Schumann has served as OU-Tulsa president since January 2015. Under his leadership, the campus launched several new programs including computer science, social work, information science and technology, and more, as well as initiatives like the Presidential Research Series, Tulsa community engagement programs and Haruv USA.
Committed to building a more welcoming and inclusive campus, Schumann hired the inaugural OU-Tulsa director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in 2018. Since then, the programming has continued to grow and has consistently been involved with the Tulsa Regional Chamber Mosaic, Pride Parade, MLK Parade, Discussions on Diversity and of late, the Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission.
In 2017, he assisted in the establishment of the Office of Community Engagement to create an infrastructure that supports and advances community engagement across colleges, departments and programs.
Schumann was instrumental in the creation of the Tulsa Higher Education Consortium, an educational resource working in collaboration with the community to increase awareness of higher education opportunities throughout Tulsa. Most recently, in partnership with President Larry Rice at Rogers State University, Schumann announced an agreement that will host RSU students at OU-Tulsa to complete their undergraduate degrees through RSU without having to leave Tulsa, all the while positioning them to move into master’s programs at OU-Tulsa.
Throughout his more than six years as president of OU-Tulsa, research expenditures for Norman-based programs increased from $277,000 to $2.8 million.
“It has been my honor and pleasure to serve as the president of OU-Tulsa,” said Schumann. “The students, faculty and staff at OU-Tulsa truly showed the ‘Sooner Spirit’ every day even during a global pandemic that touched all of our lives. I am proud of what we have accomplished at this outstanding institution, and I know that the great work here will continue.”
