Oklahoma City University has received nearly $2.5 million in gifts to establish an award in honor of retiring Music and Theatre Dean Mark Parker, school officials announced today.
The Mark Parker Endowed Faculty Excellence Award will be used to provide critical funding and support in perpetuity to faculty at the OCU Wanda L. Bass School of Music and School of Theatre.
Parker announced in August that he would retire from OCU on June 30 following 35 years at the university, including the past 30 as dean of the music school and 21 years as dean of both music and theatre.
During that time, the schools have produced thousands of talented and award-winning performers, technicians, educators, designers, composers and arts administrators, making OCU one of the preeminent institutions in the world for performing arts education and professional preparation.
“Mark Parker has long been regarded as an important leader not only in the state’s music and theatre communities, but in the global performing arts space as well,” OCU President Kenneth Evans said. “The university community is grateful for those who have supported the creation of this deserving award.”
The initial gift to fund the Mark Parker Endowed Faculty Excellence Award – a donation of $500,000 – was made by Greg and Lisa Love.
Lisa Love said the couple sees the award not only as a tribute to Parker, but to OCU’s music and theatre faculty as well.
“Greg and I are so grateful to have established the Mark Parker Endowed Faculty Excellence Award, as our faculty at OCU is deeply dedicated to their work and they excel in what they do,” she said. “They do more than just teach; they inspire the students to reach their full potential and help them grow into confident professionals in their fields.”
Following the Loves’ gift, several donors came on board in support of the award, including the Chickasaw Nation, the Wanda L. Bass Foundation, the late Herman Meinders, and the American Fidelity Foundation. Donations continue to come in from numerous OCU alumni and other supporters.
The gifts recognize Parker’s significant impact on OCU and the performing arts community.
During his time at OCU, the Music and Theatre schools have regularly been recognized as top academic programs in the nation; the Music school became an all-Steinway school; and the Theatre school grew enrollment by more than 400 percent.
The schools have produced notable alumni including Kristin Chenoweth, Kelli O’Hara, Leona Mithcell and Ron Raines, and continue to graduate performers who appear on Broadway and in productions, television shows and movies around the world.
Evans said funds from the award will be used to ensure OCU is able to recruit, retain and support top music and theatre faculty, so that student experience and professional preparation at the university remain at the same world-class level for years to come.
“This award not only honors Mark, but our talented faculty in music and theatre,” Evans said. “Ultimately, the impact will be felt by numerous generations of music and theatre students, and that is the most important thing.”
For more information or to support the Mark Parker Endowed Faculty Excellence Award, click here.
