DISTINGUISHED ALUMNAE

After graduating with a degree in nutrition and dietetics in 1991, Ann Mileur Boeckman began her career as a clinical dietitian.  Her career path eventually led her to the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., where she served as editor-in-chief of the Catholic University Law Review and graduated Cum Laude in 1997.  Ann practiced food law with the Washington law firms  Keller and Heckman LLP and Hogan & Hartson LLP for nearly 10 years, advising food industry clients on a broad range of legal, regulatory and policy matters.  She is currently Senior Counsel of Food Law for Kraft Foods, Inc. in Northfield, Illinois.  "OSU's department of Nutritional Sciences gave me a wonderful start in what has been an exciting career,” Boeckman said.  “I'm grateful for the knowledge, experience, and life skills I learned in Stillwater and am very honored to be among the Distinguished Alumni Award recipients."  Ann and her husband Stephen live in Wilmette, Illinois with their daughter, Stella.  
Laura Demaree graduated with a degree in Design, Housing and Merchandising in 1988. Since opening the flagship store of Eskimo Joe's clothes, she has been part of one of the world's most famous collectible T-shirts.  Eskimo Joe's Clothes has grown to 3 retail outlets in 3 major cities, a mail order division and a staff of over 50.  Laura is responsible for purchase, production and distribution of all merchandise.  She also oversees the merchandising and displays at all retail locations as well as developing long range forecasting and marketing plans.  During the Christmas shopping season, she designs as many as 8 additional locations around the state of Oklahoma, creating floor plans and merchandising and product placement.  Joe's Clothes has expanded to include selling lines of OSU Apparel and Purchasing and Fulfillment for Camille's Café and Pops, the soda pop themed restaurant in Arcadia. With the Eskimo Joe's t-shirt reported to be the 2nd most popular branded apparel item in the world, "The smile seen around the world" is everywhere Laura Demaree travels. "The education and support from the OSU staff and faculty was invaluable in my success and immeasurable in setting me on the right course with confidence and the skills to succeed!"

RISING STARS

Jeremy Joyce Pinkerton graduated with a bachelor of science degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration in 1999. Jeremy began her career in revenue management at the Hilton Tulsa Southern Hills followed by the Doubletree Downtown Tulsa.  Jeremy moved to New York City in 2003 to assume the role of Associate Director of Revenue Management at the Waldorf-Astoria. While at the Waldorf-Astoria, she was responsible for managing multi-million dollar rooms revenue, as well as food, beverage, and spa revenue. Jeremy is currently the Director of Revenue Management at the Westin New York at Times Square in the heart of the Broadway theater district.  Jeremy completed her MBA from Metropolitan College of New York in May, 2006 as well as a study abroad program in Europe. Jeremy actively promotes her passion for Revenue Management to Hospitality students including presentations at the New York Hotel and Motel Association Show, OSU School of Hotel and Restaurant Administration, and New York University College of Hospitality. Pinkerton said, “My education at OSU has prepared me for many different aspects in my career in the Hospitality industry.”  “I come from a large family of Oklahoma State alumni and have been a lifelong cowboy fan!  I am honored to receive this distinguished award and will continue to be a proud representative of Oklahoma State University,” she added.
A degree in Design, Housing and Merchandising has led Sarah Snawder to paradise in Honolulu, Hawaii. After graduating with an interior design option in 2000, Sarah’s first position was in a business interiors firm as a space planner in Salinas, California.   Sarah moved to Honolulu as a space planner/ project manager and worked on commercial and government office projects for Interior Showplace, LTD.  While there, one of her clients was Hawaiian Airlines. In 2003, the airline company hired her to manage projects at their corporate headquarters and airport operation locations.  Currently, Sarah is Manager of Properties and Facilities where she is the primary corporate resource for general space planning of corporate real estate.  She establishes and leads development and implementation of facility initiatives for airport and non-airport locations. While at Oklahoma State University, Snawder was a member of the CHES Student Council, International Facilities Management Association Student Chapter and president of the American Society of Interior Designers Student Chapter.  Sarah says she is proud to be an OSU alum and credits her success and confidence to the education she received in the DHM department at OSU.  “I hope that all CHES students find as much enjoyment in the career paths that they choose as I have found in my journey,” Snawder said.

HONORARY ALUMNI

Mary and Mead Ferguson of Woodward may not have graduated from OSU, but they have certainly had an impact on students in the College of Human Environmental Sciences.  The couple established the Mead and Mary Ferguson Nutritional Sciences Scholarship Fund in 1995 and since then more than 20 students have received significant financial support from the endowment.  “My wife and I have long felt that CHES fulfills a vital role in educating our young people.  In many cases it is ahead of other universities particularly in nutrition research,” Mead Ferguson said. “It is a special privilege to be picked from many others who are equally enthusiastic about the College.”Mead is a graduate of Yale and Harvard and a retired ExxonMobil executive.  Mary is an alumna of Hollins University in Virginia. The couple and their children lived in many countries during Mead’s career with Exxon. After retirement in 1979, the couple returned to Woodward where they are involved in ranching and community service.
Richard S. Fischer is a graduate of Harvard and Harvard Law School.  He is a retired partner of Nixon, Hargrave, Devans, & Doyle in Rochester, New York and has been listed in, among others, the Best Lawyers in America and Who’s Who in the World.  He moved to Stillwater in 1995 with his wife, Stillwater native Malinda Berry Fischer. He has served as a lecturer for the Spears School of Business and past president of OSU Friends of Music.  He is a member of CHES Associates Executive Committee which serves as the dean’s advisory committee and Turning Point Ranch Foundation Board.  He has also served locally on the board of United Way of Stillwater, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, CASA and Cowboy Golf. Dick has been a long time supporter of the School of Hotel and Restaurant Administration’s Distinguished Chefs Series and the Ranchers Club. On receiving the award, Fischer said, “I am extremely flattered and honored because CHES is incredibly successful. The continual accomplishments of CHES people are consistently extraordinary; so much so that the recitation of them makes them seem ordinary and expected.”

HES Homecoming Celebration:

HES Homecoming door decorations:

101 HES (Academic Programs and Services)

114 HES (Development and Alumni Relations)

139 HES (Research & Graduate Studies)

148 HES (Gerontology Institute)

301 HES (Nutritional Sciences)

335/336  HES (Early Childhood Education)

320/323 HES (HDFS – Harrist/Roberts)

Atherton Hotel lobby