Gary C. Pierson, Gov. Kevin Stitt’s recent appointment to the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents, is an active alum of the University of Oklahoma.

His roles with OU include serving as chairman of the University of Oklahoma College of Law Board of Visitors and serving on the University of Oklahoma’s Price College of Business Board of Advisors.

“I am pleased to appoint Gary Pierson to the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents,” said Gov. Stitt. “Gary is an accomplished Oklahoma attorney and businessman and a proud OU alum who will bring his professional expertise to the table to support the university’s goals of academic excellence and student success.” 

Pierson earned his Bachelor of Business Administration and his Juris Doctorate degrees at OU. Today, he is the president and chief executive officer of the Oklahoma Publishing Company, a holding company with business interests in multiple industries. Prior to this position he served as OPUBCO’s general counsel from February 2002 until December 2003 and its chief operating officer from 2003 through 2011.

“We are pleased to welcome Gary Pierson to our Board of Regents,” said Chairman Leslie Rainbolt-Forbes. “His broad experience in the areas of business and law where he has held leadership positions throughout his career will serve the Regents and the University well moving forward.  I want to thank Governor Stitt for his nomination and Gary for his willingness to serve.”

Pierson has been a resident of the Oklahoma City metro for the past 41 years and has served in various community engagement activities. He currently serves on the Executive Committee of The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation as well as on the Board of Directors of The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Pierson is also a past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation.

 “I applaud Gov. Stitt's appointment of Gary Pierson to our Board of Regents,” said OU President James Gallogly. “Gary’s support through continued engagement with the OU colleges of Law and Business has been exceptional. The breadth of his legal and business experience and his talents will benefit our university community and our state.”

Stitt appointed Pierson to a two-year term on the seven-member official governing body of OU, Cameron University and Rogers State University. His appointment will fill the last remaining open seat on the OU Board of Regents.  His two-year term will fulfill the one started by Regent Bill Burgess Jr. who died in February. Pierson’s appointment requires Oklahoma State Senate confirmation.

Established in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a doctoral degree-granting university and leader in research, healthcare, and academic activity impacting the state of Oklahoma and global community. The Norman campus enrolls more than 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students, the Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City enrolls more than 3,000 students and the OU-Tulsa campus enrolls more than 1,000. Of the 4,385 incoming freshmen in 2018, the average ACT score is 26.2 and is one of the most diverse and inclusive groups of incoming students in university history. OU began a new focus in 2018 to double research efforts in the next five years, promote OU Medicine as the healthcare provider of choice in the state of Oklahoma, and grow the university in northeastern Oklahoman.