Friday, February 7, 2025
Payton Little
Shrum steps down
The OSU/A&M Board of Regents announced President Dr. Kayse Shrum’s resignation on the morning of Feb. 3, after she stepped down Monday.
OSU’s 19th, first-female president unexpectedly resigns
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O ’ C O L LY S TA F F R E P O R T
he OSU/A&M Board vision, championing key initiatives in of regents announced academics, research and innovation it accepted Oklahoma while advancing OSU’s land-grant State President Dr. Kayse mission. During her tenure, Oklahoma Shrum’s immediate resig- State University has experienced record nation Wednesday morning, effective enrollment, student retention rates, Feb. 3. research funding, and philanthropic “We extend our deepest gratitude to support setting the stage for a bright Dr. Shrum for her dedicated leadership, future. From the outset of her presiunwavering commitment to students, dency, she was thrust into a critical role and significant contributions to the of navigating the disruption within the OSU System,” the statement read. Big 12 Conference. Dr. Shrum worked “Dr. Shrum has led with passion and tirelessly to help stabilize the league
and protect OSU’s athletic programs, ensuring the university remained competitive on the national stage.” The announcement comes after Tuesday night’s report from Reese Gorman, which said Shrum, 52, was “expected to” announce her resignation. Shrum, the 19th university president and first female in that role, was named OSU’s president in April 2021 and assumed that role on July 1. The Coweta native succeeded Burns Hargis and was OSU’s Center for
Health Sciences president before becoming the face of the university. During her tenure, she navigated OSU through anything from COVID-19 pandemic to conference realignment in college athletics. Shrum has brought new initiatives and record-breaking enrollment, too.and Nutrition Research Institute, which was created in 2022 to develop strategies to combat obesity and chronic diseases.
See SHRUM on page 5A
Oklahoma businesswoman
speaks on DEI executive order Q&A RAYNEE HOWELL
ASSISTANT NEWS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR @RAYNEEHOWELL
Risha Grant thought her future would be played out on the basketball court, but after experiencing injuries she hung up her sneakers and picked up a microphone.
The Sapulpa native studied broadcast journalism and African American studies while playing Division-I basketball at Kansas State. After a few knee and ankle injuries, ultimately declared career-ending, Grant felt her passions choose her. “I was able to marry my love of communications with my love of — just at the time it was really about Black history — and so I was able to kind of marry those two, and I started Oklahoma’s only diversity communications firm.”
See GRANT on page 5A
Courtesy Risha Grant
Risha Grant started the first full-service diversity communiations firm in Oklahoma.
OSU is home to the first collegiate firefighter challenge team.
Courtesy OSU FFTC
OSU Firefighter Challenge Team promotes fitness, teamwork HAYDEN ALEXANDER NEWS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR
pad, the weight of the dummy slamming down on top of him. Todhunter blacked out from the exhaustion, but the roaring crowd roused him, and he heard his time: 1:38:31. “I heard my time, and I knew that I got the time I wanted, and I was pretty Jason Todhunter, equipped in full shocked about it,” Todhunter said. bunker gear, dragged a 165-pound That day at the Firefighter Chaldummy as he pushed toward the finish lenge League World Championships line, seconds away from setting a new in Nashville, Tennessee, Todhunter record. earned a spot in the Lion’s Den, an Onlookers and teammates cheered honor given to competitors who on Todhunter as he fought for every complete the five-stage Firefighter step. One hundred and six feet felt like Challenge in less than 1 minute and 40 miles, but he was almost there. seconds. He also placed second in his One more heave over the line and division. Todhunter fell backward onto a crash
See FIREFIGHTER on page 6A