College of Arts and Sciences honors 30 alumni at 2024 Hall of Fame ceremony

College of Arts and Sciences honors 30 alumni at 2024 Hall of Fame ceremony

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Media Contact: Elizabeth Gosney | CAS Marketing and Communications Manager | 405-744-7497 | [email protected]

On Oct. 4, Oklahoma State University's College of Arts and Sciences recognized 30 alumni at its annual Hall of Fame event, including chemist Dr. Chih-duen Tse and actor Rex Linn.

Other honorees of the night included 25 Distinguished Alumni and three Rising Stars, representing all 24 of the college's departments and schools.

"The College of Arts and Sciences is a fantastic place to be," CAS Dean Melinda Cro said. "That is clear not only from the work our faculty and staff undertake regularly, but the way in which our current students and our alums continue to engage in their communities wherever they are, making the world a better place."

Honorees were nominated by faculty within the departments from which they graduated. Each one was chosen for their exceptional career accomplishments, outstanding community service and unwavering dedication to OSU.

After recognizing the 2024 CAS Rising Stars and Distinguished Alumni, emcee Ronda McKown - a School of Media and Strategic Communications graduate - introduced Hall of Fame inductee Tse.

Originally from Taiwan, Tse came to the U.S. in the late '70s to pursue her Ph.D. in chemistry, graduating from OSU in 1982.

"I cherished the opportunity [to attend OSU] so much that I devoted more than 100% of effort in studying and researching," Tse said, adding that she voluntarily retook many undergraduate courses to ensure there were no gaps in her knowledge. "I worked so hard to earn high marks that a few professors ... excused me from taking the final exam of their courses so my scores would not be high outliers and result in the only A grade they could give out to the class.

"I attributed my good course performances to the teaching excellence of my professors."

After graduating from OSU, Tse worked in academia for several years before transitioning to the world of pharmaceuticals. She held leadership positions at Mallinckrodt Medical, Bayer and Pfizer, retiring in 2014 as director and team leader in Pfizer's Global Regulatory Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls.

Tse's accomplishments include saving the Alka-Seltzer Plus franchise during the ban on phenylpropanolamine, receiving the YWCA's Tribute to Women in Industry Award, and consulting for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

"The education and research experiences I gained in this university has been an integral part of my life, shaping me into the person I am today," Tse said. "The values, knowledge and friendships I gained here have been invaluable."

Following Tse's remarks, the evening's second Hall of Fame honoree was introduced: 1981 OSU graduate Rex Linn, who is best known for his roles in "CSI: Miami" and "Young Sheldon."

Linn earned his degree in radio, television and film, which was part of what is now the School of Media and Strategic Communications. He spent the next 10 years working in the banking and oil and gas industries before taking the leap into full-time acting. Since moving to Los Angeles in the late '80s, he's built a resume of more than 100 acting credits in TV and film.

"In November 1975, I walked into the Continental Theatre in Oklahoma City and watched what is still today my favorite movie of all time, 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,'" Linn said. "After watching Jack Nicholson's performance, I knew I wanted to be an actor. I just didn't know how to go about it. I would soon find out that OSU would be my starting point."

Linn recalled falling in love with Stillwater and his OSU courses, despite coming from a family of University of Texas alumni.

"The excitement and preparation for going to class in radio, television and film became the foundation of my work ethic for years to come," Linn said. "I truly hope every student who attends OSU has as much fun as I did. ... This university will always be a close friend of mine, and like a good friend, it walks with me every day."

To learn more about the College of Arts and Science's Hall of Fame, including full bios on all the honorees, visit okla.st/cas-hof. To watch videos honoring Tse and Linn, go to the CAS YouTube channel.

Hall of Fame
Alumni who have achieved exceptional success in their professions, displayed effective leadership, made significant contributions to their communities and shown great loyalty to OSU. Read Hall of Fame inductee bios here.

• Dr. Chih-duen Tse - Ph.D. Chemistry '82
• Rex Linn - B.A. Media and Strategic Communications '81

Distinguished Alumni
Alumni who have brought distinction to OSU through extraordinary achievements in their fields and demonstrated records of distinguished service. Read Distinguished Alumni bios here.

• James Baker - B.S. '71 - Pre-Med
• Marisa Bunning - M.S. '80 - Plant Biology, Ecology and Evolution
• Julia Buthman - B.S. '81 - Psychology
• Joe Dorman - B.A. '94 - Political Science
• Kristina Egnor - B.S.'09, M.S. '11 - Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Dale Fitz - B.S. '70 - Chemistry
• Gary Ford - B.S. '75, M.S. '78 - Geology
• Gary Gabrel - B.A. '71, M.S. '74 - Sociology
• Daniel Grimsley - B.A. '96 - Art, Graphic Design and Art History
• Mark Gulley - M.S. '87 - Physics
• Emma I. Cline Hansen - B.A. '69 - Languages and Literatures
• Tracy Harlow - B.S. '93 - Media and Strategic Communications
• Scott Kegler - Ph.D. '99 - Statistics
• Walter Kolb - B.S. '59 - Geography
• James Little - M.A. '73 - History
• Thomas Mancino - B.A. '92 - Political Science, Army ROTC
• Stephen Sadler - B.S. '74, M.S. '76 - Mathematics
• Annawyn Shamas - B.A. '56, M.A. '73 - Theatre
• Pam Shockley-Zalabak - B.A. '65; M.A. '72 - Speech
• Craig Spaulding - B.S. '78 - Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
• Bob Spinks - B.M. '73 - Music, M.Ed. '78, Ed.D. '80 - Education
• Jonathan Teubner - B.S. '06 - Economics
• Marcia Walker - B.S. '82 - Air Force ROTC
• Lisa Wilson - B.S. '86 - Computer Science
• Meredith Woodruff - B.A. '70 - English

Rising Stars
Alumni who have graduated in the past 10 years and reached major milestones in their chosen careers and shown exemplary commitments to community service and volunteerism. Read Rising Star bios here.

• Miranda Childress - B.S. '12, M.S. '15 - Geology
• Jason Higgins - M.A. '16 - English
• Abby O'Dell - B.S. '13, M.S. '15 - Communication Sciences and Disorders