The OSU/A&M Board of Regents approved the appointment of Dr. Jim Hess as the 20th president of Oklahoma State University in April. A native of Henryetta, Oklahoma, Hess has served the higher education system in Oklahoma for over 43 years, and, in 2023, was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame. Hess most recently served as vice provost for graduate programs at the OSU Center for Health Sciences, where he has exhibited exemplary leadership and vision in various roles since 2003. While chief operating officer of the Center for Health Sciences, his efforts led to the acquisition of the teaching hospital, creating what is now OSU Medical Center — the only osteopathic teaching hospital in the United States. He now serves as the CEO of the OSU Veterinary Medicine Authority and is designated as a Riata Faculty Fellow in the OSU School of Entrepreneurship. Hess earned his bachelor's and master's degrees at Northeastern State University before completing his doctorate at Oklahoma State University. Hess began his higher education career at Rogers State College in 1981, serving in several senior leadership positions there over the next 15 years. In 1996, the University Center at Tulsa and Rogers State were merged to form Rogers University, where Hess served as vice president for administration. Two years later, the institutions were legislatively separated, and Hess was appointed transition CEO to spin off the four campuses to create OSU-Tulsa and Rogers State University. Hess continued with Oklahoma State University, serving as vice president and chief operating officer for OSU-Tulsa from 1999 to 2003, doubling enrollment and creating BOB, the Big Orange Bus shuttle service between Tulsa and Stillwater. Hess resides in Owasso, Oklahoma, with his wife, Angela. They have a son, John; a daughter, Bonnie; one grandson, Johnny; and three granddaughters, Brooklyn, Billie and Bradley.
