Beyond aspirations

By Althea Peterson
The Norman Transcript

December 05, 2006 01:32 am

— Howard seeks to give students greater opportunities
By Althea Peterson
Transcript Staff Writer
One of the University of Oklahoma's newest executive officers is also one of the youngest-- but from his experience, you wouldn't guess it.
Chris Howard, vice president for strategic and leadership initiatives, graduated from the Air Force Academy as a Rhodes Scholar, graduated from Oxford and Harvard, started his own non-profit organization and continues to serve in the armed forces today.
After traveling the world, including to South Africa where he met his wife, Barbara, he will soon move his family to Norman and settle in America's heartland, the same place that is home to one of his mentors, former Ambassador Edward Perkins.
"I set a pretty high standard for myself," Howard said of aspiring to lead like Perkins. "I'm from north Texas, so this is my region, too."
He said it was his "humble" beginning in north Texas that inspires him today. He said his focus is to give students, no matter what their background, the same education opportunities they would receive at any university.
"My mom always said, 'Much is given, much is also expected,'" he said. "I feel an obligation, a mandate, to help others."
Howard, said his education philosophy is "old school," where learning is beyond textbooks and memorizing facts. He has the same expectations of students that he has of himself in the classroom: to be prepared, on time, and have no excuses.
"You have to teach respect," Howard said. "You have to read before class. You have to be on time."
Some of his future goals include having alumni and students work together more to "educate, explore, reflect and accelerate" Sooner aspirations.
"I want to be an enabler," Howard said. "I want to enable students, faculty, staff, athletes and the Oklahoma community to achieve their aspirations-- and then stretch those dreams beyond their aspirations."
"Beyond aspirations" is something Howard said he can relate to. He said he never imagined he would ever be in the position to study at Oxford, found Impact Young Lives Foundation which provided scholarship and travel opportunities for South African students, or be able to be in a leadership position at the University of Oklahoma where he can "converge" his interests and his talents.
"That's a wonderful place to be," Howard said. "It's about excellence, it's about leadership, it's about community. I feel like this academic environment, led by Provost (Nancy) Mergler, is a great place to be."
OU President David Boren said when recruiting new leaders to campus, he saw Howard as a "rising star" whom he wanted to be part of the university's future.
"In a way, the Honors College is like a training ground for Rhodes Scholars, so he is perfect," Boren said. "He is just a tremendous leader."
While Howard said it was initially a "tough decision" whether to move his wife and two sons to Oklahoma, he said he hopes this new opportunity and new beginning will lead to greater opportunities and beginnings for future students.
Althea Peterson 366-3539 apeterson@normantranscript.com

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