Regent Jimmy Harrel, Dr. John Veenstra and Dr. Robert White will be inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame on Nov. 2 in the Nigh University Center Ballroom at the University of Central Oklahoma.

OHEHS is one of the state's most prestigious honors recognizing outstanding contributions to higher education.

A total of 12 individuals will be inducted from colleges, universities and organizations affiliated with Oklahoma higher education.

"John, Robert and Jimmy have each made extraordinary contributions to higher education in Oklahoma through decades of leadership, service and dedication to student success," Oklahoma State University President Jim Hess said. "Their impact extends far beyond the campuses and communities they serve, helping expand opportunities, strengthen institutions and prepare generations of students to lead and serve. This well-deserved recognition reflects the enduring legacy they have created for Oklahoma and its future."

Higher education in Oklahoma is stronger because of the dedication and commitment exhibited by these three honorees.

Harrel, a Weatherford businessman, rancher and OSU alumnus, has been a steadfast advocate for higher education and student success throughout his service to the OSU System.

Since joining the OSU/A&M Board of Regents in 2020, he has helped guide key initiatives that have strengthened the university’s mission and expanded opportunities for future generations. He served as chairman of the board from 2024 to 2025 and continues to serve as a regent today.

Known for his strong leadership and commitment to OSU’s land-grant mission, Harrel has championed efforts that support students, faculty and communities across Oklahoma.

His dedication to advancing higher education was most visible in his pivotal role advocating for a new veterinary teaching hospital at OSU, helping secure a historic $250 million state investment for the project — the largest direct appropriation in Oklahoma history. The transformational investment will enhance veterinary education, strengthen the state’s agricultural economy and expand service to Oklahoma communities for decades to come.

Throughout his tenure on the Board of Regents, Harrel has approached every decision with a focus on student success, institutional excellence and long-term impact. His leadership, generosity and dedication to public higher education have helped position OSU for continued growth while creating opportunities for generations of students and future leaders.

Veenstra currently serves as associate dean for faculty affairs in OSU's College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology and is on the coordinating committee for the university's strategic plan.

His distinguished career at OSU spans more than four decades. Veenstra joined the university in 1980 as an assistant professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He later served as head of CIVE from 2007 to 2016 before leading the School of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering from 2017 until his retirement in 2021. In 2023, he returned to serve as interim dean of CEAT through 2024.

Throughout his career, Veenstra has demonstrated a strong commitment to academic leadership and service. He has served on numerous college and university committees, including as chair of the OSU Faculty Council and as a member of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Faculty Advisory Council. Nationally, he serves as an evaluator for ABET and has been a member of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying Civil Engineering Examination Committee for more than 33 years.

A recognized expert in environmental engineering, Veenstra's research and professional interests include water and wastewater treatment, air pollution control and groundwater remediation. He is a registered professional engineer in both Oklahoma and Iowa.

“I am deeply honored to be inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Heritage Society Hall of Fame,” Veenstra said. “Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work alongside exceptional colleagues, students and university leaders who share a commitment to advancing education and serving our state. This recognition reflects the collective efforts of those individuals and the opportunities Oklahoma State University has provided me over the years. It has been a privilege to contribute to the success of our students and the growth of higher education in Oklahoma.”

A lifelong Oklahoman, White’s distinguished career reflects a lifelong commitment to advancing higher education and strengthening academic medicine in the state.

White served as former Oklahoma Gov. George Nigh’s chief of staff for four years where he contributed to the development of the state budget, policy, legislative agenda and federal programs. He then worked as associate provost and associate vice president for health policy at OU Health Sciences Center for six years where he led development of health policy in a clinical academic setting, advanced telecommunications and telemedicine programs, and provided strategic oversight of health policy issues.

For the next 24 years, White served as health higher education policy analyst for the OSU/A&M Board of Regents where he led government affairs efforts supporting the growth and expansion of OSU Center for Health Sciences. His efforts were critical to the successful buildout of the academic health complex, navigating policy environments and securing legislative and institutional support, including the acquisition of the OSU Medical Center.

In his roles at both OSU and OU, White was instrumental in the development and expansion of Oklahoma’s two state academic health centers. His unwavering dedication to academic medicine helped create pathways for education, research and healthcare delivery that benefit communities across the state.

Looking back, I’m most proud of helping Tulsa keep its osteopathic teaching hospital when it was threatened. The Tulsa area has seen a lot of growth since OSU’s med school was expanded into the OSU Center for Health Sciences,” White said. “There are so many talented teachers, researchers and administrators in our colleges in all parts of the state who merit support; it’s a high honor to get this recognition. I feel many more are deserving.”

The OHEHS was established in 1991 as a nonprofit organization to promote awareness of higher education’s vital role in Oklahoma's history and to honor individuals, both living and deceased, for their outstanding service to higher education in Oklahoma.

Since its establishment, the society has inducted more than 350 educators, administrators and others into the OHEHS Hall of Fame for their distinguished contributions to higher education. A kiosk at the Oklahoma History Center documents the outstanding work of universities and Hall of Fame members.

For more about the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame, visit www.ohehs.org/hof.html.

Story By: Sydney Trainor | sydney.trainor@okstate.edu