Legacy of Leadership: Hargis Leadership Institute celebrates Burns and Ann Hargis with newly renovated space

Legacy of Leadership: Hargis Leadership Institute celebrates Burns and Ann Hargis with newly renovated space

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Media Contact: Mack Burke | Associate Director of Media Relations | 405-744-5540 | [email protected]

After ascending the staircase to the Student Union's second floor, you might catch a glimpse of some of the future's brightest leaders in a newly renovated space at Oklahoma State University.

Because of its glass exterior, you won't even have to step inside to see its details, but then you would miss out on what the Hargis Leadership Institute is cultivating.

"The Hargis Leadership Institute empowers our students to lead with character, humility and purpose," OSU President Jim Hess said.

A history of leadership

President Emeritus Burns Hargis, a 1967 OSU graduate, served as the university's 18th president from 2008 to 2021 alongside his wife, Ann. Together, they strengthened the Cowboy community through record fundraising, campus growth and a focus on student success.

Ann, who received an honorary OSU doctorate in 2019, championed wellness initiatives and founded Pete's Pet Posse, helping OSU become America's Healthiest Campus.

Their legacy continues to inspire the HLI today. Burns and Ann established the institute with hopes of "helping OSU students understand themselves as leaders."

Josh Taylor, HLI director since 2021, has witnessed the program's growth and evolution during his tenure at OSU.

"Burns Hargis' legacy of leadership at this university was one of transformation," Taylor said. "I heard this said about Burns, that one of his greatest legacies was that he taught us all to believe in ourselves."

The Hargis' influence extends beyond the staff; it's equally evident in the lives of the students they've inspired.

Student Director Jacob Smith said his journey with HLI wouldn't be the same without their influence.

"The impact Burns and Ann had on OSU is impossible to quantify," Smith said. "Hundreds of thousands of students who felt the effect of their efforts have and will continue to positively impact millions of people. We try to emulate this legacy in HLI by teaching students the values of life-giving leadership and what it means to be a servant-leader in your community."

New look, same purpose

On Oct. 14, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to formally open the HLI renovated office space, highlight the "One Lucky Cowboy: The Life of Burns Hargis" book signing, and reflect on the impact and growth HLI has had on campus.

The redesigned space replaces segmented offices with open, shared environments, as well as huddle rooms for students to foster dialogue and teamwork. Each unique feature is designed to enhance collaboration opportunities, showcasing the very heart of its leadership initiative.

"Leadership is not in a vacuum, which means that we need each other. Way too often, we get separated or distanced from each other, and so then, we miss those critical conversations," Taylor said. "This space was designed to bring people together to have those dialogues so they can move forward and lead well; everything about it is designed to create spaces for students to work together."

Taylor works with hundreds of student leaders within the program and helps promote and establish leadership initiatives as the director.

"The impetus behind the institute was that we wanted to create opportunities for all students to learn and develop as leaders," Taylor said. "We saw that there were very few formal leadership training or development opportunities, and we also saw how important leadership development was for students."

The staff's active participation and shared goals have not only grown the program but have also been evident to students.

"The intentional efforts of our staff are what have made so many students want to buy in," Smith said.

A bright orange future

The HLI was established in October 2021, with 775 students in the program. As of the 2024-25 school year, 5,118 students were actively engaged in the program and its leadership training.

Although the institute has undergone significant development over the last four years, the mission and heart behind its creation have remained the same.

"Our mission then, and now, is to develop life-giving community leaders and develop the field of leadership studies," Taylor said.

Taylor shares an optimistic vision for the future of HLI, expressing hopes that the program will continue to grow as a central hub for student leadership.

"My hope is that HLI is creating a legacy of significance, helping people, helping OSU students understand themselves as leaders, and then training them with the skills they need to make a difference," Taylor said.

"Hopefully, you will have happier and healthier families, friendships and communities because of it."

Photos by: Eric Priddy

Story by: Annelise Vinson | STATE Magazine