STILLWATER - Blaire Atkinson is now the Oklahoma State University Foundation Board of Trustees seventh president.
Ms. Atkinson is the current president of the OSU Alumni Association, and has served as the organization’s leader since October 2018, after four months as its interim president. Prior to her role at the Alumni Association, Ms. Atkinson served as the senior associate vice president of development services at the OSU Foundation. She provided strategic direction and oversight in human resources, marketing and communications, donor relations and special events. She began her career at the Foundation in 2011.
Ms. Atkinson will replace long-time Foundation President Kirk Jewell, who will formally retire in 2020 after 16 years leading fundraising efforts for the university. Ms. Atkinson will continue as the acting president of the OSU Alumni Association through the end of the fiscal year and will assume her new position at the Foundation on or before July 1, 2020. The Foundation and Alumni Association will work together to establish a smooth transition over the next several months. Ms. Atkinson graduated from OSU in 2004 with a degree in business administration and holds Senior Professional in Human Resources and SHRM
Senior Certified Professional certifications. Prior to joining the OSU Foundation in 2011, the native of Vici, Oklahoma, spent several years overseeing human resources at various organizations within the state. “I am overwhelmed with excitement about the opportunity to serve the University as the next Foundation President,” Ms. Atkinson said. “I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to serve in an organization that has such far-reaching impact at my beloved alma mater.
“The decision to transfer back to the Foundation from the Alumni Association was not made lightly, as I have tremendous enthusiasm and respect for the work done by the association and believe I can continue to support their mission in partnership from the Foundation,” she said. Ms. Atkinson is dedicated to improving Oklahoma through quality education and is passionately devoted to OSU. She is a member of Leadership Oklahoma Class 30 and an Oklahoma Achiever Under 40 honoree.
She has also been involved in various community volunteer organizations over the years. Ms. Atkinson and her husband, Matt, met at OSU and have three young children, Wyatt, Westin and Morgan.