Hall of Fame Member Biographies

James and Ann Halligan

James Halligan served as the 16th President of Oklahoma State University from 1994-2003. Before OSU, he served as an assistant professor at Texas Tech University and later became chair of their chemical engineering department. He next served as dean of engineering at the University of Missouri in Rolla before becoming dean and interim vice chancellor at the University of Arkansas and then president of New Mexico State University for ten years.

As the president of OSU, Halligan undertook significant initiatives to address declining enrollment, overseeing the consolidation of student services into a single building, facilitating upgrades to classrooms and the library, and initiating the construction of new housing. His efforts also led to the expansion of the Gallagher-Iba arena, enabling indoor graduation ceremonies and football games.

Halligan spearheaded OSU’s first capital campaign, raising over $270,000 during his tenure and enabling the establishment of professorships, endowed chairs, presidential scholarships and new distinguished graduate fellowships. Under his leadership, OSU gained national recognition as “America’s Best College Buy” and a Truman Library Institute honor.

Halligan served as the chief executive officer of Oklahoma’s A&M system of colleges, which included OSU-Okmulgee Technical Center, OSU-Oklahoma City, and OSU Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa, and he was instrumental in establishing OSU-Tulsa. Each campus has its own president, but oversight of the whole system is the responsibility of the OSU President.

His wife, Ann, was a supportive partner during Halligan’s tenure as OSU President. Together, they hosted over 2000 guests each year in the President’s Home on campus. Ann served as the hostess all of the events and many student groups were welcomed.

Ann Halligan’s commitment to service extended beyond the university. She served on several boards, including Stillwater Medical Center, Stillwater United Way, Stillwater Public Education Foundation, Tulsa Ballet, and Magic Empire Council of Girl Scouts Tulsa. Her involvement in university boards, such as OSU Library, OSU Friends of Music and Women for OSU, further demonstrated her dedication to supporting various causes. For 15 years, she served as the Alpha Chi Omega financial advisor. She completed a degree from Ft. Dodge Junior College in Iowa and a bachelor’s in business education at Texas Tech. Before becoming the first lady of OSU, she was a legal secretary, a high school business teacher and later had a career in real estate.