OCU business dean appointed dean emeritus
(Feb. 1, 2021) 鈥� 野狼社区 University announced today that Dr. Steven C. Agee, who has served as dean of the Meinders School of Business for 11 years, has been honored with the appointment as dean emeritus, effective July 1. Agee will continue as a faculty member and will conduct research.
鈥淒uring Dean Agee鈥檚 tenure, he has raised the profile of our business school around the world,鈥� said OCU President Martha Burger. 鈥淲e will miss his leadership as dean but look forward to his continued involvement in our campus community.鈥�
Agee has served more consecutive years as dean of the business school than any other individual in the school鈥檚 history. Agee has successfully guided the business school through its initial accreditation process of Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), International in 2014 and its reaccreditation in 2019. AACSB is considered the gold standard of business accrediting bodies for schools that grant business degrees.
Agee founded and initially funded the Economic Research & Policy Institute within the business school. The Steven C. Agee Economic Research & Policy Institute is comprised of three centers: the Center for Regional Economic Forecasting & Policy Analysis; the Ronnie K. Irani Center for Data Analytics; and the Center for Native American & Urban Studies. This research institute provides valuable resources, including sales tax forecasting for the City of 野狼社区 and the City of Norman and all economic impact studies for the Native American tribes in Oklahoma.
Several new academic and certificate programs were developed under Agee鈥檚 leadership, including two graduate level energy programs - one in energy management and the other in energy law. Nearly 400 students have graduated from the energy programs since they were launched in 2012.
Agee was also involved in starting the new Healthcare MBA program at OCU as well as the Master Certificate Program in Healthcare and the Master Certificate in Fraud & Forensic Accounting. In close collaboration with the Chickasaw Nation, Agee developed the Native American Enterprise Management Certificate Program designed to provide business education to members of Oklahoma tribes that have developed substantial business models around gaming, hospitality, and healthcare.
Agee has worked tirelessly to raise significant funding for student scholarships, improvements to technology, funding for 12 Bloomberg terminals in the business school and an endowment for an instructional designer for business school faculty. He has served on many university committees including the university budget committee, benefits committee, Deans Council, Academic Council and the university strategic planning committee.
鈥淭hrough Dean Agee鈥檚 steady leadership, the business school has grown and prospered in so many ways, including academically and financially,鈥� said Herman Meinders, who the school was named after. 鈥淗is legacy will be felt for generations to come.鈥� The University announced that Mr. Meinders established a business leadership scholarship in Dean Agee鈥檚 honor with a $500,000 gift that he hopes will be matched by the community.
Aside from his OCU roles, Agee has a long and established career in the oil and gas industry. He is founder, president and COO of Agee Energy, LLC, a private oil and natural gas company headquartered in downtown 野狼社区.
Agee joined the 野狼社区 Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City in 2006. His community involvement has included board memberships with the Economic Club of Oklahoma, 野狼社区 Philharmonic Society, and 野狼社区 Community Foundation.
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OCU Business School Collects Major Gifts
Donations to Fund Leadership Fellows Program, Data Analytics Center
(Aug. 16, 2017) 鈥� The Meinders School of Business at 野狼社区 University received two substantial donations from alumni over the summer to operate programs through the fall semester and beyond. A longtime philanthropist has established the Business Leadership Fellows Program, and an 野狼社区 energy executive pledged a gift to operate one of the key components of the Economic Research and Policy Institute (ERPI).
Meinders Business Leadership Fellows Program
Herman Meinders made a multi-million-dollar commitment to fund a unique Business Leadership Fellows Program.
Commencing this fall and annually thereafter, students who are accepted to the program will receive a full-tuition scholarship for up to four years combined with co-curricular learning enrichment and leadership development opportunities. The scholarships will fund up to 18 students per year.
Meinders said he established the scholarship program to assist in the recruitment of exceptional students interested in business and leadership, and provide these students with an innovative and high-engagement learning environment.
Meinders founded American Floral Services (AFS), an international flowers-by-wire service based in 野狼社区, in 1970. AFS began in a garage apartment and initially consisted of 137 subscriber florists. From that beginning, AFS grew to become international in scope and ranked as one of the largest floral wire services in the world. In 2000, AFS merged with Teleflora.
The business school at OKCU was named the Meinders School of Business in the 1980s, and Meinders funded the new building鈥檚 construction, which opened in 2004.
Ronnie K. Irani Center for Data Analytics
Ronnie K. Irani, president and CEO of RKI Energy Resources, pledged a $1 million endowment to operate the Center for Data Analytics.
