as the official kickoff for the College of Law’s 100th anniversary celebration, which will continue through 2023.

“It is crucial that we never forget the past that has led us to the place we are today. It is only through the lens of history that we can create a vision for a more just future.”

TULSA’S Special Collections

If McFarlin Library is the diadem of The University of Tulsa, then the shiniest crown jewel is undoubtedly Special Collections. Tucked safely away in a tower atop a storied rock-clad edifice, as any treasure should be, sits the repository for TU’s most lauded gems.

Artifact E77.C38.1835

Lithograph by James Otto Lewis

Artifact 1986-002 The Rebecca West Collection

Artifact 1989-004-5-09 Tulsa Race Massacre Collection

From rare books and manuscripts to photographs and pieces of art by Matisse and Picasso, TU Special Collections & University Archives is an incredible trove of priceless works that date back to the 15th century. The department is home to one of the world’s largest collections on the celebrated Irish writer James Joyce and the life archive of Nobel Laureate Sir V.S. Naipaul.

“The University of Tulsa really shows a lot of commitment to collecting primary resources,” said Melissa Kunz, interim director of Special Collections and University Archives. “We have materials like the first edition copy of Ulysses that Joyce inscribed and autographed, ‘To Aunt Josephine. Love, Jim.’ That’s an extremely unique object, because a lot of the other ones that we have that are inscribed are very formal. This year alone, we collected the bronze casting of Joyce’s death mask, which is a special

and unique object, because there are only about 28 of them worldwide to our understanding.”

Never mind the tie with the stain where Joyce spilled gravy.

Other significant literary collections in McFarlin include a wide variety of British, Irish, and American works from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. They range from science fiction and mystery to less genre-defined literature, such as Modernism. Notable authors include Jean Rhys, Rebecca West, Edith Nesbit, Lynn Riggs, and, quite recently, Rilla Askew - but literature only comprises about 14 percent of the department’s holdings.

Special Collections includes an enormous variety of materials on Native American history and culture; U.S. and Oklahoma history; petroleum industry history; and military history, in particular World War I, but other conflicts as well.

“The materials in Special Collections reflect our ongoing efforts to understand ourselves,” Kunz said. “It gives us a lens into the past to reflect on where we are today, and hopefully bring those lessons forward. We’re able to help faculty, not only with their own projects, but to help guide students forward in their own research.”

“World War I is a big subject matter area for us, especially because it goes hand in hand with modernist literature. The modernists of that time were starting to develop radical ideas about what society and what culture should be – and kind of their desire to get away from the Victorian manners and mores of their ancestors,” Kunz said. “They were really facing a bright and optimistic future. Then WWI came in and obviously caused a lot of tragedy and conflict.”

Other collection areas include Tulsa race relations, theater and performing arts, popular culture, and cookery and household manuals. Materials from the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre bring visibility to some of the darkest days of American history.

“The photographs are very graphic. They are very violent in nature, as far as what they’re depicting,” Kunz said. “Having those images out there and available for the public to see, and to utilize for research and projects is really important, because (then) no one can say, ‘Well, I didn’t know about that.’ Everyone should know about that, and people should be aware that that’s out there, and that it did happen.”

Whether memorializing the decimation of Tulsa’s oncethriving Black Wall Street or the colonization of Native Americans who were forced from their Tribal homes in the East

These acquisitions have left the department bursting at the seams with nearly 180,000 volumes and as many as 12 million manuscript pages.

to Oklahoma and then stripped again of their lands when oil was discovered near Tulsa, TU’s Special Collections strives to acquire a rich and diverse array of materials.

“The materials in Special Collections reflect our ongoing efforts to understand ourselves,” Kunz said. “It gives us a lens into the past to reflect on where we are today, and hopefully bring those lessons forward. We’re able to help faculty, not only with their own projects, but to help guide students forward in their own research.”

Acquisitions over the years have left the department bursting at the seams with nearly 180,000 volumes and as many as 12 million manuscript pages.

“One of our challenges or our issues with Special Collections right now is that our materials are spread across multiple floors and multiple buildings, which limits how responsive we can be to research requests,” Kunz lamented. “Unfortunately, shelf space and storage space is always limited, and we’ve reached the boundaries of what we are able to provide for our collections. So, we want to be able to grow. We want to be able to provide people with a reason to come see the amazing things that we have here.”

For more information about TU’s Special Collections, visit libraries.utulsa.edu.

CHAMPIONS

For the fourth season in a row and sixth overall, The University of Tulsa cross-country teams led by Head Coach Steve Gulley swept the team titles at the American Athletic Conference Championships.

The Golden Hurricane swept the individual titles as Chloe Hershenow and Isaac Akers placed first in the women’s 6k and men’s 8k. Hershenow pulled away from the pack to finish in 20:54.4.

In the men’s race, Cormac Dalton and Micheal Power ran with Akers as the three runners held a more than 10-second lead on fourth place. Akers finished in 23:51.7 to take the individual title.

For the men, it was the ninth consecutive conference title, and 13th in a row dating back to 2010, when Tulsa finished its time in Conference USA with four titles.

It was the fourth consecutive win for the women and sixth as a member of The American. The Hurricane had three runners in the top five, Hershenow, Layla Roebke (20:57.0), and Katharina Pzendorfer (20:58.6).

The men went on to take ninth in the NCAA National Championships, their second top 10 finish in the last two years.

The American Athletic Conference named Chole Hershenow and Isaac Akers, “The Runners of the Year.”

For more information about TU Athletics, visit TulsaHurricane.com.

CHAMPIONS

W R APAROUND SERVICES

According to the National Survey for Student Engagement, a student’s sense of belonging directly affects their persistence and performance in a university setting. Furthermore for students to feel they belong, they must feel they can relate to others in the campus community, while living in their individual realities.

THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA WANTS TO ENSURE EVERYONE ON ITS CAMPUS FEELS A SENSE OF BELONGING.

