Oklahoma State University A&M board of Regents names Dr. Jim Hess as 20th President

GOODWELL, Okla. (KFOR) — On Friday, the Oklahoma State University A&M board of Regents announced the appointment of Dr. Jim Hess as the next president of Oklahoma State University.

Hess has been serving as the interim president since the former president, Dr. Kayse Shrum, suddenly stepped down three months ago after an internal audit.

As reported by NonDoc, the internal audit revealed $41 million in funds from the legislature to OSU’s Medical Authority were not handled properly from July 2022 to January 2025.

Shrum denied any wrongdoing.

Hess was appointed to a three-year term, and the vote came during the board's regular meeting at Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell. 

"Dr. Hess has proven himself as the right leader at the right time for Oklahoma State University." "His deep understanding of OSU's land-grant mission gives our board complete confidence in his ability to lead the university forward. Every day, Dr. Hess demonstrates his commitment to putting students first in everything he’s doing, which aligns perfectly with OSU's mission."

Board Chairman Jimmy Harrel, OSU A&M Regent

"I am honored by the board's trust and excited about OSU's future," said Hess following the vote. "We share a commitment to our students, an awareness of our challenges and possibilities, and a bold vision for this institution. We launch this journey with an urgency of purpose and the confidence that we can change lives, transform education, and pave the way for the next generation of Cowboys.”

Hess added, “This moment doesn’t belong to me, it belongs to our students who work hard to pursue their dreams, to our faculty who ignite our students' minds and conduct life-changing research, to our staff who operate OSU with excellence every day, and to our alumni and friends who share their time and resources so generously with this institution."

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Jim Hess as the 20th president of OSU. His inspiring vision for student success and dedication to enhancing education ensure that OSU will continue to thrive and contribute to Oklahoma's future.”

Blaire Atkinson, President of the OSU Foundation

Hess holds a bachelor's and master's degree from Northeastern State University and a doctorate from Oklahoma State University.