The center is one of three components of ERPI, which also encompasses the Center for Economic Forecasting and Policy Analysis and the Center for Native American and Urban Studies. The data center was established to provide clients with insights through customized analytic solutions that are adapted to their unique needs. Areas of focus include forecasting, spatial modeling, Monte Carlo analysis, optimization and machine learning.
鈥淩onnie was excited to hear about what we are doing here,鈥� said business school Dean Steven Agee. 鈥淎s a forward-thinking person, he was interested in what we could do with this. He is a champion of promoting business innovation and creativity, and he sees the importance of data analytics in that process.鈥�
The data analytics center is directed by economics professor Jacob Dearmon. With the help of a staff of students, the center conducts research for clients in a variety of areas including businesses, governments and non-profit organizations. The students present their work to the clients once the project is complete.
Agee noted that the centers in ERPI help the business school in many different ways 鈥� generating revenue for scholarships, providing students with real-world employment and work experience, and solving problems for clients.
Irani earned his MBA from OKCU in 1990. He also taught organizational behavior as an adjunct professor in the mid-鈥�90s. He founded the oil and gas exploration company RKI Exploration & Production, sold it for more than $3 billion last year and started RKI Energy Resources.
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Donor Establishes Business School Program
(June 14, 2017) 鈥� Herman Meinders, an OCU alumnus, has made a multi-million dollar commitment to 野狼社区 University鈥檚 Meinders School of Business to fund a unique Business Leadership Fellows Program.
Commencing in the Fall of 2018 and annually thereafter, students who are accepted to the Meinders Business Leadership Fellows Program will receive a full-tuition scholarship for up to four years combined with co-curricular learning enrichment and leadership development opportunities. The scholarships will fund up to 18 students per year.
Meinders said he established the scholarship program to assist in the recruitment of exceptionally high-quality students interested in business and leadership, and provide these students with an innovative and high-engagement learning environment unlike any other undergraduate experience. Meinders asserted, 鈥淭he AACSB accredited and highly regarded business school at 野狼社区 University is the right educational environment for these types of students."
The business school at OCU was named the Meinders School of Business in the 1980s, and Mr. Meinders funded the new building鈥檚 construction, which opened in 2004.
Since then, Meinders has continued to support the school through mentoring, encouragement, and several additional gifts, including backing an annual Investment Club project with $200,000 no-interest loans as seed money each school year.
Meinders founded American Floral Services (AFS), an international flowers-by-wire service based in 野狼社区, in 1970. AFS began in a garage apartment and initially consisted of 137 subscriber florists. From that beginning, AFS grew to become international in scope and ranked as one of the largest floral wire services in the world. In 2000, AFS merged with Teleflora, a competitor, to better serve the floral community.
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OCU鈥檚 Kramer School of Nursing Plans Simulation Center
(June 1, 2017) 鈥� In the midst of a statewide shortage of registered nurses, 野狼社区 University is expanding educational resources through construction of a new nursing simulation center on the university鈥檚 campus.
鈥淲e are in the midst of a world-wide nursing shortage epidemic, and Oklahoma is not immune,鈥� said Dr. Lois Salmeron, dean of OCU鈥檚 Kramer School of Nursing. 鈥淥klahoma is 42nd in the nation for the number of registered nurses. There has never been a more critical need to get nursing students equipped to fill the need.鈥�
Earlier this year, OCU accelerated efforts to complete the $1.1 million simulation center, in response to a new state law which allows nursing students to receive up to 30 percent of their clinical practice hours in a structured, faculty-led, simulation setting.
Salmeron cited statistics which point to an urgent need for more trained nurses, including an aging cohort of nurses in the state.
鈥淔orty-two percent of Oklahoma鈥檚 nurses are age 50 and older, with one in four anticipated to retire soon,鈥� she said. 鈥淓stimates show that nursing schools today are graduating roughly 50 percent of the future need for nurses.鈥�
Oklahoma Hospital Association President Craig W. Jones concurs with the need for more nurses.
鈥淎n adequate supply of fully prepared nurses is critical to our hospitals鈥� ability to serve the needs of their patients,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淥klahoma hospitals are continually challenged by a shortage of trained nurses, and the needs will continue to grow as our population ages and creates a greater need for management of chronic conditions. It is imperative to expand training opportunities for nurses in Oklahoma and to use innovative approaches and cutting-edge training tools to prepare them for real-world situations.鈥�
鈥淥ur school has 500 nursing students poised and ready to fill the need,鈥� Salmeron said. 鈥淭he only obstacle is access to hands-on clinical instruction for students to be prepared for any situation. The solution is a state-of-the-art simulation center that will provide an environment for students to practice their skills on high-acuity patients, with no risk of harm to a living person.鈥�
The new center is slated to open with the start of the 2017 fall semester, and will occupy half of the university鈥檚 original one-story nursing school building. With the school鈥檚 growth in the past 15 years, OCU opened an adjacent three-story home for the nursing school. The simulation center will include seven high-fidelity, anatomically correct simulation manikins ranging from newborns to adults. The manikins will be assigned varied medical histories, administered critical treatments and medications, and will respond to treatment based upon the care provided by students.