To achieve this, TU has put in place the cultural and technological infrastructure needed to connect students with faculty, tutoring services, mental health services, and academic success coaches all in partnership with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Kelli McLoud-Schingen, vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, said her team’s role is to foster inclusion across campus for students, staff, and faculty. To do so, they rely on a four-pillar approach consisting of diversity education and training, access, advocacy, and belonging.

“When we talk about our work, we’re talking about our work for everybody,” McLoud-Schingen said. “Now, we do have a special focus on people who we believe have been targeted socially and historically to not have access to opportunity, but our programs are for everyone and we believe that everyone can learn

from each other, and learn how we communicate with people who are different from us.”

Students have their first connection with one of the on-campus wraparound services providers during their first year through Student Success, a program designed to provide holistic support to the university’s students. These services include inclusion, counseling, academic support, and support for both seen and unseen disabilities.

University officials believe, based on the initial success of TU’s efforts, that it can become a model for other institutions of higher education. By listening to students’ needs and adapting internal systems, colleges can quickly accommodate those needs in real time.

“It really is a great time to be a student at The University of Tulsa because wraparound support is

better than it’s ever been,” said Dave Kobel, director of student access. “We’ve enhanced our collaboration, our breakdown of silos and working across lines with different teams on campus, including faculty, staff, and student peers. We’re on the ground listening to students’ needs and approaching them on a one-by-one basis so we can meet those needs.”

“We really look at all of our students as individuals, providing them with an individualized support network for anything that our students need,” said Christina Carter, executive director of the student success team.

“We want to provide this holistic wraparound approach for every student that comes to campus. Our mission is to help each student reach their academic, personal, and professional goals. So we’re going to do our very best to provide the services that they need to be successful at TU.”

Student Success

Coaches help students with their transition to college and also advise them in their degree, provide any kind of needed resources such as study skills and time management, and help them navigate the college environment.

Through its Student Access office, the program also provides resources and accommodations for students with disabilities.

As director of Student Access, Kobel oversees a team that manages disability accommodations as well as providing support for students who are facing short- and long-term medical issues and hardships.

The Office of Student Access also provides guidance to faculty and staff who are implementing accommodations for those students.

“The University of Tulsa aims to provide an inclusive education for all. A big part of that is ensuring that students who have disabilities have access to the same opportunities as students who do not have disabilities,” Kobel said.

The Office of Student Access works with a number of students who deal with invisible disabilities such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, students who have learning or developmental disorders, Dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia – things where a student may not appear to have a disability on the surface but may struggle with one or more disabilities under the surface.

Student Access partners with several other on-campus organizations, including Counseling and Psychological Services, or CAPS, to ensure it is providing the wraparound support students need.

CAPS offers students immediateaccess services such as peer support groups and self-help resources as well as clinical services, including individual, group and couples counseling. CAPS also provides “solution sessions.” These are onetime sessions where students can talk with someone and process through what they have going on without any commitment to other services beyond that.

“Our main role on campus is to support student mental health. That

includes students who are having an immediate crisis,” said Stephanie O’Neal, assistant director of CAPS. “That includes students that are looking for ongoing care and getting connected with a provider, as well as students that maybe just have something going on at the moment, where they need a little bit of mental health support and a safe place to process things.”

Aligning departments and creating a student-centered internal workflow has been critical to championing student success and creating a campus culture that fosters a sense of belonging to students.

“We on the other side of the table are working really hard to make sure that everybody has an opportunity to be successful here and for their whole selves to be brought to campus and succeed,” said McLoud-Schingen.

Mike Averill is a native Tulsan and has spent most of his career writing stories about people and issues in the area.

“WE’RE ON THE GROUND LISTENING TO STUDENTS’ NEEDS AND APPROACHING THEM ON A ONE-BY-ONE BASIS SO WE CAN MEET THOSE NEEDS.”

NIH Grant to Advance TU Psychology Professor’s Native American Pain Inequity Research

Professor of Psychology Jamie Rhudy, Ph.D. is advancing the study of Native American pain disparity with a research grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

This fall the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded Jamie Rhudy, Ph.D., Director of the Psychophysiology Laboratory for Affective Neuroscience (PLAN) and Professor of Psychology a $514,891 grant for the first year of his research on Native American pain inequity. The approved grant will provide approximately $2.75M over the projected five-year award. The project, known as the Oklahoma Study of Native American Pain Risk (OK-SNAP), continues the professor’s previous study, which proposed that Native Americans experience chronic pain at higher levels than any other ethnic group in the United States. Rhudy’s prior investigation confirmed this suggestion and found that Native Americans develop chronic pain at nearly three times the rate of non-Hispanic whites.

“The new study will look at the contribution of sociocultural factors, like structural racism and discrimination, and allostatic load (stress-related wear and tear on the body) on mechanisms of the Native American pain inequity,” said Rhudy. “The project will also attempt to identify factors that promote resiliency that protect against these harmful influences in Native Americans.”

Rhudy began his journey at The University of Tulsa nearly 20 years ago. A human pain physiology expert, Rhudy is a recipient of the prestigious Outstanding Teacher Award as well as the Outstanding Researcher Award, which he received for his work on identifying mechanisms, or reasons/factors for pain disparity, that contribute to chronic pain, particularly within Native American populations. This study sought to develop non-invasive methods for assessing individuals at risk for chronic pain.

REQUISITE EXPERTISE

Composed of equally qualified and eager scholars, Rhudy’s team is wellequipped for the research at hand. Native American health and culture expert Joanna Shadlow, Ph.D., racial inequality expert and TU Associate Professor of Sociology Travis Lowe and stress physiology expert William Lovallo of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center are all heavily invested in OK-SNAP’s mission. Additionally, the team has assembled an Indigenous Advisory Council of five Native American experts from academia and the community to provide oversight on the project.

