OU OUTREACH NEWS

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Darlynn Dietrich, who served as Executive Program Assistant to Dr. Belinda Biscoe for Outreach.
Darlynn brought more than three decades of administrative expertise to our college, along with a deep commitment to excellence and service. 

The Oklahoma Arts Council named KGOU’s Jim Johnson as one of 21 honorees of the 46th Oklahoma Governor’s Arts Awards. According to the Council, “the Media in the Arts Award recognizes members of the media who demonstrate commitment to the arts in Oklahoma documented through public awareness support and fairness, initiative, creativity, and professionalism in reporting.”

On November 12, Eighty-eight Outreach staff from 12 departments participated in a day of hands on professional learning focused on using Co-Pilot to optimize usage of popular Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, and Teams. The “Ready for Takeoff” event was sponsored by OU Outreach at the National Center for Employee Development Conference Center & Hotel, from 8 AM to 4:30 PM. Full day participants received a certificate of completion from the workshop vendor New Horizons, a training division of Educate360. 

The University of Oklahoma Southwest Prevention Center (SWPC) was honored to be selected to present at the 2026 CADCA National Leadership Forum Coalition Ideas Fair in National Harbor, Maryland held February 2-4, 2026. The Forum, CADCA's premier national convening of prevention professionals, brings together thousands of coalition leaders, researchers, and community partners committed to building safer, healthier communities.

It is always so fulfilling when the life that you are living brings you back to a familiar place, but with a new perspective, clarity, and gained growth. Years ago, Leesa and Leslee, twin sisters, attended the University of Oklahoma. They were the first twins on the cheer squad. Leslee, always having a great love for her alma mater and a passion to serve others, went on to become a teacher and mother. She is the mother of an extraordinary young woman named Drew, whose diagnosis of Down Syndrome at birth has propelled connection, outreach, and positive impact for not only the Down syndrome community and the Indigenous peoples, but also the community of The University of Oklahoma and beyond.