Purpose

The Advisory Board of the Boone Pickens School of Geology at Oklahoma State University, composed of alumni and friends of the School, shall be an active and vigorous group engaged to advise, assist and advocate for the faculty and students and the School in attaining their academic, career, and mission goals.The purposes of this Advisory Board shall include, but not be limited to the following:

 

• To advise the faculty of the Boone Pickens School of Geology and the administration of Oklahoma State University on the needs of the people and industries that are served by the school; To advise as to gaps in curriculum and research that have the potential to impact the competitiveness of students for future employment in industry and academia.

• To mentor undergraduate and graduate students regarding the profession of geology and its practice, and to introduce students to appropriate professional organizations and encourage their participation in these organizations.To provide a network of contacts to those students seeking employment in industry, academia, or government and for their further career development.

• To advocate for, encourage, and promote the hiring of Boone Pickens School of Geology graduates within industry, academia, and government.

• To assist with fundraising efforts for both specific research endeavors and for the overall development of the School and its students, in coordination with the Oklahoma State University Foundation.

• To maintain the traditional sense of camaraderie and community among the students, faculty, alumni, and friends of the Boone Pickens School of Geology.

• To advise on matters regarding changing industry trends, perceptions, and regulatory policies that may have an effect on the future of the Boone Pickens School of Geology or its students, faculty, and alumni.

• To advise and assist on other such issues as may be suggested by the Boone Pickens School of Geology, faculty, or Oklahoma State University and to advocate for the Boone Pickens School of Geology in the general public.

 

History

• The Advisory Board of the Boone Pickens School of Geology (“School”) at Oklahoma State University (OSU) was established in 2002 and initial volunteers were recruited in 2003 and 2004. It is composed of alumni and friends of the School actively engaged to advise, assist and advocate for the faculty and students and the School in defining and attaining their academic, career and mission goals.

• Winter 2006: John Shelton, Gary Stewart, Rick Fritz and others sorted through a catalog of 1100 living OSU Geology alumni and selected 66 to recruit to the Advisory Board.

• Of those contacted, 41 agreed to serve on the Board and the first meeting was held in Stillwater on April 22, with more than 30 in attendance. Jim McGhay was elected the first chair of the board and later that spring the bylaws were written and adopted.

• July 2006: a flash flood significantly damaged the OSU Wes Huston Field Camp and the Advisory Board committed to rebuild the camp at the Fall Advisory Board meeting in Houston.

• Homecoming 2007: at an Advisory Board meeting in Stillwater, Mr. Boone Pickens committed $10 million as a legacy gift to the School of Geology and an annual maintenance to support scholarships, graduate fellowships, a technician, and a student enrichment fund as long as an average of twice this amount was raised in support of the School by the Advisory Board.

• Spring 2008: Boone Pickens announces his matching gift of $100 million for all professorships and chairs donated to OSU. The Advisory Board is instrumental in the donation of $1 million from Chesapeake Energy for a Chair in Petroleum Geoscience and $1 million from Devon Energy for a Chair in Basin Research. These gifts when matched by Boone Pickens and by the State of Oklahoma will be worth $4 million each.

• June 2008: the first Advisory Board retreat at Boone Pickens Mesa Vista Ranch Mr. Pickens released $3 million of his legacy gift to fund the Pickens Chair of Applied Geoscience so that it will qualify for the State match.

• Spring 2009: the John W. Day and Gary F. Stewart graduate scholarship funds are established for more than $200,000.

• Fall and Spring 2010: in response to a legacy matching gift of $100 million from Boone Pickens the following Fellowships and Scholarships were established in the School of Geology: Erik Mason Memorial Fellowship, Rick and Sharrie Ely Fellowship, John W. Shelton Fellowship, BP America Fellowship, Geology Advisory Board Fellowship, Dr. Wayne Pettyjohn Fellowship, Michael and Susan Gaskins Fellowship, and OERB Fellowship.