The center also features four observation rooms for faculty to video record and critique the performance of students in a live setting, as well as debriefing rooms, a computer lab, and offices.
鈥淲e are grateful to Herman and LaDonna Kramer Meinders, who issued a challenge pledge of $250,000 to help stimulate the campaign and help us achieve the dream of a high-fi simulation center,鈥� said Salmeron.
A kick-off celebration for construction of the new center will be Thursday, June 8, at 3 p.m. in the KSN West building, at the corner of N.W. 27th Street and N. Florida Avenue. The event is open to those interested in the center, or interested in admission to the Kramer School of Nursing.
Contributions for the Kramer School of Nursing Simulation Center can be made to: 野狼社区 University, Office of University Advancement, 2501 N. Blackwelder Avenue, 野狼社区, OK 73106, or online at
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OCU Investment Club Releases Results
Club Turns Profit on $200,000 Loan
(April 28, 2017) 鈥� 野狼社区 University鈥檚 Investment Club released the results of their eight-month-long investment portfolios today, marking this academic year the 12th profitable year and continuing their streak of never losing money.
For the past 12 years, the Investment Club 鈥� which includes one undergraduate team and one graduate team 鈥� have been loaned $200,000 at the beginning of each fall semester by alumnus and business school namesake Herman Meinders. The loan is given with the hope that the students will learn about the different aspects of investing.
鈥淭here is no better scenario than putting money in students鈥� hands and letting them work with it in the real world,鈥� said graduate team leader John Hobart during his end-of-year presentation. 鈥淭he learning experience was second to none.鈥�
Meinders encourages the students to be proactive and take calculated risks. The startup money is divided evenly between the two teams. The investment decisions are solely up to the students; neither university faculty nor Meinders instructs them how to invest the money.
Each week the teams meet and discuss news that may affect their portfolios, and decide if any actions need to be taken with their existing shares. Once a decision has been made, the students inform the club鈥檚 sponsor, finance professor James Ma, of their decision and he calls the orders in to UBS, the club鈥檚 brokerage firm. While the students make all the decisions relating to their portfolio, Ma is available to offer advice when they need it.
If the students are profitable in their trades, at the end of the academic year the no-interest loan is repaid and the profit is put into a scholarship fund. If they are not, then the remaining money is given back to Meinders and he incurs the loss. The students and university are under no obligation for the losses. Luckily, since the start of the club 12 years ago the students have paid Meinders back in full and contributed to the scholarship fund each year. In their most successful year, the club made close to $50,000 from their investments.
The students鈥� success hasn鈥檛 come without their fair share of stress and close calls. In 2009 the stock market crashed, and to be safe, the students decided to cash out all of their shares. Ma said that once Meinders heard about this, he told them to stay in the market because 鈥渓osing is just another part of learning.鈥� His faith in the students was well warranted because despite the crash the students still managed to repay the loan in full that year.
At the end of each school year, the two teams meet with Meinders, OCU board of trustees member Mo Grotjohn, business school Dean Steve Agee and Ma to discuss their performance.
This year the two teams generated $11,794.46 profit, which will all be contributed to the business school scholarship fund. The undergraduate team consistently outperformed the S&P500, a feat many professional fund managers have struggled to achieve.
The club is open to all OKCU students, regardless of their major. In fact, the club鈥檚 president, Sylvia Hayes, is a biology major.
Sophomore accounting student Annaleiz Palacios led the undergraduate results presentation, and said the experience was helpful not only for learning about investing, but also about working with a team.
鈥淚 like how everyone was comfortable with making suggestions,鈥� Palacios said. 鈥淎s a team, we were able to discuss our ideas and determine whether we were making good decisions. It helps take off the pressure when you can rely on a team.鈥�
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Inasmuch Foundation Grant Completes OCU Chemistry Lab Funding
(May 11, 2015) 鈥� 野狼社区 University President Robert H. Henry announced today that the Inasmuch Foundation has awarded a $600,000 grant toward the university鈥檚 $2.2 million chemistry laboratories renovation. The foundation鈥檚 grant allows OCU to complete the requirements of two challenge gifts: a $550,000 challenge gift from OCU alumni Herman and LaDonna Meinders, and a $300,000 challenge grant from the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation of Tulsa.
