Monday, April 29, 2024
OSU celebrates opening of ‘The Year of the Cowboy’ exhibit Courtesy of OSU News
Lillie Solomon’s family for an opening reception to honor the history behind Pistol Pete. Dean of Libraries Sheila Johnson introduced Cathy Shuffield, the exhibit’s lead curator, to give opening remarks. Oklahoma State University opened “It’s a beautiful thing when a team its latest art installment in Edmon Low comes together for a common cause. It Library on Thursday in the Mark and was so easy to put together a team to Lisa Snell Gallery. The exhibit celecurate this exhibit. Do you know why? brates ‘The Year of the Cowboy,’ includ- Everybody loves Pistol Pete,” Shuffield ing images and artifacts from Frank said. Eaton’s family and past Pistol Petes. The exhibit’s first section tells a OSU welcomed back former Pistol brief history of how Eaton became the Petes, members of the Eaton family and school’s mascot in 1923. It provides
facts about his life, his involvement with OSU and the fiddle that he was known to play in his free time. The middle section of the exhibit continues the Pistol Pete story after Eaton passed away in 1958. It holds memorabilia from Pistol Pete alumni and expresses gratitude for their service as the school’s mascot. The exhibit’s final section gives a brief history and evolution of the different Pete heads used through the years, focusing on Solomon and her children, who have been making the heads for 45 years.
Annette Solomon Shamas, Lillie’s daughter, spoke to the attendees about her family’s history with Pete’s head and how Pistol Pete had become a part of their family. “We’ve been fortunate enough to be part of the Pistol Pete family. It’s a very unique and wonderful group and we cherish that relationship. It’s a privilege to be part of this legacy. We take great pride in the contribution that my mother’s artistry has made to OSU,” Shamas said. See Exhibit on 8
Regents name Cro dean of College of Arts and Sciences Courtesy of OSU News
will be a successful leader of the university’s largest college.” A University of Georgia graduOklahoma State University has ate, Cro is a digital humanist and early named Dr. Melinda modernist with a Cro as dean of the College of Arts and Ph.D. in romance languages. She is a Sciences. tenured professor of Friday, the modern languages OSU/A&M Board of Regents approved who served in sucCro, who is currently cessive leadership roles during her time the assistant dean at KSU, including of student success, graduate program engagement and undergraduate stud- director and head of ies in the College of the Department of Arts and Sciences at Modern Languages. “My experiKansas State Uniences have afforded versity. “I am looking me an opportunity to work collaboratively forward to working across a large landcollaboratively to grant institution with build on the intera range of stakeholddisciplinary and ers, internal and transdisciplinary external, to achieve strengths of the College of Arts and strategic priorities while understandSciences to shape a ing the complexities community of connection and belong- of change manageing,” Cro said. “That ment,” Cro said. “I have spent most of focus on engagemy education and ment, both locally and globally defined, academic career at public land-grant must be accessible and will serve as an research universieconomic engine to ties, and I undermeet the needs of the stand the crucial role that Oklahoma state of Oklahoma State plays within and its citizens. the state, across the “My goal is region, and around that the College of the globe. Arts and Sciences “OSU has will serve as the prean outward facing eminent example of mission to support what such a college can accomplish and its communities and bring in the context the world through its teaching, research of the land-grant and Extension.” institution.” Finding a new Cro will begin CAS dean involved her tenure as CAS dean in July, replac- a national candidate ing the college’s in- search, with three terim dean, Dr. Keith finalists coming to Garbutt. Garbutt will Stillwater for interreturn to his post as views and presentations in February. dean of the Honors “During her College this fall. interview, I was “I’ve said countless times that impressed with Dr. Cro’s discussion of CAS is the heart of how extensively she OSU, and I have no collaborated with doubt Dr. Cro will keep it going strong,” department heads at her current instituGarbutt said. “Her extensive experience, tion,” OSU Vice vision for the future Provost Chris Franand love of the land- cisco said. grant mission have proven to us that she See Cro on 7
Courtesy of OSU News
Dr. Melanie Morgan OSU’s new dean of the Graduate College following a national search.
Oklahoma State University appoints Morgan dean of Graduate College Courtesy of OSU News
Oklahoma State University has named Dr. Melanie Morgan as dean of the Graduate College following a national search. Morgan has served as professor and associate dean of the Graduate School at Purdue University since 2018. The OSU/A&M Board of Regents approved her appointment
during their April meeting Friday in Miami, Oklahoma. “President Kayse Shrum and I are confident we succeeded in identifying the individual best suited to lead the strategic execution of our land-grant mission for the Graduate College,” said Dr. Jeanette Mendez, OSU provost and senior vice president. “OSU is committed to elevating our graduate programs, expanding our certificate programs to provide our graduates with enhanced career opportunities, and promoting student involvement through our mul-
tidisciplinary programs. I know Dr. Melanie Morgan is poised to lead the Graduate College’s commitment to preparing students for fulfilling careers.” Morgan is expected to assume her duties as dean in July. As associate dean, Morgan directed graduate records function for Purdue, managed the Graduate School Fellowship Office and oversaw professional development for the graduate school. See Dean on 6