$250,000 Gift from Norman Alumni Places Emphasis on OSU Arts

Regent Burns and wife Nickie seek to bolster university’s vocal music program

Oklahoma State University announced today a $250,000 gift from Norman, Okla. residents Doug and Nickie Burns to create a vocal music 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.

Currently a partner at Burns & Stowers PC, Doug graduated from OSU with a degree in political science in 1975 and currently serves as chairman of the OSU A&M Board of Regents. Nickie graduated from OSU with a degree in sociology in 1974.  The gift creates the Doug and Nickie Burns Endowed Professorship in Vocal Music located within the College of Arts & Sciences.

“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 everything Doug and Nickie have done for OSU and want to say a special thanks for this important gift.” 

In order to take full advantage of the state’s dollar-for-dollar match, and make the most significant impact on OSU academics, the Burns 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 arts, in particular, are often overlooked.  We hope this gift will help to retain our best faculty,” said Doug.  “Our goal is to raise the visibility of the arts and to provide support for our outstanding music department.”

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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