Conversations with the President

Latest Episodes:

Teri Reed and the OU Polytechnic Institute Jul 18, 2023

Show notes

President Joe Harroz is joined by Teri Reed, Ph.D., the inaugural Director of the Polytechnic Institute based at OU-Tulsa. The two share thoughts on what a Polytechnic actually does for the university, the state as well as the region. With the institute’s expertise lying at the intersection of business, education and technology, the future for this new school is incredibly bright.

0:00 – 3:17 Intro

3:18 - Teri Reed introduction

5:29 – On what a Polytech is

6:44 – What kind of students that pursue a polytechnic degree

8:44 – On the demand for STEM/Polytechnic degrees in the workforce

10:00 – The demand in Oklahoma

13:41 – How this could help attract businesses and jobs to the state

15:07 – Cyber security gaps to fill

21:09 – How A.I. affects the workplace

24:33 – The kinds of people interested in pursuing these careers

28:12 – What students become when they graduate with their polytechnic degree

31:18 – Harroz's closing thoughts

2023 Commencement Speaker Randall L. Stephenson May 11, 2023

Show notes

President Joe Harroz is joined by Randall Stephenson via Zoom. Stephenson is the former CEO of AT&T, retiring in 2021. Stephenson, who was born in Moore, Oklahoma, earned his master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1986 and went to work for Southwestern Bell until working his way up. He earned a status as a global leader in technology and innovation.

(0:00 – 2:20) Introduction

(2:23 – 3:39) Randall Stephenson’s OU origin story

(3:40 – 6:48) How OU prepared Stephenson for professional life

(6:49 – 9:22) Stephenson’s advice for OU graduates

(9:23 – 14:44) The importance of affordable higher education

(14:45 – 20:02) Adapting to the world in business

(20:03 – 24:30) Stephenson’s “business done right” as a part of the Business Roundtable

(24:31 – 28:11) The greatest threat to America’s status as a global superpower in business

(28:12 – 32:49) Oklahoma’s aim in preparing students for the professional world

(32:50 – 35:33) Sneak peak on Stephenson’s commencement speech

(35:34) Final thoughts

OU Women's Basketball Coach Jennie Baranczyk May 02, 2023

Show notes

President Joe Harroz is joined by the head coach of the women’s basketball team, Jennie Baranczyk. Among the topics discussed are the strength of multiple women’s sports at the University of Oklahoma, Jennie’s now-famous daughter, Jordi and the trajectory of the program under her leadership.

(0:00 – 1:49) Intro

(1:50) Baranczyk introduced

(3:00) The first two years under her coaching

(4:00) Women’s sports success at OU

(6:27) Baranczyk speaks on her recent Big 12 title team

(8:24) The phenomenon of Jordi Baranczyk

(13:04) The increase in viewership in women’s basketball

(17:24) NIL’s impact on recruiting and college athletics

(24:20) The demands on modern coaches

(29:02) Coaching at Oklahoma

(30:36) Closing

Dr. Gregg Garn and Online Education Mar 24, 2023

Show notes

President Joe Harroz sits down with Dr. Gregg Garn, the dean of College of Professional and Continuing Studies and the vice president of online learning at the University of Oklahoma, to discuss OU Online. As online education becomes more synonymous with a normal learning experience for many, President Harroz and Dr. Garn aim to fill in the blanks for questions people may have about the online experience. OU Online is growing at an exciting rate and today’s episode speaks to that growth.

0:00–2:42 – Introductions

2:43 -- Origins of OU Online

6:40 – The aim of OU Online’s programs

7:39 – What programs are offered

9:40 – The advantages of gaining a degree within OU Online

11:54 – Adult Degree Completion opportunities

13:40 – The challenge of keeping local students in-state who choose online programs

17:39 – Building community in an online environment

23:43 – Future of online education and OU Online

27:00 – How students should think of their online experience moving forward

Dr. George Henderson and a Legacy of Positive Change Feb 17, 2023

Show notes

President Joe Harroz is joined by Dr. George Henderson to discuss his place within the University of Oklahoma’s history. Dr. Henderson came to OU in 1967 and broke new ground in both the OU community and the city of Norman. Through his own life experiences prior to coming to OU, and his teaching history and interactions with students on campus, Dr. Henderson has created a legacy for positive change and inclusion for all.

(0:00 – 3:24) Introduction and background of Dr. George Henderson

(7:44) Dr. Henderson’s moment of realization during his younger days

(10:03) Coming to Norman for the first time in 1967

(13:10) Dr. Henderson first impressions of Norman and OU

(20:39) Lessons from the Civil Rights movement

(23:04) Harroz’s son’s story of meeting Dr. Henderson

(27:20) Dr. Henderson recalls a story when his students influenced him to stay at OU

(31:00) OU as a place of belonging

(33:50) Harroz thanks Dr. Henderson for joining.