Having spent the past decade studying physiological and sociocultural pain risk mechanisms in Native Americans, developing strong relationships with Native American partners, such as the Cherokee Nation, the Indian Healthcare Resource Center, and the Oklahoma City Area Indian Health Service, has been vital to the team’s unique research. “Our lab is one of few in the U.S. with the merit to assess the implicit measure of spinal sensitization, or the physiological amplification of pain signals within the spinal cord during stress,” said Rhudy. “We’re also the only team in the U.S. attempting to identify the mechanisms of Native American pain inequity and the only team with the collective expertise to successfully execute this project.”

Students and experienced researchers alike are taking part in this novel research, and clinical psychology doctoral student Parker Kell has been a force in OK-SNAP’s progression. Kell noted that

his involvement with the project has been nothing short of amazing. Aside from learning about chronic pain risk in an underserved and understudied population, Kell maintained that one of the most rewarding aspects is community outreach. “Doing this type of health disparity research requires community engagement, which has been a whole new side to research for me,” Kell said. The team plans on following up with participants in the study to determine if they have developed chronic pain.

“Because of this,” Kell said, “we’ll have a strong study design for establishing which factors measured during the study could predict chronic pain onset.”

CONFRONTING INEQUALITY

The benefits of this study are manifold and extend beyond

laboratory investigations. The conclusions garnered from OKSNAP research will help guide policy decisions to reduce Native American pain inequity, support a shift in the standards of how Native American pain risk is conceptualized, construct an accurate medicinal approach to the prevention of and care for Native American pain and disability and address understudied health inequities in an underserved population.

“Racial and economic health divides are among the most pressing issues in our country today,” said Lowe. “OK-SNAP’s research has a laser focus on understanding the specific but often invisible mechanisms that drive such inequalities.”

“We’re also the only team in the U.S. attempting to identify the mechanisms of Native American pain inequity and the only team with the collective expertise to successfully execute this project.”

(left to right) Lowe, Rhudy, Shadlow

TU Supports Tulsa-area RESETTLEMENT

Danielle Macdonald, Ph.D. spends much of her time 20,000 years in the past. An associate professor in the department of anthropology within the Kendall College of Arts and Sciences, Macdonald’s current field research takes her to an archaeological site of a hunter-gatherer community in what is modern-day Jordan.

But recently her focus has shifted very much to the here and now, as she has taken a leading role in helping more than 850 Afghan refugees transition to a new life in Tulsa, 22 of them on the TU campus.

“When Afghans started arriving, part of their resettlement process is they need to go through cultural orientation training. And as an anthropologist, what I teach at TU is culture,” she said. “So, I thought I could use my anthropological knowledge and skills to help our new community members understand what life is like here in the United States, and what life is like in Tulsa.”

PEOPLE IN CRISIS

In September 2021, U.S. military forces withdrew from Afghanistan and the political situation quickly deteriorated as the Taliban assumed control. Afghan citizens threatened by the regime and those who had cooperated with the U.S. were in immediate danger, creating a refugee crisis. Federal agencies quickly developed Operation Allies Welcome (OAW), a streamlined process to intake these refugees to the U.S.

Roughly 80,000 Afghans have been resettled in communities around the United States, including more than 850 in the Tulsa area.

These new neighbors have been assisted by the government, refugee resettlement agencies, and also helped by charitable organizations, faith-based organizations, and individual community members.

Macdonald first encountered the refugees as a cultural orientation volunteer for Catholic Charities, one of the resettlement agencies in Tulsa that was already responding to the crisis. TU offered unused student housing spots to house 22 refugees, many in their 20’s, similar to the age of traditional college students. Most were young people who came with very little personal belongings and little understanding of life in the U.S. Housing wasn’t enough; they needed everything.

TU OFFERS TO HELP

Leaving everything one knows behind to start a new life may seem unimaginable. As a university that draws students from 60 countries in a city with a long history of support for displaced people, TU could offer some of what was most critically needed.

“I realized that our newcomers living on campus needed more help than what we had initially offered them. And I approached President Carson to ask whether I could work as liaison for these new community members,” Macdonald said.

TU-Afghan Cultural Exchange (TU-ACE) was born out of the need to bring together Afghan youth, ages 18-25, with TU students to work on language and cultural exchange. Afghan participants in the program meet regularly to practice English and learn about U.S. culture, while TU students have the opportunity to learn about Afghanistan, broaden their cultural awareness, as well as learn some words in the languages

of Pashto and Dari. The program aims to build a sense of community for Afghan youth, many of whom are too old to attend high school, and to provide a peer-support network by connecting them with TU students. TU-ACE runs with a dedicated group of TU staff volunteers and students who attend every meeting

“The program has been meeting for one year, and we’ve talked about everything from music, movies, college, slang, and sports. During this time I’ve watched TU students and Afghan newcomers help each other bridge cultural divides and form amazing friendships,” said Macdonald.

REFUGEES RESETTLED TO TULSA

REFUGEES RESETTLED TO TU

“The program has been meeting for one year, and we’ve talked about everything from music, movies, college, slang, and sports. During this time I’ve watched TU students and Afghan newcomers help each other bridge cultural divides and form amazing friendships.”

The meetings have become a community of their own, as local students have befriended members of the Afghan community, shared meals, and participated in excursions such as visits to local museums, and TU sporting events.

Macdonald’s language and cultural knowledge gained from working in Muslim countries has been a huge asset. She has become a friend to many of the Afghan residents at TU, taking calls and texts at all hours for all sorts of challenges, big and small.

“Differences in culture that might seem mundane to us can be deeply impactful for somebody who’s new to that community,” she said.

Other organizations involved in supporting the Afghan community include the YWCA, who provide up to five years of case management support. TU has worked in collaboration with the Tulsa YWCA, who has been hosting English language classes on campus for the on-campus Afghans and the larger Afghan community living in the Kendall-Whittier area. In cooperation with the B’nai Emunah refugee resettlement agency, TU has created a local chapter of Every Campus a Refuge, which will get students more deeply involved with newcomers living on

campus through service learning activities, including having students act as assistant case managers for a newly resettled family. Through B’nai Emunah, Macdonald and TU students are providing additional cultural orientation classes for other resettled communities, not just Afghans. Macdonald notes that Tulsa has a well-established Burmese refugee community, Syrian communities, Iraqi communities, Venezuelan communities, and a quickly growing community from Ukraine that all live here in Tulsa.

