Hundreds of Cowboy faithful packed Gallagher-Iba Arena on Friday, Aug. 26, to celebrate the inauguration of Oklahoma State University President Kayse Shrum.
The inauguration ceremony, which was delayed due to pandemic precautions, included speeches from Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, Sen. James Lankford, Rep. Frank Lucas and Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby. On July 1, 2021, Dr. Shrum made history, becoming the first woman to lead a Tier 1 research institution in the state and Friday, she was formally installed.
“Ultimately, while I have the opportunity to stand behind this microphone, Today is not about me. It’s about us,” Shrum said. “And it’s about how we can take this remarkable place and leverage it to create the opportunity for the next generation of servant-leaders.”
That excitement and future-facing optimism dominated the State of Orange event, which served as a ceremonial milestone in Shrum’s presidency.
“Today, I invite all of you to join me in embarking on a new era of ambitious progress at Oklahoma State University,” Shrum said to the crowd. “Here at OSU, we know we belong to the land.
“I invite you to join me as we go where no land-grant has ever gone before.”