Elizabeth Garrett, Sydney M. Irmas Professor of Law at the University of Southern California, has been named a 2007 College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumna. She represents the social sciences in the college. Garrett graduated Phi Beta Kappa from OU with special distinction in 1985 with a bachelor of arts in history. While at OU, she also was active in student government, PE-ET, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Chi Omega Sorority. She attended the University of Virginia School of Law and clerked for the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and for Judge Stephen Williams, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Garrett also worked as legislative director and tax and budget counsel for David L. Boren while he served as a U.S. senator.
Dick Lowry, film and television producer and director, has been named a 2007 College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumnus. He represents the humanities in the college. Lowry is a 1967 graduate from OU with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish. Following his graduation, Lowry attended the American Film Institute and received a Master of Fine Arts in 1976. He began his career producing and directing such projects as The Gambler with Kenny Rogers; In the Line of Duty; NYPD Blue; Crossing Jordan; and Last Stand at Saber River, which won the Wrangler Award for best western movie. More recently he has directed the Hallmark Hall of Fame productions of Silver Bells, Follow the Stars Home, and Little John.
Lindy Ritz, director of the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, has been named a 2007 College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumna. She represents the professional programs in the college. Ritz earned her bachelor of science degree in fashion merchandising/marketing from OU in 1971. She received a master’s degree in aviation and space science from Oklahoma State University in 1999. She began her career in government in 1971 with the U.S. Forestry Service and joined the Federal Aviation Administration in 1979. In 1997, Ritz became the first woman to serve as director of the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City.
John W. Saunders Jr., a leader in the field of developmental biology, has been named a 2007 College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumnus. He represents the natural science fields in the college.
Saunders graduated from OU in 1940 with a bachelor of science degree and in 1941 with a master of science degree in zoology. He also received the Phi Sigma Scholarship Medal, Omega Chapter, and was elected a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He then attended Johns Hopkins University until 1943, when he put his studies on hold to serve in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater. Saunders returned to Johns Hopkins in 1946 and received a doctorate in 1948. He has made many notable contributions to the field of developmental biology and has written many textbooks on the subject.
The company has teamed with the college to provide students valuable information on career planning, founding scholarships for OU students, and placing OU graduates in its employ
GEICO was established in 1936 as the Government Employees Insurance Company and has been a leader in online auto insurance services.