Although the State Department is expediting processing, it will take time. The University of Tulsa College of Law students and faculty are providing direct legal help through “Project 850.”

Project 850 began when The University of Tulsa Legal Clinic mobilized to ensure 850 individuals arriving in Tulsa from Afghanistan had a head start on their stable futures here in the United States. Beginning in the fall of 2021, in the immediate aftermath of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, Mimi Marton and Robin Sherman (JD ’17) of the TU Legal Clinic began organizing to meet the legal needs of evacuees who were to be resettled in Tulsa. They began coordinating with resettlement services agencies, recruiting and training volunteer attorneys

“To be able to use my anthropological skills and my anthropological knowledge about the diversity of human culture, and to give back to a new community has been the most rewarding thing that I’ve been able to do.”

and law students from TU College of Law’s immigration law society, ImmLaw, and securing funding for a Project 850 Legal Fellowship position.

In addition to making Tulsa a more diverse community, the Afghan community is also providing teaching moments of their own. Macdonald says that through the TU-Afghan Cultural Exchange program, undergraduates and graduate students are meeting directly with the Afghan community to understand the issues they face, and this work will continue in the spring semester with the launch of the Every Campus a Refuge program.

“The immigration system is so complicated [that] most people, including attorneys, don’t have a firm grasp of it without specialized training,” said Flynn. “Initially, Project 850 recruited and organized training for volunteer attorneys and TU Law students and then held legal screening events in which volunteers met with each Afghan family to discover what type of case they may have, scanned and organized documents, and finally assigned the case to attorneys who began the several years’ process toward obtaining their clients’ legal citizenship.”

To date, the university has offered seven scholarships to Afghan community members, allowing students, who were already studying to continue and also giving new freshmen a fresh start.

From a great tragedy, there is hope and opportunity for a better life for people who believe in the promise of the United States. TU and the Tulsa community at large are making that promise a reality for our Afghan neighbors.

“This has been some of the most impactful work that I’ve been able to do at The University of Tulsa,” Macdonald said. “To be able to use my anthropological skills and my anthropological knowledge about the diversity of human culture, and to give back to a new community has been the most rewarding thing that I’ve been able to do.”

Attorney Matt Flynn (JD ’19) now leads the initiative as the Project 850 Legal Fellow within The University of Tulsa College of Law.

Jeff Kauffman is a native Tulsan and a writer for technology companies.

TU MUSIC COMPOSITION SENIOR’S ORIGINAL FILM SCORE WOWS CRITICS

Vegas Movie Awards winner for Best Original Score, Oniros Film Awards winner for Best Main Theme, Festigious International Film Festival winner for Best Score, and New York Movie Awards winner for Original Score. These are just a few of the many recognitions that awardwinning senior music composition major Kyleigh Taylor brought home last summer.

Taylor’s recent success was preceded by a longstanding admiration for music and film. Even as a child, Taylor would listen to Hollywood scores that her mother burned onto CDs.

“We’d listen to them all the time,” said Taylor, who had, at a young age, already claimed a favorite composer: “I’ll always have a soft spot for Thomas Newman, thanks to my mother.

‘Finding Nemo,’ ‘WALL-E,’ ‘The Help’: His scores were the soundtrack to my childhood.”

Despite having little experience in writing composition prior to coming to The University of Tulsa, Taylor knew a great deal about film scores and was proficient in both the piano and viola. This gave her the courage she needed to try her hand at the music composition major offered at TU. Additionally, Taylor discovered that she could place a film scoring emphasis on her major, something that sealed the deal. “I knew that TU was where I wanted my journey to begin.”

AWARD SHOW ACCOLADES

After countless class projects and student films, Taylor found work on her first television series, “Girl Unscripted,” in summer 2021. Taylor met with producer Eric Keith, who offered to let her test score an episode of an upcoming series that he and his team were working on. “They told me that they enjoyed what I came up with and asked me if I would

like to score the entire series,” said Taylor, “Of course, I accepted without any hesitation.” Soon enough, people from Hollywood all the way to Tuscany would hear this talented musician’s score.

Taylor spent most of October and November 2021 working on “Girl Unscripted,” but it was not until this past summer that the series began submitting to film festivals and screenplay competitions. “I was completely overwhelmed by the amazingly positive feedback that ‘Girl Unscripted’ was getting,” said Taylor, “and I was even more amazed to see that I had received up to 14 recognitions for my original score. It was reassuring to me that I am on the right path to making my way in the world.”

INSPIRED TO DREAM LARGE

With graduate studies in view and Academy Awardwinning aspirations, it is clear that Taylor’s peers and mentors have fostered an environment inviting to artistic and creative growth. Thanks to the careful instruction provided by Taylor’s professors, this driven pupil’s music has graced the ears of critics all over the globe. “All of my professors have provided guidance, wisdom and motivation,” said

Taylor; “they inspire me daily to dream large and put my best foot forward.”

One professor that has been particularly helpful in Taylor’s music journey is recently retired J. Donald Feagin Professor of Music and Professor of Film Joseph Rivers, who has known her ever since she first visited TU as a prospective student. It did not take long in the classroom for Rivers to see that Taylor not only loved music but was a truly exceptional musician as well. Rivers recalls that her talent became apparent when she composed, mixed and mastered a marvelous score for a fellow student’s short film. “Her knowledge and skills will go a long way in helping her to find great success in film scoring,” said Rivers; “I am looking forward to the day when I see her name on the big screen.”

For more information about TU’s School of Music, visit utulsa.edu/music.

Lily Rogers (BA ’21) is a second-year English literature master’s student and the graduate assistant for TU’s marketing and communications department.

