Less than one year into his administration, OU President James Gallogly announced that he plans to retire once a transition is in place for his successor.
Gallogly has faced many unexpected challenges since his appointment in March 2018. This timeline provides context on the events of Gallogly’s presidency leading up to the announcement of his plan to retire.
2018
March 26, 2018 — The OU Board of Regents appoints James Lawrence Gallogly as the 14th president of the University of Oklahoma, ending David Boren’s nearly 24-year tenure as president. Gallogly’s selection as president followed a months-long search involving the regents and a search committee that took place mostly behind closed doors. Though Gallogly’s selection drew mixed reactions from students and faculty, Boren expressed great confidence in the new president’s abilities.
June 19, 2018 — Though not yet sworn in as president, Gallogly performs the duties of president at the OU Board of Regents meeting, in which he gives a scathing report about OU's financial status and reveals OU’s debt is nearly a billion dollars. Gallogly says at the meeting he will not increase tuition and plans not to do so in the immediate future.
July 2, 2018 — Gallogly has his first official day as OU president, and it’s a busy one. Gallogly announces a major administrative restructuring plan with the aim of increasing efficiency on the Norman campus. The plan results in the termination of a several longtime employees of the university, including the university’s chief financial officer.
Aug. 16, 2018 — Gallogly is officially inaugurated as OU’s president. During his speech, Gallogly explains his plans to stabilize university finances, double graduate research, increase compensation for faculty members and hold tuition flat.
Nov. 1, 2018 — Gallogly announces a multitude of staff layoffs aimed at saving money on the Norman campus. The layoffs mainly affect employees in the undergraduate research office, landscaping department and the One University Store. Several leaders within the OU department of development are also terminated.
Dec. 10, 2018 — The Daily reports OU hired law firm Jones Day to investigate misreporting of financial data that may have occurred under Boren. The next day, Gallogly confirms that Jones Day conducted a review, the university responded accordingly and no legal action would be taken.
Dec. 11, 2018 — Gallogly denies a report from The Norman Transcript stating he had threatened Boren following an op-ed published by Boren criticizing Gallogly’s depiction of OU’s finances as dire. The Transcript reports Gallogly told a senior OU official to tell Boren: "You tell him that I am the meanest son of a bitch he has ever seen, and if he ever crosses me again, I will destroy him."
2019
Jan. 18, 2019 — Following a racist video in which two OU students used blackface and one used a racial slur, Gallogly releases a statement condemning their actions and saying “the negative impact of such conduct cannot be estimated,” but acknowledging their First Amendment rights.
Jan. 21, 2019 — Gallogly addresses the OU community during a press conference following social media circulation of the racist video. During the conference, Gallogly says his administration will prioritize minority issues on campus, and the two students involved in the video have withdrawn from the university. Gallogly also says it may have been an oversight to not call the video racist in the university’s initial statement.
Jan. 22, 2019 — Gallogly attends the Rally to Stop Racism following the racist video, during which students criticize his leadership during the incident. An OU dean recently terminated by Gallogly also calls for his resignation during the rally. During the rally, Gallogly says many individuals there have hatred for him and want him to fail.
Feb. 7, 2019 — Gallogly announces the second major round of layoffs during his administration, this time affecting members of the OU IT department and the landscaping department at the OU Health Sciences Center.
Feb. 13, 2019 — The Oklahoman reports the Jones Day law firm is investigating whether Boren sexually harassed male aides.
March 13, 2019 — Gallogly announces at the Board of Regents meeting that “actual financials” for the university have become positive on both the Norman campus and at the Health Sciences Center following cost-savings measures taken by his administration.
April 9, 2019 — The Jones Day law firm, hired by the university to investigate “allegations of possible inappropriate conduct,” briefs Gallogly and the Board of Regents on its investigation for the first time in a special meeting. The briefing lasts six hours, all of which is conducted in executive session.
May 12, 2019 — Gallogly announces plans to retire as president as soon as the OU Board of Regents has a plan in place to select his successor.
