Williams provides continued support for Inclusion Leadership Program at OSU

The Oklahoma State University (OSU) Foundation announced today a $75,000 gift from Williams in support of the Inclusion Leadership Program at OSU.

The year-long diversity program pairs OSU students with area high school seniors designed to broaden perspectives about themselves and others, develop inclusion leadership skills, increase knowledge regarding global networking, and clear a pathway to successful living within a global society. 

The program was instituted last year and made possible by a generous gift of $75,000 from Tulsa-based Williams. Continuing to support the program and its mission, the integrated natural gas company has made a second $75,000 gift to benefit the program in its second year.

Students will work as a team to identify successful leadership qualities in local business leaders and implement those attributes through individual projects to benefit their community.  The program was developed by Dr. Cornell Thomas, system vice president for Institutional Diversity at OSU.

“Williams has and continues to be a source of great support for OSU and the Inclusion Leadership Program,” Thomas said.  “Students in this program will be better prepared for leadership in this more inclusively diverse world, thanks to Williams.”           

Last year 35 OSU students participated in the program acting as mentors to Tulsa high school students. The same format will continue this year as a new class of 30 OSU juniors and seniors help guide Houston, Oklahoma City, Stillwater and Tulsa seniors through the program while developing their own skills in leadership.

”We are pleased to see this program be successful,” said Alison Anthony, director of diversity and employee relations for Williams. “It is vital that students today understand the value of diversity and how to embrace it in order to be successful leaders.”

The Oklahoma State University Foundation serves as the private fundraising organization for OSU, as designated by the OSU Regents. Its mission is to unite donor and university passions and priorities to achieve excellence.