2022 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNAE Rilla Askew

2022 Distinguished Alumna

As a young girl growing up in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Rilla Askew (BFA ’80) fell in love with acting, which would eventually lead her to The University of Tulsa. Even though she had never set foot on campus, she was drawn to TU by its reputation in the arts and its commitment to the stage, two critical components she knew could help her achieve her dream of a career in the theater in New York City.

She came to the university and immersed herself completely in all aspects of the theater. Guided by committed faculty and inspired by fellow students, she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theater performance in 1980 and then pursued her dream in the Big Apple.

After some success in roles in Off-Off-Broadway productions, she discovered her real interest was in writing. Her first book of short stories, Strange Business (1992), garnered praise from the Washington Post Book World and earned Askew the Oklahoma Book Award in 1993.

Askew’s first novel, The Mercy Seat (1997), earned numerous awards including the Western Heritage Award and her second Oklahoma Book Award, but it was in her novel Fire in Beulah (2001) that Askew uncovered stories and voices from the Tulsa Race Massacre that had been buried for decades. Released in October 2022, her latest novel, Prize for Fire takes readers to 16th-century England with the story of Reformation-era martyr Anne Askew, who was burned at the stake during King Henry the Eighth’s reign.

“I feel really honored in the acknowledgment of my work and the acknowledgment of my connection to TU,” said Askew. “Who I am as a writer comes out of my experience and time at The University of Tulsa. The fact that the university claims me makes me so very happy.”

This award is given to recognize outstanding achievement by an alumnus or alumna in a particular discipline, organization or cause. Distinguished Alumni honorees are a great credit to The University of Tulsa and all alumni share in the celebration of their collective achievements.

Lisa A. Stewart 2022 Distinguished Alumna

Lisa Stewart (BSPE ’81) has never shied away from a challenge. As only one of five women in a class of 75 students to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering, she found her passion and proceeded undeterred into a successful career in the oil and gas industry.

“I think TU for me was perfect,” reflected Stewart. “Because of the size, I could have strong interaction with my professors, and they took interest in me, which was very important.”

Stewart gained invaluable experience working before and after graduation. Ultimately, she landed with Apache Corporation, a smaller company that offered more opportunity for professional growth. Over the next 20 years, she was promoted to various positions ranging from Reservoir Engineer to Executive Vice President of Business Development. She loved every minute of it, before challenging herself once again with a couple moves that led to her founding Sheridan Production Company in 2006.

As co-founder of Sheridan, Stewart led a team of seasoned oil and gas executives in partnership with the private equity investment firm Warburg Pincus. Today, the company operates mature producing properties with the goal of returning value to partners through cost-efficient operations utilizing best in class environmental and safety procedures. Stewart served as Chairman and Chief Investment Officer from its founding.

Upon learning she earned this honor, Stewart confessed she did a bit of research on previous Distinguished Alumni. “I looked at the list and saw Rue McClanahan (BA ’56) was a 1999 Distinguished Alumna, so I guess I’m kind of a golden girl now,” she said with a smile.

Dana S. Weber

2022 Distinguished Alumna

Dana Weber (BSBA ’79, JD ’83) knew attending TU would prepare her for larger roles at her father’s company, Webco, and she embraced her education with a defined pathway in mind. “When I was in high school, I made the decision to attend TU,” said Weber. “I probably could have gone anywhere, but I became totally enmeshed in the campus community.”

F. William “Bill” Weber (MBA ’63) founded Webco in 1969. Dana Weber became CEO of Webco Industries in 2011, one of the few women leaders in this industry. The same year, she was also named Oklahoma’s Woman of the Year by the Journal Record. Since taking the company’s reins, Weber has led the company to significant growth including reported net earnings of $48.4 million in 2022, up from $5.6 million just five years earlier.

“I think I’m probably most proud of what we have built from what my father started,” said Weber. “He created the culture and environment of a forever company, focusing on the long term.”

After earning her two degrees, Weber’s immersion in the life of The University of Tulsa continued with Chi Omega, the Dean’s Circle supporting the Collins College of Business, and through the college’s Executive Advisory Board. In 2018, she was recognized as an Outstanding Alumna of the college. Most notably, Weber was elected to serve as Chairperson of TU’s Board of Trustees in 2020, the first woman to lead the university in this role in its more than 125-year history. She continues to serve on the board today.

“TU is a university that Tulsa is and should be proud of,” Weber continued. “There are a lot of schools and colleges in Oklahoma and the nation, but TU is an outstanding university known for its academic success and commitment to the success of its students. Under the leadership of President Brad Carson and the commitment of our alumni and friends, I know Tulsa recognizes the importance of TU and will be inspired to continue to support Tulsa’s university.”

Introduced in 1972, The University of Tulsa Alumni Association annually presents accomplished alumni with the Association’s highest honor – The Distinguished Alumni Award.

Student Honors & Awards

Ten Seniors and Ten Freshmen are selected each year by a panel of judges from the TU Alumni Association for their exceptional achievement in academics and community engagement.

Jess Chouteau Outstanding Seniors

Natalie Barton, exercise and sports science major

Megan Herrington, chemical engineering major

Ha Huynh, biology major

Neha Khalid, biochemistry major

Matt Mangan, biochemistry major

Danita Mathew, biochemistry major

Erica McAlester, sociology major

Reema Mousa, biology major

Emma Opoku, biology major

Asa Scott, political science and chemistry dual major

Top Ten Freshmen

Vishwasri Aleti, psychology major

Anna Blair, biology major

Danielle Burns, chemical engineering major

Maddie Fulk, exercise and sports science / pre-med and applied mathematics dual major

Owen Gilstrap, psychology major

Abby Heidemann, energy management and finance dual major

Megan Hernadi, mechanical engineering and mathematics dual major

Emma Robbins, exercise and sports circle major

Steven Stagg, biochemistry major

Rachel Ward, exercise and sports science major

Laurie Brumbaugh

2022 J. Paschal Twyman Award

J. Paschal Twyman served The University of Tulsa for 21 years as President before his untimely death in 1989, at which time colleagues wrote: “As a man of uncompromised vision, he enriched our academic environment, encouraged the pursuit of excellence, and inspired greatness both on this campus and beyond.”