鈥淭his gift from our great friends at the Inasmuch Foundation completes a campaign which was jump-started by the university鈥檚 long-time champions, Herman and LaDonna Meinders,鈥� Henry said.
Henry said the improvements will enhance learning opportunities for OCU students, providing state-of-the-art chemistry facilities.
鈥淧roviding new lab space will allow the university to continue to attract outstanding students and continue our strong tradition of success in preparing students for graduate study and medical school,鈥� he said.
Referencing the three lead gifts for the project, Henry said, 鈥淲e are blessed by major funding from these three philanthropic forces which continue to transform private higher education in Oklahoma.鈥�
Renovation work in the university鈥檚 Dawson-Loeffler Science and Mathematics Building is proceeding on schedule. The project is slated for completion by the beginning of the fall 2015 semester.
The project incorporates contemporary design, including a classroom/laboratory combination, which will allow students, in the midst of classroom discussions, to view or participate in lab work. The design concept was guided by Dr. Stephen Prilliman, OCU associate professor of chemistry and chair of the chemistry department. It is based on OCU鈥檚 use of the Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL) method, which combines class and lab elements to enhance learning.
For more information about 野狼社区 University or its chemistry program, visit .
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OCU Adds Business Transfer Scholarship
(Oct. 8, 2013) 鈥� 野狼社区 University Trustee Herman Meinders has established a new scholarship at the business school that bears his name. The Herman Meinders Business Transfer Scholarship will be available this spring.
The scholarship is a $5,000 per semester award for students transferring from the 野狼社区 Community College system into 野狼社区 University鈥檚 Meinders School of Business. To receive the award, an applicant must be transferring in at least a 2.5 cumulative college GPA. Also, the student must have completed at least 30 credit hours from OCCC. The scholarship is renewable for up to six consecutive semesters by maintaining a minimum 2.5 GPA.
鈥淭his is a wonderful scholarship opportunity for any qualified OCCC student who would like to pursue a four-year business degree,鈥� said Steve Agee, dean of the Meinders School of Business. 鈥淭his will give a lot of students an affordable path to an excellent academic program in business at 野狼社区 University.鈥�
For more information, contact Lynette Martin at (405) 208-4913 or [email protected]
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MEDIA ALERT: Inaugural Day Continues with Nursing School Dedication and New York Times Columnist
(April 6, 2011) 鈥� 野狼社区 University will continue its celebration of the inauguration of Robert Henry as the 17th President of the University with a grand opening ceremony for the expanded Kramer School of Nursing at 4:30 p.m. today.
The ceremony will include the dedication of the Vietnam Women鈥檚 Memorial maquette by Glenna Goodacre honoring Herman and LaDonna Meinders. The expansion is located at N.W. 27th St. and Blackwelder Ave.
OCU鈥檚 Distinguished Speakers Series will close out inauguration day with a free lecture by New York Times Columnist David Brooks. Brooks will speak at 7:30 p.m. in the Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center, at N.W. 27th St. and Florida Ave.
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野狼社区 University Surpasses $50 Million Campaign Goal
(Feb. 4, 2010) 鈥� A $500,000 gift from 野狼社区 University Trustee Ann Lacy completed the university鈥檚 $50 million Cradle of Dreams Campaign Jan. 31. OCU surpassed its campaign goal, raising $50.975 million from more than 21,000 donors since launching the campaign in October 2007.
Donations to the campaign are funding scholarships, professorships, new construction and other projects. Major campaign projects include the construction of the Devon Boathouse, home of OCU Rowing; a new building for the Kramer School of Nursing and the renovation of the Dulaney-Browne Library.
Ten donors gave more than $1 million including Devon Energy, Herman Meinders, the Estate of Wanda L. Bass, the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church, the Estate of Jeroldine Zacharitz Clark, Martha A. Burger and Don Rowlett, the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation, Clearwire, the Inasmuch Foundation and the Haskell Lemon Family.
Other major donors include Lacy, the Families of Henry Norick, the Estate of Flora Rouse Winter, Gerald L. and Jane Jayroe Gamble and Jim and Becky Buchanan, Sodexho Management, Dulaney Brothers Investments, Norman & Edem PLLC, Aduddell Development, Communities Foundation of Oklahoma, Michael Gardner, the Marge Edwards Thomas Trust, Georgietta Varrell, Lew McGinnis and the Simmons Charitable Foundation.
