Gaylord College Began with a Gift
In 2001, the Gaylord family donated $22 million to the University of Oklahoma, elevating the 85 year-old H.H. Herbert School of Journalism to the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
With that gift, the excellence in mass communication education that started at the University of Oklahoma in 1913 has continued to thrive and evolve in step with the dynamic media and mass communication industries.
Donations to Gaylord don’t only lead to new buildings and facilities. Just as they created our college, generous gifts from our alumni network and donors empower our students with life-changing professional experiences. They can also enable students with our Student Experience Fund to pursue opportunities that might not otherwise be available to them, such as internships in Salt Lake City for first-generation college students or a year’s worth of tuition.
The Inasmuch Foundation Commons, student services offices, and the Ethics & Excellence in Journalism Foundation auditorium all stemmed from donations.
Gaylord College awarded over $350,000 in scholarships, many that originated as gifts. Donations also enhance student academic experience by bringing top instructors to Gaylord through endowed chairs and faculty positions.
Even the smallest donations can impact our students for a lifetime. Please consider giving to Gaylord College so we can continue to help our students change the world.
The Student Experience Fund enables and supports student professional and educational opportunities including travel for internships, conferences, JMC courses, competition and award entry fees and banquet attendance.
The Journalism Second Century Scholarship directly benefits Gaylord students by awarding scholarships to sophomores, juniors and seniors.
The Gaylord College Student Support Fund helps award emergency student scholarships to increase retention and recruitment.
The Gaylord College of Journalism Graduate Research Scholarship funds research, projects and opportunities that directly benefit Gaylord’s graduate students.
The Lindsey + Asp Next Decade Fund provides expenses that help run Gaylord’s in-house advertising and public relations agency, including cost associated with the physical space of the agency and professional training programs for student talent.
The Broadcast Programming Fund supports student professional and educational opportunities and experiences related to OU Nightly, GameDay U, SoonerSportsPad, broadcast programming coverage, set expenditures and other special projects.
The Gaylord College Alumni Association Fund boosts this network of professionals’ engagement and numbers.
The Green Light Creative Productions Fund provides funding for aspiring Gaylord student filmmakers through this student-led production company.
Gaylord College is working with the Oklahoma Rt. 66 Centennial Commission to develop a comprehensive campaign to celebrate Oklahoma's iconic Mother Road as it turns 100 in 2026. As part of the students' historic role in this initiative, they will develop PR and advertising campaigns, create videos and social media campaigns, uncover underrepresented stories and promote this once-in-a-lifetime celebration.
Director of Development
Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication
Email: bmiller@ou.edu