The same can be said of the 2022 recipient of The University of Tulsa Alumni Association’s J. Paschal Twyman Award for outstanding commitment to TU, Laurie Fiocchi Brumbaugh (BS ’78). With enthusiasm and entrepreneurial commitment, she leads by example in her long-standing and dedicated service to her alma mater.

“If I’m passionate about something, I try to find where I can best fulfill service to it, and I feel I have a place at TU,” said Brumbaugh. “I don’t like to be in the front row, I like to be in the back row.”

From the “back row,” Brumbaugh played a significant leadership role and built the foundation for two TU programs that ensure more students feel they have a place at TU: the D’Arcy Fellowship Program and TU Uncorked. Since that first event in 2005, TU Uncorked has raised funds to support over 50 TU students with need-based scholarships.

The University of Tulsa salutes 2022 J. Paschal Twyman award winner Laurie Brumbaugh for being “loyal, always true” in service to her alma mater.

Tom McIntosh

2022 Mr. Homecoming

“As the winningest coach in TU soccer history, Tom McIntosh consistently outperforms his job responsibilities by positioning The University of Tulsa at the forefront of collegiate men’s soccer competition,” said Rick Dickson (BS ’77), director of athletics, The University of Tulsa in his nomination application for “Mr. Homecoming” - an honor bestowed by the TU Alumni Association to a member of the faculty or staff who consistently leads by example.

Since his first season as head coach, McIntosh (BSBA ’89, MBA ’91) has built Tulsa into a conference powerhouse, leading TU to 14 conference championships, including nine tournament and five regular season titles. In addition, the team has advanced to the NCAA Tournament 12 times with McIntosh at the helm as head coach, including national quarterfinal appearances in 2004 and 2009.

A former student-athlete himself, McIntosh places a strong emphasis on academics with his team, which has resulted in 273 players throughout his 28-year career earning conference academic honors.

“The University of Tulsa changed my life forever,” said McIntosh, who earned both a bachelors and masters degree in business administration from the Collins College of Business. “I think it was the personalized atmosphere and the combination of both excellence in the classroom and competing at the highest level that transformed my life from the very first day.”

CLASS notes

1960s

William Dunstan (MA ’66) of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, served as docent for a rare opening of the Rebecca Vaughan House (circa 1794) in Courtland, Virginia, on April 9. Nat Turner attacked the house during his 1831 slave uprising. Dr. Dunstan describes the fate of the inhabitants in his book Walking with Giants. He conducts research and writes books as a visiting scholar at the University of North Carolina.

1970s

Bill Carl (BA ’70) published an international espionage novel titled Assassin’s Manuscript, which is found on Amazon. He also founded a publishing company called LeConte Publishing LLC which can be found at www.lecontepublishing.com.

Cheryl Yadon Forrest (BA ’72) published the book The Girl on the Belvedere: Finding Meaning through Travel, Friendship and French. She shares her love of travel and the French language in her latest publication, a combined travelogue, memoir and later-in-life “coming-of-age” story. The book follows Cheryl as she rediscovers herself and her dreams separate from the demands and expectations of motherhood, marriage and society.

Debra Harden Rue (BME ’74) was honored as the 2021 Oklahoma Musician of the Year by the Oklahoma Federation of Music Clubs. She serves on the Alumni Association Board of Directors, is president of the Ponca City Federated Music Club, a trustee on the board of the Pioneer Woman Museum, and serves on the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce Tourism Bureau. Debra is a retired public school and church choral director and is an organist and pianist at Ponca City’s First Methodist Church.

Stephen “Steve” Whittington (BS ’75, MBA ’77) wrote his first book Alas, Mystery Babylon during COVID, and it is available on Amazon.

Julius Tennon (BA ’78) and his wife, Viola Davis, produced the film “The Woman King” through their company JuVee Productions. The film had its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September and debuted at number one at the box office. Julius serves on the Board of Visitors for the Kendall College of Arts and Sciences.

1980s

Rilla Askew (BFA ’80) recently published her latest novel Prize for the Fire, which recently made the Oklahoma bestseller list. Rilla was honored as a TU Distinguished Alumna at Homecoming in October and serves on the Board of Visitors for the Kendall College of Arts and Sciences.

CLASS NOTES are a way to share what’s going on in your personal or professional life with your TU classmates. Our online version of Class Notes provides you the opportunity to update your information as you wish.

If you are interested in submitting your news directly to TU, please use the following QR code, or you may send your Class Notes by mail to:

Ken McQueen (BSPE ’82) was appointed by Governor Kevin Stitt as Oklahoma’s Secretary of Energy in September.

Steven West (BA ’89) has been awarded the Presidential Volunteer Service Award by Oklahoma State University for his work with the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. Steven works with the foundation as a research advocate and mentor.

1990s

Thad Satterfield (BA ’90) is now the vice president of talent acquisition at ATI Physical Therapy. He and his wife Andrea Nevaril Satterfield (BA ’90) reside in McKinney, Texas.

Charles Miller (BS ’94, BA ’94) received the 2022 Leaders in Educational Excellence Award (LEEA). He was recognized by his peers at Saint John’s Preparatory School in Collegeville, Minnesota for service to the school community and demonstrating positive leadership that helps students thrive. Charles teaches physics, a course on Science and Faith and serves as the Varsity Esports Coach.

Brandy Snider McCombs (BS ’97) has completed her PhD from the University of Oklahoma and has accepted the position as assistant professor in

the department of Curriculum and Instruction at Northeastern State University.

Jennifer Pace Faries (BA ’99, MS ’01) started a new position as senior manager of health equity at CommunityCare.

Ann Heidger Pequeno (BA ’99) and her husband, Bobby, were recently featured in the HGTV series “No Demo Reno” where their kitchen and bathroom renovations on the show inspired them to renovate their McKinney, Texas home. Ann serves on the Alumni Association Board of Directors as the Immediate Past President.