Workforce Development with Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt Jan 18, 2023

Show notes

President Joe Harroz is joined by the 28th governor of the state of Oklahoma, Kevin Stitt. Stitt has served that position since 2019 and was re-elected to a second term in 2022. President Harroz and Governor Stitt discuss a variety of topics centered around the growth of the state of Oklahoma and the University of Oklahoma’s role in that growth.

(0:00 – 1:52) Harroz introduces Governor Stitt and provides background

(1:53) Stitt and Harroz discuss Stitt’s recent re-election and reminisce about his first four years

(5:10) The university’s role in helping realize Stitt’s desire of making Oklahoma a top 10 state

(10:45) The last two years of workforce development and moving forward

(11:38) Stitt remembers the need for more nurses in the state and what the OU Health Sciences Center was able to do to meet the need

(16:19) Harroz and Stitt remember traveling to Indiana to recruit a company to the state before realizing the need for a polytechnical institute as well as recruiting Tomás Díaz de la Rubia

(21:30) Stitt recounts the three-city tour during his re-election innaugration

(25:40) Harroz signs off

Oklahoma Speaker of the House Charles McCall and Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat Dec 19, 2022

Show notes

President Joe Harroz is joined by Speaker of the House Charles McCall and Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat to discuss the value of an education earned from the University of Oklahoma and how their experiences on campus prepared them for life in government.

(0:00 – 4:09) Introduction

(4:10) Guests go over their time at OU

(10:10) Pro Tem Treat’s experience as an Ewing Scholar

(12:40) Speaker McCall’s experience in banking and entry into politics

(17:48) Advice for students

(22:09) On the importance of “learning how to learn” in college

(24:19) Making a difference for the state of Oklahoma over the next few years

(31:47) Final thoughts

The Future of Biomedical Engineering with Dr. Michael Detamore Nov 21, 2022

Show notes

President Joe Harroz is joined by Dr. Michael Detamore of the Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering. Detamore has served as the founding director of the school since its inception in 2016. The Stephenson Schools placement within the Gallogly College of Engineering, as well as its connection within the academic health system across the three campuses, plays a vital role for the story of research at the University of Oklahoma. Detamore’s history of innovation and research have led the young school to many accomplishments during its short time at OU.

(0:00 – 2:23) Harroz introduces the show and praises the recent $3.5 million dollar gift to the Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering

(2:24) Harroz introduces Dr. Michael Detamore

(5:08) Detamore explains the synergy the Stephenson School employs within the Unversity of Oklahoma

(6:23) The entrepreneurial role biomedical engineering employs with help from the Tom Love Innovation Hub and the Price College of Business

(7:26) The types of students that come through the Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering

(11:23) Detamore walks through his research agenda with TBI and TMJ injuries

(15:04) The difference between translational and basic research

(19:17) Detamore tells his story of going on stage at a Metallica show in 2008

(21:56) The impact that Stephenson School students are having

(25:14) Detamore walks through some prototypes his students have developed to solve clinical needs

(29:01) Closing remarks

Lead On Campaign with Jonny and Brenda Jones Oct 26, 2022

Show notes

Jonny and Brenda Jones join President Joe Harroz to discuss the recently announced Lead On Campaign. The Jones’ serve as the Campaign’s Chairs as well as having given a recent gift of $15 million dollars to renovate Jacobson Hall. Jonny Jones is a multi-generational Sooner whose grandfather came to OU in 1919 but is passionate about investing in to future students – both legacy and first-generation.

(0:00 – 6:25) Harroz introduces the Lead On Campaign

(6:26) The Jones’ introductions and OU stories

(8:55) The Jones’ explain the process of going through with their gift

(13:58) The Jones’ explain why OU was the place they wanted to help

(16:54) The importance of giving back to the students

(21:21) Harroz describes the enthusiasm of the alumni

(22:58) Jones’ grandfather track and baseball story from 1922

(30:00) Signing off

Coach Patty Gasso and the 50th Anniversary of Title IX Sep 19, 2022

Show notes

President Joe Harroz is joined by six-time national champion coach Patty Gasso of the OU women’s softball team to discuss the recent run of consecutive national championships and celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX. Title IX’s impact has been felt throughout the country, but at OU it has had a special legacy that continues to grow.

(0:00) Harroz discusses the history and impact of Title IX for institutions across the country as well as the successful history of OU’s women’s athletic teams over the years.

(5:08) Patty Gasso joins

(6:48) Gasso’s background

(7:50) 50 years of Title IX and Gasso’s thoughts on the impact it’s had

(8:40) Gasso reflects on her history as OU’s head coach

(9:38) Gasso reflects on Pat Summit and dives into her desire to fight for women’s equality in sports

(12:34) On if Gasso feels a burden by being the best at her sport

(17:00) Gasso on how she conducts herself as a teacher with her players

(18:00) Gasso answers a question from former OU football coach Bob Stoops

(20:33) How the modern athletes are different emotionally and physically than from Gasso’s earlier career

(22:45) On how NIL affects the modern athlete in softball and Gasso’s thoughts on the transfer portal

(27:15) Gasso on teaching her players to play for something larger than themselves

(33:18) Harroz’s closing remarks