State Regent Ronald H. White, M.D., was recognized as a state regent emeritus during the May 28 meeting of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
White will complete his second nine-year term on the board in May, with 18 years of service.
“Regent White has consistently advocated for increased state fiscal support,” said Chair Ann Holloway. “His commitment to access to higher education programs such as GEAR UP and Oklahoma’s Promise has made him an invaluable member of the State Regents for nearly two decades, and he will be deeply missed.”
Appointed as an Oklahoma State Regent by Gov. Brad Henry in May 2003 to serve a nine-year term, he was reappointed by Gov. Mary Fallin for a second nine-year term in May 2012.
“Regent White has provided leadership while dealing with the complex issues facing higher education today. Throughout his service as a state regent, he has been an avid supporter of all of our degree completion initiatives to the benefit of students of our state system institutions,” said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. “His personal commitment to the quality and integrity of higher education has made him a valuable member of the board. We congratulate and sincerely thank him for his many years of exceptional service to Oklahoma public higher education.”
White previously served as president of Oklahoma Cardiovascular Associates. He served as a member of the board of managers for Oklahoma Heart Hospital and as a clinical assistant professor at the OU College of Medicine. He has also served as medical director for the Oklahoma Heart Center and medical staff president for INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center.
He received his bachelor’s and medical degrees from the University of Oklahoma and interned at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Oklahoma City. He completed a residency in internal medicine at St. Anthony’s, followed by a fellowship in cardiology at OU.
Previously, White served as a member of the board of directors for Oklahoma Gas and Electric. He served as a member of the OU Board of Regents for 14 years and has also been a member of the board of commissioners for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations.
He served in the U.S. Navy, MC Internal Medicine, First Marine Division Field Hospital and internal medicine, U.S. Naval Hospital, Memphis, Tenn.
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education is a nine-member constitutional board that coordinates all 25 public higher education institutions in Oklahoma. The board prescribes academic standards of higher education, determines functions and courses of study at state colleges and universities, grants degrees, makes budget requests to the Legislature, allocates funding for each college and university, recommends proposed fees within limits set by the Legislature, and manages numerous scholarships and special programs. State regents are appointed by the governor for nine-year terms.