Oklahoma State Announces Dr. Jim Hess As University Interim President

STILLWATER – The Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents have announced Dr. Jim Hess as the Interim President of Oklahoma State. 

The news comes a few days after the Board of Regents accepted the resignation of former president, Dr. Kayse Shrum. He’ll be the interim president while the university searches for a permanent president.

“The board is confident that Dr. Hess will provide the steady leadership needed to continue advancing OSU’s momentum and its land-grant mission,” the OSU/A&M Board of Regents said in a statement. “His deep institutional knowledge and dedication to student success make him the ideal choice to guide the university during this time. Dr. Hess has a proven track record of leadership and innovation, and his ability to drive meaningful progress will serve the university well in the months ahead.”

Pokes Report has learned that Hess is pro athletics, similar to Dr. Shrum, which is obviously beneficial to the athletics department. We’ve also learned he’s a fan of head coach Mike Gundy. 

Hess is the Vice Provost at the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences. He’s also a professor of family medicine and school of health care administration. 

“I’m honored and humbled by the call to serve Oklahoma State at the highest level and am thankful to the OSU A&M Board of Regents for offering me the opportunity,” Hess said. “My goal is to make an immediate impact on the university by working with students, faculty, staff, alumni and our partners to continue to advance our shared land-grant mission and help usher in a bright future for our beloved university."

Hess was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame back in 2023 following a 43-year career in academics and higher education, with 20 of those years coming OSU-CHS.

He began his administrative career at Rogers State, before moving to OSU-Tulsa and then OSU-CHS back in 2003 as a professor of family medicine and health care administration. He also served as the CEO of the OSU Medical Authority and the OSU Physicians Group, chair and director of the School of Health Care Administration and chair of the School of Forensic Sciences.