Alumni Association president announces plans for retirement
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Dr. Jerry Gill, president and CEO of the Oklahoma State University Alumni Association, has announced that he will retire on July 1, 2007, after 22 1/2 years as the association’s chief executive officer and 34 years of service to OSU.
“The time is right for me, personally, and for the Association,” Gill said. “It has been a privilege and a great honor to serve my alma mater, and I will always cherish the friendships forged with thousands of dedicated alumni, faculty and staff who I have had the opportunity to work with over the years.”
OSU System CEO and President David Schmidly said: “We appreciate Jerry’s contributions to Oklahoma State University and his outstanding leadership during a time of historic growth at the Alumni Association. We wish Jerry and his family all the best and know he will continue to make an impact at OSU.”
Gill, a three-year starter for the Cowboy football team, earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in history from OSU. He was a graduate teaching assistant and adjunct professor and authored the International Programs volume of OSU’s Centennial History Series. Before his tenure in the Alumni Association, he served as associate director of high school and college relations and director of athletic gift programs in charge of athletic fundraising and the OSU Posse.
“Jerry has provided extraordinary leadership to our association for nearly a quarter of a century and has helped build it into one of the most respected alumni associations in the nation,” said Calvin Anthony, chairman of the OSU Alumni Association board of directors. “We deeply appreciate his contributions and will miss his leadership and commitment to our organization, but we also understand his request to step down after a lifetime of service to his alma mater.”
Recent Alumni Association initiatives, including the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, independent alignment with the university, a new two-tier governance structure, and new revenue opportunities, have positioned the Association to more effectively serve OSU and its alumni, Anthony said.
“We want to capitalize on this momentum and will initiate a search for a new CEO this fall,” Anthony said. “We will also implement plans to appropriately recognize and celebrate Jerry’s service to our association and to OSU.”
Founded in 1897, the Oklahoma State University Alumni Association represents more than 200,000 alumni worldwide and has alumni chapters in the United States and abroad.