2025 State of the Schools

KEYNOTE

Jim Hess President, Oklahoma State University

Dr. Jim Hess became Oklahoma State University’s president in April 2025, bringing over four decades of transformative educational leadership. Born in Henryetta, Oklahoma, he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Northeastern State University and his doctorate at OSU.

Throughout his career, Dr. Hess has consistently prioritized student success while driving institutional growth. At OSU-Tulsa, he doubled enrollment and launched the popular Big Orange Bus shuttle service. At the OSU Center for Health Sciences, he expanded the OSU Physicians Group tenfold and championed innovative graduate programs that made OSU-CHS the only institution in Oklahoma’s higher education system to achieve consecutive enrollment growth for a decade. His pioneering work includes establishing innovative graduate programs in Healthcare Administration, Global Health, Medical Sciences, and Forensic Sciences. One of his most significant achievements was securing OSU Medical Center as the nation’s only osteopathic teaching hospital. Despite his administrative roles, Dr. Hess maintained his commitment to teaching by carrying a full graduate course load each semester. Inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame in 2023, Dr. Hess combines visionary leadership with authentic student connection, making him uniquely positioned to lead OSU’s continued growth as a premier land- grant institution.

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