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The Henry G. Bennett Distinguished Fellows Program is named for the former president of Oklahoma State University who made outstanding contributions to OSU, US higher education, and to nations around the world.  Dr. Bennett served as President of Oklahoma A&M College, now known as Oklahoma State University, from 1928 until 1950, when he assumed the leadership of the Point IV Program.   

 

In January of 1949, U.S. President Harry S. Truman outlined a program for peace and freedom, the fourth point of which was “to embark on a bold new program for making the benefits of our scientific advances and industrial progress available for the improvement and growth of the underdeveloped areas.”  This idea was incorporated into what became known as the Point Four Program, which provided developing nations with technical assistance in education, public health, industry, and agriculture. On November 4, 1950, President Truman appointed Dr. Bennett to be Assistant Secretary of State in charge of the Technical Cooperation Administration, which is the predecessor for other US government efforts, including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Peace Corps. 

 

President Bennett traveled extensively throughout the world and established more than 105 projects in 33 nations.  He, his wife, and several staff died tragically in a plane crash while serving on a Point Four Program assignment in Iran in 1951. The faculty and staff of Oklahoma A&M College played a role in fulfilling President Bennett’s vision by establishing the first agricultural university in Ethiopia, Haramaya University.  Oklahoma State University is proud of President Bennett and his leadership in creating the flagship program for US technical assistance to nations around the globe.

 

The Henry G. Bennett Distinguished Fellows Program, housed in the School of Global Studies at OSU, honors distinguished leaders, both international and local, who have provided leadership in addressing  complex global issues, and honorees include many who have served at the highest level of their governments. Bennett Fellows are selected from a wide range of fields and disciplines, including academe, business, government, and non-profit sectors, who have distinguished careers through commitment to international engagement. Many of the honorees have ties to Oklahoma State University, but the program is not limited to OSU alumni, faculty, or staff. 

 

Previous Bennett Fellow Recipients


  • 2001

    Dr. Lawrence Boger

      • Former President of OSU
  • 2004

    Richard Boger

    Dr. B. Dell Felder

    Dr. Clifton Wharton, Jr

  • 2005

    Dr. Duck Woo-Nam

      • Former Fiance Minster and Prime Minister of South Korea
      • OSU Alum
  • 2006

    Gen. Colin Powell

    Hon. Wes Watkins

    Harriet Fulbright

    Ana Salazar

  • 2007

    Hon. Benjamin Gilman

    Conrad Evans

    Joy Evans

    Col. R. Alan King

    Paul Bass

    Dr. Robert Sandmeyer

    Judge Thomas Bennett

  • 2008

    Hon. Vicente Fox

      • Former President of Mexico

    Dr. M. Peter McPherson

    Charles Eitel

    Dr. B. Curtis Hamm

  • 2009

    M. Steve Forbes

    Dr. Adnan Badran

    Dr. James Halligan

    Michael Hyatt

    Dr. Paul Liao

  • 2010

    Dr. Condoloeezza Rice

    Dr. Gebisa Ejeta

    Hon. Rodger Randle

    Dr. Richard Poole

    Don & Cathey Humphrey

  • 2011

    Jack Welch

    Tony Blair

    Dr. Alfredo Miranda

  • 2012
    Robert Gates
  • 2022

    Charles F. "Chic" Dambach

    Rosan Roeslani 

    • Indonesian Ambassador to the United States

 

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