SWOSU Press Release

Weatherford, OK – The Board of Trustees of the Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) Foundation, Inc. Board of Trustees held its Fall 2025 session recently on Thursday and Friday, November 6 and 7, in Weatherford.

Trustees convened for activities in SWOSU's Timothy T. Day Business Enterprise Center and the Skyview Suite of the Pioneer Cellular Event Center. SWOSU's Acting President, Dr. Janet Cunningham, provided Trustees with a report, as did SWOSU Foundation, Inc. Executive Director, Mr. Garrett King, '08 & '18. Among other items, the Trustees approved the fiscal year 2026 budget and the fiscal year 2024 external audit report.

Trustees for the Fall 2025 - Fall 2027 Leadership Term including:

• Board Chair: Michael D. Hart of Edmond, '06

• Board Chair-elect & Governance Committee Chair: Jeff DeFehr of Weatherford, '90

• Past Board Chair: Philip Busey, Jr. of Oklahoma City, '04

• Board Secretary: Melani Mouse of Oklahoma City, '85 & '87

• Board Treasurer & Finance Committee Chair: Marc Hatton of Douglas, '81

• Audit Committee Chair: Lori Harper of Gulfport (MS), '93 and 2017 Distinguished Alumnae

• Development Committee Chair: Cammi Valdez of Tahlequah, '08

• Investment Committee Chair: Thomas Mapel of Tulsa, '02

• Scholarships & Grants Committee Chair: Stephen Nelson of Yukon, '00

• Property Committee Chair: Mark Holmstrom of Jonestown (TX), '86

• Trustee: Brian Aneshansley of Clinton, '98

• Trustee: Bryce Conway of Oklahoma City,

• Trustee: Sue Cornell of Clinton, '75 & '77

• Trustee: Juan Garcia of Clinton, '02

• Trustee: Lisa Greenlee of Altus, '83 & '87

• Trustee: James Keehn of Oklahoma City, '96

• Trustee: Kelli Litsch of Weatherford, '85 & '86

• Trustee: Steve Price of Marble Falls (TX), '83

• Trustee: Kirti Reddy of Jersey City (NJ), '93 and 2023 Distinguished Alumnae

• Trustee: Jerrad Richards of Edmond, '14

• Trustee: Mark Russell of Yukon, '86

• Trustee: Scott Stewart of Addison (TX), '11

During the session Hart was named the 11th Chairman of the Board since the Foundation was incorporated in May 1977. Hart assumed the role from Busey, who the Board recognized and thanked for his leadership and service.

Busey and his wife, Heather (Ratcliffe) Busey, '04, generously sponsored dinner for the Trustees which was prepared and served by a team led by Chef John Conway, Executive Chef of The Hutch on Avondale.

Among guests at the dinner were Cunningham; SWOSU's 15th President, Dr. Joe Anna Hibler, '62 and 2003 Distinguished Alumnae; SWOSU's 17th President, Dr. Randy Beutler, '83 & '03 and 2023 Distinguished Alumnus; Weatherford Mayor Mike Brown, '78 and 2024 Distinguished Alumnus; and former Oklahoma House Speaker Pro Tempore Harold Wright, '71 and 2020 Distinguished Alumnus.

The SWOSU Foundation, Inc. is an independent, institutionally related charitable entity headquartered on the SWOSU Campus in the historic Burton House. The Foundation was established in 1977 to promote philanthropy, award scholarships and distribute funds to support the activities and programs of SWOSU.

For more information, please contact the SWOSU Office of Institutional Advancement at 580-774-3267 or visit www.SWOSUFoundation.com.

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