2000s

Shawna Baker (JD ’02, MS ’02) serves as a justice on the Cherokee National Supreme Court and is the founder and principal of Family Legacy and Wealth Counsel, a legal firm specializing in estate planning and business consulting. In fall 2022, she served as the Distinguished Alumna in Residence for the TU College of Law.

Gabby Gibson Farringer (BA ’02) is working on an M.Ed. in Education from OU-Tulsa while working as a teaching assistant for Tulsa Public Schools for the 2022-23 academic year.

David Guten (JD ’03) will be sworn in as a Tulsa County district judge in January 2023.

Sarah Steffen Burns (JD ’04) joined Simmons Hanly Conroy as shareholder. She currently serves as the deputy chief of the opioid litigation team where she oversees more than 125 cases dedicated to helping counties and municipal governments hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for the opioid crisis. She says that she is incredibly grateful for the education and guidance she received from TU College of Law, which prepared her with the skills to do work that she loves. Sarah is especially grateful for Professor Johnny Parker and says that the knowledge that he and the rest of the faculty at Tulsa Law passed along to her has aided her in her success.

Kristen Taylor Schooley (BSBA ’04) became the director of development for Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance in August 2022, which is an organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing all youth for a STEM-enabled future. She will be working with companies, organizations, and individuals across the region to ensure learning opportunities in science,

technology, engineering and math are accessible to all.

Reverend Gerald Davis (BSBA ’72) has served as an affiliate minister at Tulsa’s All Souls Unitarian Church and minister for the Church of Restoration since 2007. He was the co-founder of the Association of Black Collegians, which has been a part of TU student life for 50 years.

Charles Vanorsdale (BSPE ’79, MS ’84) recently retired from Saudi Aramco as senior petroleum engineering consultant. He was a key player in Aramco’s 2019 Initial Public Offering, the largest global IPO in history raising almost $30 billion.

Laura Boedges (BA ’86) serves as President of the St. Louis Chapter of the Alumni Association, which was awarded the “Chapter of the Year” at TU Homecoming. She is pictured receiving her award from Alumni Association President Bennett Miller (BA ’09).

CLASS notes

Megan Meussner (BSBA ’05) recently started a new position as vice president of philanthropy at the Tulsa Zoo. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Tulsa Chapter of the Alumni Association.

Lesley Jacobs Robinson (BA ’06) was named an Austin Woman to Watch in September 2022 for her work as director of the Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute at The University of Texas at Austin. Through the newly launched Women in Entrepreneurship specialization, she is a lecturer, where she co-created the Entrepreneurial LeadHERship course that takes student leaders on a journey to discover their personal values, strengths, and authentic leadership styles.

Billea Rippe Karnes (BSPE ’08) has recently transitioned to a position in the renewable energy industry as director of strategy and planning for The Alden Group Renewable Energy (“AGRE”). AGRE transforms food processing wastewater into renewable diesel feedstock to promote a circular economy and reduce landfill waste. She works to construct and monitor AGRE’s budgeting processes and manages

Investor Relations for the start up. She also performs data analytics to help guide the growth plan for AGRE. Billea also serves as secretary on the Board of Directors for the Tulsa Chapter of the Alumni Association.

Amanda Aragon (BSBA ’09) received the Suzanne Kubach Policy Innovators in Education (PIE) Network Weaver of the Year award. This award recognizes advocates who thoughtfully and intentionally support the leadership and work of others, strengthening the PIE Network and the sector. Amanda is executive director of NewMexicoKidsCAN and serves on the Alumni Association Board of Directors. In May, Amanda was named an Outstanding Alumna by the Collins College of Business. She serves on the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Aaron “A.J.” Johnson (BSBA ’09) was named an Outstanding Alumnus by the Collins College of Business in May. He is the proprietor of Oasis Fresh Market, which is the first full-service grocery store to open in Tulsa in nearly 15 years and helps alleviate north Tulsa’s food desert. A.J. currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Tulsa Chapter of the Alumni Association.

James Bailey (BA ’09) was promoted to tenured associate professor of Economics at Providence College.

David Liner (BS ’09, BA ’09) and Michelle Keenan Liner (MEd ’09) welcomed a baby girl in June.

2010s

Justin Harlan (BA ’09, BSBA ’09, MBA ’16) serves as managing director of Tulsa Remote, which officially welcomed 2,000 remote workers to Tulsa. Tulsa Remote launched in 2018 and is the largest remote worker program in the country. He was named a 2022 Fast Track Alumnus by the Collins College of Business. Justin and his wife, Megan, also own and operate Pure Barre South Tulsa and Row House South Tulsa.

Colton Sheets (BSME ’10) married Holly Herrera on January 7 in Houston, Texas. They currently reside in Houston where Colton is a senior associate at Stress Engineering Services, Inc.

R.J. Young (BS ’10) published his most recent book Requiem for the Massacre: A Black History on the Conflict, Hope, and Fallout of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. He is a national football writer and analyst at FOX Sports. R.J. serves on the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Ken Busby (BA ’89) was named to the inaugural class of “55 Over 55 Inspiring Oklahomans” by the NextGen Foundation. Ken serves as the Executive Director & CEO of the Route 66 Alliance.

Calvin Michael Moniz (BSBA ’06, MBA ’08, JD ’15) was named program manager for university relations at Ingredion Incorporated. He also serves on the Tulsa Chapter of the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Diana Codispoti (BA ’06) ran her first marathon in New York on November 6. She raised over $7,500 for Achilles International, which empowers athletes with disabilities. Diana and her twin sister Alexandra Codispoti (BSBA ’06) are participants in the World Tough Mudder competition.

John Gray (BSBA ’10) married Danielle Copeland (BSN ’13) on October 1 in Tulsa. Alumni in the wedding included Hillary Dees Hauth (BSN ’13), Kayla Farmer (BSN ’15), Kris Karnes (BSBA ’10, MEB ’14), Calvin Moniz (BSBA ’06, MBA ’08, JD ’15), Alex Bird (former student), and Ryan Henry (BS ’09, MJEL ’16).

