Anonymous Donor Provides $250,000 to Benefit Equine Outreach & Instruction at OSU

Oklahoma State University has announced an anonymous donation of $250,000 to create an equine science professorship at OSU.  Once fully matched dollar-for-dollar by T. Boone Pickens’ $100 million chair match commitment, as well as the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the gift will have the impact of $1 million in endowed funds.

The donor credited the donation to a sincere belief that relationships with horses are a very good experience for anyone, and especially want to extend the opportunity to young people.  The gift was also given based upon a belief in education, and how interacting with horses can build character and responsibility. 

“The response from our alumni and friends has exceeded our wildest expectations,” said OSU President Burns Hargis.  “Inspired by Boone Pickens’ astounding generosity, donors answered the call to make a lasting difference and open a new and exciting chapter at OSU.  We sincerely appreciate the generosity and humility of this equine donor to bring this professorship to fruition for the benefit of future students and faculty within the agricultural college.” 

In order to take full advantage of the state’s dollar-for-dollar match, and make the most significant impact on OSU academics, the donor made the gift prior to the July 1 change in the state’s endowed chair matching program.  This gift is part of the $66.8 million in endowed faculty gifts OSU announced recently.  

The donor also noted the importance for students to know about the horse industry and how they can be involved in it, which ultimately benefits both the student and Oklahoma.  The donor felt that it is important to support faculty needs by providing an opportunity to hire additional people that work in outreach and campus instruction. The gift will create the Equine Science Professorship located within the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

“We’re extremely excited about what this can do for the youth and students with interest in horses,” said Dave Freeman and Steve Cooper, OSU equine professors.  “We have a tremendous horse industry in the state of Oklahoma and an ever growing need for education both through Cooperative Extension and resident instruction at OSU.  We are overwhelmed with the generosity of the donor, who is a true friend of youth, horses and OSU, especially evidenced by wishes to remain anonymous so not to bring any attention to the donor personally.”

Jean Van Delinder, chair of the OSU Faculty Council, said, “OSU is poised for growth and further prominence but to realize its full potential we must continue to attract and retain top scholars and researchers. These chairs highlight the important role that scholarship and teaching play at Oklahoma State University, and they are made possible through the generous support of donors who value excellence in scholarship and want to help OSU continue to nurture a strong faculty.”

Endowed professorships and chairs are academic designations which provide support for faculty salary, graduate assistantships, equipment and research needs, as well as other support.  These endowed faculty positions allow a university to attract and retain the best and the brightest academic minds in the world.

Oklahoma’s only university with a statewide presence, Oklahoma State University is a five-campus, public land-grant educational system that improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation, and the world through integrated, high-quality teaching, research and outreach.  OSU has more than 32,000 students across its system and nearly 21,000 on its Stillwater campus; with students from all 50 states and around 110 nations.  Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 200,000 students who have made a lasting impact on Oklahoma and the world.  

The Oklahoma State University Foundation serves as the private fundraising organization for OSU, as designated by the OSU Regents. Its mission is to unite donor and university passions and priorities to achieve excellence.

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