OSU President Resigns Suddenly Amid Questions About Foundation

Here are the big stories happening in Oklahoma:

• Dr. Kayse Shrum resigns abruptly from OSU after 3.5 years

• Grissom denied clemency in 2005 murder

• Bill requiring a cellphone ban in schools advances

Enjoy this newsletter? It’s free.

Our only ask is that you subscribe. Subscribers get the ‘Oklahoma Memo’ in their email inbox each weekday morning at 7.

Weather Briefing ☁️

‘Cool with clouds’ appears to be the trend across Oklahoma, with sunshine back in our lives by the weekend.

🌡️ High in OKC 55°
🌡️ High in Tulsa 55°

News On 6 Chief Meteorologist Travis Meyer sums it up best: “It is, indeed, still winter.”

🗞️ Big Story: OSU President Resigns Suddenly Amid Questions About Foundation

The news of Dr. Kayse Shrum’s resignation Wednesday as president of Oklahoma State University caught the entire state by surprise. However, it was a move that had been brewing for a while, several Oklahoma outlets have reported.

NonDoc editor in chief Tres Savage outlined the possible reason behind Shrum’s resignation: an ongoing review of improper transfers of “legislatively appropriated funds” involving Oklahoma State University’s Innovation Foundation.

The 52-year-old university executive had spent 3.5 years on the job in Stillwater and received extensive praise from state leaders upon Wednesday’s breaking news. Kilee Thomas’ report for KOCO included glowing comments from new Oklahoma Speaker Rep. Kyle Hilbert (R-Depew) and Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton (R-Chickasha).

More Coverage Of Dr. Shrum’s Resignation

From The O’Colly: ‘No longer viable’: OSU official resigns after Shrum

From The O’Colly: Gov. Kevin Stitt has ‘no intention’ of becoming Oklahoma State’s next president.

From Oklahoma Voice: Shrum was first woman to “lead a public research institution in Oklahoma.”

From The Oklahoman (paywall): Mystery shrouds the resignation of Dr. Kayse Shrum.

From Tulsa World (paywall): Friction with regents led to Shrum resignation.

From Fox 23: Dr. Jeanette Mendez named acting OSU president.

From The O’Colly: Who is Dr. Mendez?

From The O’Colly: How Oklahoma State will select its next president

From KOSU: The OSU A&M Board of Regents has scheduled a special meeting for Friday.

Clemency denial paves the way for Oklahoma’s first execution of 2025

By Ashlynd Huffman - The Frontier

The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 4-1 on Wednesday to deny clemency for Wendell Grissom, who was sentenced to death for shooting a woman while she was cradling a baby in her arms.

Grissom, 56, was convicted in the 2005 murder of Amber Dawn Matthews, who was shot while she protected her friend’s children during a home invasion near Watonga. A jury also convicted Jessie Johns, Grissom’s accomplice in the crime. The Blaine County District Attorney’s Office initially sought the death penalty for Johns, but later dropped it and Johns was eventually sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Grissom broke into Dreu Kopf’s home in November 2005 and shot her three times, according to prosecutors. 

Grissom then chased after Matthews, 23, who shielded the children from the bullets. He shot Matthews twice in the head.

Kopf heard the gunshots and assumed Grissom had killed her two young daughters. She escaped to get help, taking Grissom’s truck and flagging down a truck driver. 

Assistant Oklahoma Attorney General Jennifer Crabb told the board this wasn’t a robbery, but a premeditated murder. 

“Grissom was there to kill,” Crabb said. 

Grissom’s lawyers have argued that he shouldn’t be put to death, claiming that he sustained brain damage when he was born. They claimed he also sustained further brain damage from repeatedly crashing his motorcycle while he was a teenager. 

Read the rest of the story.

Note: Grissom is scheduled for execution on March 20.

 👀 See Also

From the AP: Grissom was “deeply ashamed and remorseful.”

House committee advances bill requiring Oklahoma school cellphone bans

By Nuria Martinez-Keel - Oklahoma Voice

A major priority for Oklahoma lawmakers and the governor was the first item on the House Common Education Committee’s agenda Wednesday.

In its first meeting of 2025, the committee voted 11-2 to pass House Bill 1276 with bipartisan support. The bill, from Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, would require public schools to ban students from using cellphones and smart watches while on campus. It would take effect July 1 and start applying in the 2025-26 school year.

It advances to the Education Oversight Committee, which must pass the legislation before it could be heard on the House floor.

Read the full story.

Oklahoma Headlines

• Southside OKC woman shot to death while talking with friends (Oklahoma City Free Press)

• How President Trump’s oil and gas agenda could impact Oklahoma (StateImpact Oklahoma)

• Gov. Stitt rolls out immigration plan “Operation Guardian” (KFOR)

• Lawmaker pulls controversial bill concerning students on IEPs (KFOR)

• Proposed bill to limit social media for teens (KFOR)

• Former Oklahoma teen found not guilty after admitting to stabbing mother (KOCO)

• Health officials alleviate concerns of rumored Oklahoma tuberculosis outbreak (KOCO)

• OTA votes to condemn properties along East-West Connector as ‘last resort’ (OU Daily)

• Norman city councilman denies wrongdoing in embezzlement, false documents case (Fox 25)

• Protesters march from downtown Tulsa to City Hall. Here’s why they were marching. (News On 6)

• Remains identified as woman missing since 2019 (News On 6)

• Broken Arrow author says Palestinians not likely to be cowed by President Trump’s Gaza Strip proposal (2 News Oklahoma)

• Man arrested after allegedly throwing hot tea on elderly man during robbery (Fox 23)

• Former MNGE accounts payable manager faces federal charges (Mvskoke Media)

👀 Businesses: Activate Like A Newsroom!

Imagine what your public relations and communications efforts could be if your teams truly activated like a newsroom.

• Going direct-to-audience with your messages

• Owning the narrative

• Capturing attention faster

It’s what I do in my new post-newsroom life: work with businesses, brands and entrepreneurs to show them how to ‘activate like a newsroom’ to level up the attention they need to succeed at scale!

Visit my website at doabledigitalmedia.com, or message me anytime at [email protected].

📬 Subscribe Now:

If you’re not subscribed to Oklahoma Memo, now’s the time to “get the Memo!”

Wake up to a round-up of the top news from all across Oklahoma, all in one spot.

If you wouldn’t mind doing so—tell a friend about the ‘Oklahoma Memo!’

🗣️ Story Tips, Ideas, Feedback

My inbox is always open. If you have a link I should add to the newsletter, a story that isn’t getting enough attention, a press release, a press event you’d like to invite me to—or you just want to offer some good old-fashioned feedback, I’m available to you.

My mission is to amplify quality journalism, rekindling the daily news habit!

Best way to reach me is via email at [email protected].