Mohammed “Mo” Abdalla (BSBA ’11) was recognized as a Fast Track Alumnus by the Collins College of Business in May. He is founder and CEO of Good Faith Energy.

Meggie Neels Gaskins (BSBA ’11, MBA ’15) joined the Oklahoma Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association as director of communications in May 2022.

Susie Dumond (BA ’12) is the author of the novel Queerly Beloved, which was released in May from DialPress/ Random House. The story is a LGBTQ+ romantic comedy set in Tulsa, following Amy, a baker/bartender turned bridesmaid-for-hire, who falls for the cute new lesbian in town, Charley. Besides the romance and wedding mayhem, it’s also a love letter to Tulsa, with several scenes highlighting some of Tulsa’s most iconic and beloved places. Amy, the protagonist, and her best friend are both TU grads, and Amy’s mother is an adjunct professor at TU.

Paul Humphrey (BA ’14) released his debut album. “A Window In” comprises seven compositions, which Humphrey wrote and performs on piano. Recorded at the famous Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles and produced by J.B. Cook, the collection weaves together several genres, including classical music, jazz, cinematic music and even some Americana.

Caleb Lareau (BS ’15) was named as a Forbes “30 Under 30” honoree.

Currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Stanford University School of Medicine, Caleb received this accolade in recognition of his research and potential in the field of cancer-focused immunotherapy.

Matt Hickman (BSBA ’16, MBA ’18) transitioned from an associate within Investment Banking at Goldmans Sachs in New York City to an investment principal with Plains Ventures in Oklahoma City.

Jacob Waters (BS ’18) was recently promoted to corporate accounting associate for the Walt Disney Company. Previously he served as a VIP tour guide for three years with the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Fareshteh Hamidi (JD ’19) has practiced medical malpractice defense at Sweet Law Firm in Oklahoma City for the past two years. The Oklahoma Bar Journal recently published two articles she wrote, titled “Immunity from Civil Liability: How Recent COVID-19-Related Emergency Orders and Laws Intend to Protect Nursing Homes and Staff Against Lawsuits” and “Vaccine Mandates and Their Role in the Workplace.”

2020s

Shea McClellan (BA ’20) is a consultant and strategy coordinator for PMG in Dallas. She started PMG’s Graduate Leadership Program in June after

completing her MBA and MS at University of Texas - Dallas.

Luke Bertaux (BSBA ’22) received a Fulbright Award in May to work as an English teaching assistant at the University of Málaga, where he will spend nine months helping the university’s teaching staff with degree programs that are taught in English, conduct academic writing workshops, and tutor students.

Katherine Carsten (BA ’22) and Caroline Carston (BA ’22) are teaching in Supham Buri, Thailand at Sa-Nguyen Ying School. They will teach for one year in English to Thai students in the international school.

Heath Fusco (BA ’22) received a Fulbright Award in May. In February he will move to Asunción, Paraguay, where he will work as a Fulbright English teaching assistant, helping students learn English and organize crosscultural community events designed to share U.S. culture with residents.

Devyn Lyon (BA ’22) started his career at Fox23 as a producer. Just three months after graduation, Devyn was promoted to the role of 9:00 p.m. producer. He thanks the tools, knowledge, and experience that The University of Tulsa gave him for climbing to a great leadership position with no ceiling in sight.

Thomas Schorr (BSBA ’10) and his wife, Kendall, welcomed a daughter named Lucy.

Monte Dunham (BA ’21) thanks his donor Jana Ecrette (MEd ’04) for his scholarship support while at TU. He is currently in graduate school in Landscape Architecture at the University of Oklahoma. He is photographed with Professor Emerita Teresa Valero and Jana Ecrette.

Homecoming 2022 honorees were celebrated at Homecoming festivities and received their awards at the Distinguished Alumni Celebration. Photographed are President Brad Carson, J. Paschal Twyman Award Winner Laurie Fiocchi Brumbaugh (BS ’79), Distinguished Alumnae Dana Weber (BSBA ’79, JD ’83), Rilla Askew (BFA ’80), and Lisa Stewart (BSPE ’81), and Mr. Homecoming Tom McIntosh (BSBA ’89, MBA ’91).

Abigail Raiford (BM ’17) made her debut with the Tulsa Opera this fall in “The Italian Girl.” She is a soprano and member of the opera’s Filstrup Resident Artist Program.

2022 Collins College of Business Hall of Fame honorees included John Lindsay (BSPE ’86) as the Outstanding Business Leader, Susie Collins Hentschel as the Outstanding Business Leader, Susie Collins Hentschel as the Dean’s Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, and Jill Donovan (JD ’03) as the Outstanding Entrepreneur. They are pictured with Dean Kathy Taylor.

Emma Dawson (BME ’22) joined the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation and its members in Washington, DC as they championed the importance of music education to the nation’s leaders. She is working in a twoyear position with Venture for America.

The Zeta Lambda Chapter of Sigma Nu Fraternity was re-chartered at TU in November after being dormant for 12 years and in colony status for six years. The chapter is led by Jeremy Edwards (BSME ’95, MME ’98, PhD ’00), who is a Division Commander with Sigma Nu Fraternity.

800 South Tucker Drive Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104

TU does not discriminate on the basis of personal status or group characteristics including, but not limited to individuals on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, ancestry, or marital status. Questions regarding this policy may be addressed to the Office of Human Resources, 918-631-2616.

With tuition and fees funding less than half of TU’s operating budget, we rely on gifts to help cover the all-important difference. For many students, the opportunity for a TU education hinges on scholarships and assistantships and donor support makes that happen.

College rankings organizations consider the percentage of alumni who give to their alma mater.TU already has the core strengths of a Top 75 university and we are fervently working to break that distinguished rankings tier.

Thank you to the many donors and alumni whose annual contributions create the success we need to support out students.

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- Brad R. Carson, President

utulsa.edu/support