Tulsa Global Alliance Vice Chair Kyden Creekpaum (from left), Vice President of Programs and TGA Interim Director Bob Lieser, TGA Board Chair Alisa Dougless, Sister City Program Coordinator and TGA administrator Cathy Izzo, OSU-Tulsa Vice President for Academic Affairs Susan Johnson and OSU School of Global Studies and Partnerships Dean Randy Kluver.

OSU School of Global Studies and Partnerships and Tulsa Global Alliance join forces to enhance Tulsa economic development

Friday, March 15, 2019

OSU-Tulsa and the OSU School of Global Studies and Partnerships (SGSP) have kicked off a collaboration with the Tulsa Global Alliance to bring global studies to OSU-Tulsa and further enhance Tulsa’s international economic development.

“OSU’s rich international history and new initiatives through the School of Global Studies and Partnerships make it an ideal partner for Tulsa Global Alliance,” said Bob Lieser, vice president of programs and interim director of TGA. “We are very excited about being here and are looking forward to promoting citizen diplomacy in Oklahoma.”

Pending approval of the OSU/A&M Board of Regents and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the SGSP plans to offer its master’s in global studies and graduate certificate programs in Tulsa beginning in 2020, including a graduate certificate in global trade. These courses will provide Tulsa students and business professionals the opportunity to develop global perspectives and leadership skills within a variety of professional contexts.

“We are delighted to welcome TGA to campus,” said Randy Kluver, dean of the School of Global Studies and Partnerships. “OSU and the Tulsa Global Alliance have had well over two decades of collaboration in terms of building and strengthening international ties, and we are grateful for this partnership and the possible outcomes.”

Oklahoma State University’s global engagement began in 1949 when U.S. President Harry S. Truman appointed then-OSU President Henry G. Bennett as the first director of the Point Four Program, now known as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Since then, OSU has developed educational, research and outreach programs globally.

The university has active partnerships in dozens of countries around the world, and OSU students, faculty and alumni have a global impact. OSU is committed to creating knowledge and sharing it with the local and global communities, in keeping with its commitment as a land-grant institution.

“In many ways, we view OSU-Tulsa as being the intersection for international education and partnerships between OSU and the Tulsa Global Alliance,” said Dr. Susan Johnson, the OSU-Tulsa vice president for academic affairs. “As businesses continue to invest in our city, we find that it is becoming more and more important for our students to have a global perspective and opportunities to broaden their horizons, so we are looking forward to this partnership.”