Q&A: New chair of the OSU Alumni Association’s Board of Directors
Tuesday, September 5, 2023
Media Contact: Mack Burke | Associate Director of Media Relations | 405-744-5540 | editor@okstate.edu
In July, Kurt Carter, ’81 public relations, became the new chair of the Oklahoma State University Alumni Association’s Board of Directors. As he starts the first year of his two-year term, he sat down with STATE magazine to introduce himself to readers and reflect on his new role.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you ended up at OSU?
I am originally from south Oklahoma City and attended Western Heights High School. I transferred to OSU from UCO (then Central State University) in my sophomore year after hearing about all the fun my friends were having. Once I was here, it just felt like home. I graduated from OSU in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in public relations. I am a certified financial planner and registered principal with Carter Byford Wojtek Group of Raymond James in Oklahoma City. My wife, Jenny, and I both serve on the Board of Governors for the OSU Foundation. She is also a member of Women for OSU. Both of our children live and work in New York City.
What were some of your favorite things about your time at OSU?
OSU was so welcoming. I found it easy to get involved on campus, first with the Student Union Activities Board (SUAB), then the Homecoming Steering Committee. At the end of my junior year, I saw an advertisement in the "O’Colly" for Pistol Pete tryouts. I went to the audition and was shocked when they chose me. My senior year, I was full tilt on campus activities. In addition to being Pistol Pete, I served as Homecoming Executive Chairman, emceed Varsity Review and spoke at 31 honors banquets for the OSU Alumni Association. It was quite a year, and something that gave my life a whole new trajectory.
What made you want to stay involved after graduation?
The year after I graduated, I joined the staff of the OSU Alumni Association as an advisor to America’s Greatest Homecoming and coordinator of the honors banquets. Two years later, I moved to the OSU Foundation for a couple of years to run the Greater University Fund, then spent six years as director of athletic development. So, I was thrilled when asked to join the OSU Alumni Association Board of Directors and to ultimately have the opportunity to chair the organization.
How does it feel to be the chair of the OSU Alumni Association’s Board of Directors?
I am truly delighted to serve an organization and a university that gave me so much. Together with our partners across the campus, we are constantly reimagining how to best connect with our 250,000 alumni.
In your view, why should alumni be members of the Alumni Association?
The velocity of societal and technological change provides ongoing challenges for us to remain the leading connection for our alumni to their alma mater. We need all our alumni to become members of the Alumni Association. It’s a wonderful way to deepen your pride in this great university.
Photos By: Simon Hurst
Story By: Jillian Remington | STATE Magazine