Art Cotton, OCU鈥檚 vice president for university advancement and external relations, said all campaign supporters help OCU students pursue their dreams.
鈥淭hese generous gifts allow OCU to give its students a quality educational experience in the United Methodist tradition of scholarship and service,鈥� Cotton said. 鈥淲e are fortunate to have a wonderful family of alumni, donors and friends who want the best for our students.鈥�
The Cradle of Dreams Campaign wrapped up five months in advance of President Tom McDaniel鈥檚 upcoming retirement. OCU has raised more than $150 million during McDaniel鈥檚 nine-year tenure. The university鈥檚 ambitious $100 million centennial development campaign doubled the university鈥檚 endowment and was completed ahead of schedule. The centennial campaign created new academic programs in nursing, dance and film and new athletic programs in rowing, wrestling and volleyball.
鈥淲e have seen tremendous growth at 野狼社区 University under the leadership of President Tom McDaniel,鈥� Cotton said. 鈥淭his has been one of the most exciting times in our 106-year history and surpassing our campaign goal is one of the great finishing touches to the McDaniel era at OCU.鈥�
Cotton said many great opportunities lie ahead for 野狼社区 University, especially with the vision of incoming OCU President Judge Robert Henry.
鈥淲e are looking forward to building additional scholarship opportunities for students and launching the next campaign that will nurture our dreams,鈥� he said.
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Nursing School Construction Begins
(Oct. 14, 2009) 鈥� The Kramer School of Nursing at 野狼社区 University will host a groundbreaking ceremony for its new addition at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 28.
The new structure will connect with the current nursing school building at N.W. 27th Street and Blackwelder Avenue.
The additional space, according to nursing school Dean Marvel Williamson, is necessary because of the program鈥檚 rising enrollment and the nation鈥檚 rising demand for nurses.
鈥淲e鈥檝e seen a 382 percent growth in enrollment over the past few years,鈥� Williamson noted. 鈥淏ecause we accept all qualified applicants and let them begin without waiting on a list, it was just a matter of time before we outgrew our current building. That鈥檚 good news 鈥� with the country鈥檚 severe shortage of nurses, we hope to enroll even more.鈥�
The building will add 50,000 square feet of space with three stories. Most of the new space will be used for classrooms and labs. The building will have 10 classrooms, six seminar rooms and three labs. The labs will include mock hospital rooms where students can practice their skills in a simulation setting, Williamson said.
The project will cost approximately $8.5 million, most of which has already been raised through grants from the Inasmuch Foundation, St. Anthony Hospital/SSM Health Care and donations from various foundations and individuals. Herman Meinders and Ladonna Kramer Meinders, whose names already grace the OCU business school and current nursing school, returned to support the university鈥檚 latest endeavor with a grant through the Meinders Foundation.
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野狼社区 University Student Investors Beat the Market
(April 27, 2009) 鈥� Two student investment teams at 野狼社区 University鈥檚 Meinders School of Business outperformed the S&P 500 in what has been one of the most turbulent investment periods in history.
Each team began with $100,000 in October and wrapped up investments April 16. The MBA team posted an 11 percent positive return, beating the benchmark for the S&P 500 by 16 percent. The undergraduate team recorded a 2.67 percent loss, finishing 2.07 percent ahead of the index, which posted a 4.74 percent loss over the same period.
OCU Trustee Herman Meinders provided $200,000 for OCU鈥檚 investments teams, which were developed four years ago. Each year, both teams start the fall with $100,000 each.
OCU Finance Professor Ron Shaw said this year鈥檚 teams learned much more than they would have in a calmer market.
鈥淲e are very proud of our teams for their personal initiative, enthusiasm and accomplishments,鈥� Shaw said.
Shaw and OCU finance professors James Ma and Socorro Quintero served as team advisors.
Shaw said the teams were restricted to long positions in common stock, noting that overall positive stock picks included Apple, Target, First Solar, Genetech, Google, AT&T and IBM.
Undergraduate team leader Long Vu, an accounting major, and MBA team leader Roopam Taneja, an MBA/finance student, said they learned investors need to have a diversified portfolio with industry leaders in the current market. They noted that panic affects everything and said investors need to have patience. Both said they enjoyed gaining practical experience with real investments in the market.
Other undergraduate team members were Alexis Caron, Scotty Roddy, Jose Gonzales and Asahi Hodoyama. Other MBA team members included Ajia Walters, Ajeng Nawangsari, Albert Kurnia, Vishal Bathla, Salvador Larrea Alonso, Ajeng Nawangsari, Francis Pinto and Rohit Nallari.
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