Clay Bennett steps down from University of Oklahoma Board of Regents due to health issues

Jan. 31--Citing health issues, Clay Bennett resigned Wednesday as chairman of the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents before the board's meeting on the OU Health Sciences Center campus.

Regent Leslie Rainbolt-Forbes stepped into the role and made the announcement. She praised Bennett, 59, for his mental and physical fortitude while serving two years as chairman during a very difficult time.

"He will be sorely missed," Rainbolt-Forbes said.

As chairman, Bennett led the effort to hire the first new OU president in 24 years.

"There's certainly nothing more important I'll probably do in my civic life than be a part of this process," he said when the search was narrowed to seven candidates.

Bennett was unable to attend the installation of President Jim Gallogly in August because of poor health. Bennett, chairman of the Oklahoma City Thunder and president of Dorchester Capital, a diversified private investment company, was appointed to the regents in 2011 by Gov. Mary Fallin.

On Wednesday night, the Oklahoma City Thunder released a statement saying that Bennett informed Fallin we would serve another year on the board, with his term to expire in March.

"He has endured health issues over the past 18 months which have required his full and ongoing attention. He has continued to improve and is hopeful for a full recovery. Clay is fully active in all his business interests, including the Thunder," the statement said.

Gallogly began his remarks to the regents Wednesday by addressing the recent racist incident on campus that has "turned our university upside-down."

"We will use that incident as a catalyst for change," Gallogly said. "We have much work to do at the University of Oklahoma and we are absolutely committed to getting that done."

He read a letter from the Faculty Senate pledging "to be part of a unified effort to disrupt and dismantle racism on this campus ... to both recruit and retain more diverse students, faculty and staff."

"We agree that addressing this complex problem is everyone's responsibility and that we all have much work to do," the letter stated.

Gallogly said both faculty and students have submitted lists of ideas to move forward.

Rainbolt-Forbes said the president and the board are committed to "a proactive long-term plan for change ... and as we advocate for that plan going forward that each of us remember that we're not allowed to be a bystander. Everyone is a diversity officer or diversity monitor."

New hires

Regents approved the hiring of three new members of Gallogly's executive team during the meeting:

--Jacquelyn Wolf as senior vice president and chief human resources officer at an annual salary of $317,000. Wolf stepped into the job Jan. 7 after working for OU as a human resources consultant.

Wolf has more than 35 years' experience in various human resources specialties. She was chief human resources officer for Anthem Healthcare and also for LyondellBasell, one of the world's largest plastics and refining companies, where Gallogly served as CEO.

--Eric Conrad as vice president for operations at annual salary of $310,000. He will begin work Feb. 25.

Conrad has more than 20 years' experience in managing a number of operations from Fortune 500 companies to Brigham Young University. His experience includes facility and construction management, public safety, fleet services, housing services, food services, sustainability practices, procurement, technology services and human resources.

--David Surratt as vice president for student affairs and dean of students at annual salary of $225,000. He will begin work Feb. 11.

Surratt is an OU graduate who has 17 years' higher education experience, including at OU. He currently is assistant vice chancellor and associate dean of students at the University of California-Berkeley.

Gallogly still has three positions on his executive team to fill.

Professor demoted

The Board of Regents also voted on title and salary changes for professor Suzette Grillot, who has criticized the board for the "selection of President Gallogly via a secret search."

Regents approved deleting the titles dean of the college of international studies and vice provost for international programs, and reducing Grillot's annual salary from $227,808 to $170,856.

Grillot, who was removed as dean Jan. 18, has said the move was retaliation after she spoke out over the regents' hiring process. Provost Kyle Harper said she was dismissed as dean because she would not cooperate with budget cutting in the College of International Studies.

All OU departments are being asked to cut their budgets.

The computer from the dean's office was removed Tuesday afternoon. Grillot discovered it that evening and tweeted:

"Arrived at the office tonight to learn that the OU provost and legal counsel confiscated my computer. This is classic intimidation. Can't buy my silence so they will look for (or maybe plant) something else. It won't work."

OU spokeswoman Lauren Brookey said OU's IT department took the computer to copy files related to the business of International Studies that are needed by Jill Irvine, the acting dean of the college. Brookey said the university computer will be returned to Grillot, who remains at OU as a tenured professor.

Grillot said Wednesday she reported the incident to the university police.

"I was fearful of what they were trying to do. I don't trust this administration," she said.

___

(c)2019 The Oklahoman

Visit The Oklahoman at www.newsok.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.