Governor Kevin Stitt announced today the appointment of Michael A. Cawley to the University of Oklahoma (OU) Board of Regents, a position that requires Senate confirmation.
“Mr. Cawley is a successful businessman, attorney and OU alumni, with a career dedicated to serving rural Oklahoma,” Stitt said. “Mr. Cawley served for 20 years as president of The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, leading a team that raised funds to publish research advancing the agriculture industry in Oklahoma and nationwide. He will bring a wealth of experience and a strong network to support the OU Board and the University’s vision to continue growing as reputable national research institution.”
“Governor Stitt has shared with me his desire for higher education excellence,” Cawley said. “I am honored to have the opportunity to work with the Board of Regents and university teams to bring that desire to fruition.”
“I was thrilled to learn that Governor Stitt appointed Michael Cawley to the OU Board of Regents,” said OU Interim President Joseph Harroz Jr. “He is a dedicated servant to our University having spent decades committed to our mission in a variety of roles. His appointment to the Board speaks to his interest in and advocacy for higher education in Oklahoma. The Board, and the institutions it governs, will be better for his leadership, counsel, and insight. We’re proud to have another OU alumnus serve as a member of this distinguished body and I look forward to working with him.”
Michael Cawley serves as a director of Noble Energy, Inc., an independent oil and gas exploration and production company. He served as President, CEO, and Trustee of The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. from 1992 until his retirement in 2012. Prior to 1992, he practiced law for nearly 20 years following his service to the United States Army.
Cawley received undergraduate degrees in Economics and English Literature as well as a law degree from the University of Oklahoma. Cawley and his wife, Betty Jane, live in Ardmore, Oklahoma. They have two children and eight grandchildren.
Cawley serves on the boards of the Merrick Foundation, the Dean A. McGee Eye Institute, the Dean A. McGee Eye Institute Foundation, the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, and the State Fair of Oklahoma. He also serves on the Investment Committee of the Oklahoma Arts Institute.
Additionally, Cawley has assisted his alma mater as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the OU Foundation, chairman of the University of Oklahoma Associates Council, and chairman of the fundraising efforts for the Jimmie Austin OU Golf Course and the Charlie Coe Teaching Center. He also served on the search committee for the hiring of Joe Castiglione, the University’s Athletic Director. Cawley received the University of Oklahoma Regents’ Alumni Award in 1996.
The Oklahoma University Board of Regents is the official governing body of The University of Oklahoma, Cameron University, and Rogers State University. The board is composed of seven citizens appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the State Senate. Each Regent serves a seven-year term
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