Heinzig and McMillan gift $6.75 million to Department of Philosophy to advance ethics and critical thinking at OSU

Heinzig and McMillan gift $6.75 million to Department of Philosophy to advance ethics and critical thinking at OSU

Friday, September 6, 2024

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

Growing up in Prague, Oklahoma, Dennis Heinzig yearned for more than what he found in his small town of around 2,300. For him, the answers to life's questions wouldn't be found there.

So, Heinzig ventured out into a world that was much different than he expected - one that did not fit the perspective he started with, nor for which he was prepared. And then he found philosophy, where his quest for a broader understanding of truth and wisdom really began.

"What philosophy did for me was take the blinders off conceptually," Heinzig said. "It allowed me to begin to think more objectively about life's important questions. By going beyond what I was taught one must think or believe, I began to discern what is true and ethical and then live accordingly."

Heinzig and his wife, Iona McMillan, have gained an invaluable amount from philosophy, and the couple wants as many Oklahoma State University students as possible to experience its benefits. In pursuit of that goal, Heinzig and McMillan made the largest donation ever to the OSU Department of Philosophy. Their $6.75 million gift will establish an endowed chair and fund ethics and critical thinking and an endowed general fund for philosophy. It will also continue to fund the Heinzig & McMillan Endowed Scholarship for Ethics and Critical Thinking.

"We are deeply grateful for Dennis and Iona's visionary commitment to advancing critical thinking and ethics at OSU," said Dr. Scott Gelfand, former philosophy department head. "This transformative gift will empower our faculty and students to engage in rigorous inquiry, ethical reflection and meaningful action, contributing to the cultivation of ethical leaders and responsible citizens."

Ethics and critical thinking play a prominent role in OSU's strategic plan and mission to become the nation's preeminent land-grant university.

"At OSU, our ideal graduate demonstrates professional preparedness, engaged citizenship, ethical leadership and personal responsibility," OSU President Kayse Shrum said. "Each of those qualities has roots in philosophy, and when demonstrated, will serve our landgrant mission by equipping graduates to positively impact their communities.

"Dennis and Iona's generosity with this historic gift will help us ensure our graduates are prepared to make a difference in the world."

The couple has been involved with multiple charities over the years, but it was McMillan's idea to make an impact at OSU, where Heinzig earned his master's degree in philosophy in 1987. During his time in Stillwater, Heinzig met philosophy professor Ed Lawry, who Heinzig remembers as always supportive and approachable. Lawry taught his students to apply philosophy to real-life issues, which guided Heinzig throughout his 30-year business career.

"As an employer, I found it much harder to train someone to approach business decisions with ethics and critical thinking than it was to teach them knowledge-based job skills," Heinzig said. "To think carefully and be a good person - those two qualities are required to navigate life's challenges for the good of oneself and all others."

In the spirit of Lawry, Heinzig and McMillan hope their gift will help students and faculty in all fields appreciate the importance and relevance of philosophy. The couple wants to inspire people to face every issue with objectivity and fairness - whether in academics, their career or personal life. To that end, the department is offering a new minor, the Art and Science of Critical Thinking.

"We hope our contributions will equip people with critical thinking skills and a deeper ethical understanding that will in time make a meaningful difference in our world," McMillan said. "Our intention is to disseminate the benefits of philosophy as broadly as possible, equipping new leaders with the tools and understanding required to grapple with a rapidly changing world."

Philosophy and philanthropy share the same root word - phileo, or brotherly love. In Greek, philosophy means the love of wisdom, while philanthropy means the love of humanity. Heinzig and McMillan believe the two are intrinsically intertwined, and that, with conflicts raging across the globe, OSU can play a part in making the world a better place.

"OSU is a very special community and has the right mission and environment to show how philosophy is just as impactful and relevant as agriculture, technology or energy to our lives and the future of humanity," Heinzig said. "If we approach our global challenges with deep ethical understanding and critical thinking skills, there is no problem humanity cannot solve."

Story by: Grant Ramierez | CONNECT magazine

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