OSU Regents approve honorary doctorates

Friday, February 24, 2012

OSU Regents approve honorary doctorates The Oklahoma State University/A&M Board of Regents Friday voted to award honorary doctorates to Sir Ken Robinson, Ph.D., an internationally-recognized educational innovator, and Vaughn O. Vennerberg II, an alumnus known for his success in the oil and gas industry, service to others, and support of education.

The request for honorary doctorates will be submitted for final authorization by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. If approved, Vennerberg and Robinson will both receive an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) at OSU’s May 5 undergraduate commencement

“These two successful individuals have touched education, business and the arts with their enthusiasm, creativity, energy and insight,” said OSU President Burns Hargis.  “Oklahoma State University is delighted and honored to recognize their accomplishments and service to society and our global economy.”

Robinson mentored the Oklahoma Creativity Project and was key to Oklahoma obtaining designation as one of only 14 U.S. Districts of Creativity in the world. His work led to the formation of Creative Oklahoma, Inc., a statewide non-profit organization that promotes creative idea generation in individuals and institutions through entrepreneurial initiatives.

Robinson, professor emeritus with the University of Warwick, works with governments in Europe, Asia and the U.S.; international agencies; Fortune 500 companies and some of the world’s leading cultural organizations. He has led initiatives to develop arts education throughout England and Wales and helped create a strategy for the development of the economy and creativity as part of the peace process in Northern Ireland.

He is the recipient of numerous awards including the Peabody Medal for contributions to the arts and culture in the United States. In 2005, Robinson was named one of Time/Fortune/CNN’s “Principal Voices.” In 2003, he received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for his service to the arts. Robinson has spoken to audiences throughout the world and his presentations on the role of creativity in education have been viewed by millions.  

Vennerberg is a native of Midwest City, Ok., and graduated from OSU with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1976. He was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity at OSU and served as president of the Blue Key National Honor Society, the Student Union Activities Board and the Interfraternity Council. In 1976, he was named one of the Top 10 Seniors for the College of Arts & Sciences and a Redskin Yearbook Congratulate, an honor for OSU’s top 12 graduating seniors.

Vennerberg is one of the founding partners of Morning Star Partners and Morning Star Oil and Gas located in Fort Worth. The company's focus is on the acquisition of domestic oil and gas production. He is the former President of XTO Energy Inc., which merged with ExxonMobil Corporation in June of 2010. He worked for 23 years with XTO, which, before merging, was the nation’s largest domestic natural gas producer.  

The American Association of Petroleum Landmen named Vennerberg “Landman of the Year” in 2008. In 2010, he was named Outstanding Alumni for the College of Arts and Sciences.  He was named a Distinguished Alumni by the OSU Alumni Association in the fall of 2011.

He was one of the founders and served on the executive committee of America’s Natural Gas Alliance, as well as numerous other boards. He was named a Rotary Foundation Fellow to lecture in Bangalore India for six weeks on the topic of the energy industry.

In 2008, Vennerberg and XTO Energy established three endowed faculty positions in the microbiology and molecular genetics, art, and psychology departments. He serves on the board of trustees for the Fort Worth Museum of Science & History and the Van Cilburn Foundation. He also is a minority owner of the Texas Rangers baseball club.