College of Arts and Sciences 2001 Distinguished Service Award goes to Sandy Kinney

The University of Oklahoma's College of Arts and Sciences will honor Sandy Kinney as the recipient of the 2001 Distinguished Service Award during the Kaleidoscope Evening on Feb. 23. Kinney will be recognized for her outstanding leadership, service and dedication to the college.

Kinney ('69 BA Economics, '70 MS Education) has actively served on the College's Board of Visitors since 1995, chairing the development committee this past year.

"It was a surprise to find I am to be honored for doing something that I enjoy so much," Kinney said. "I was delighted to accept the position as chair of the development committee at a time when the College of Arts and Sciences was making plans to secure its own building on campus. That meant I was able to travel with Jim Gasaway to ask for individual lead gifts for the Ellison Hall building campaign. This campaign is a great example of Dean Bell's foresight in planning for the College."

Kinney has been an exemplary leader. Her interest and time have been spread over a diverse range of activities, including the Executive Women in Government, the President's Executive Exchange Alumni Association, Leadership America, the Greater Dallas Chamber Executive Women's Roundtable, and the Board of Directors for Friends of the OU Sam Noble Museum of Natural History, where she currently serves as chair of the membership committee. She is also a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta Alumnae chapter and Norman Newcomers.

Less than a year ago, Kinney retired as president of industry markets at SBC Communications Inc. Prior to taking the position in 1998, Kinney was vice president and general manager of industry markets for SBC Telecommunications Inc. "I enjoyed my job and the direction the company was going, but I had little time for leisure activities," Kinney said.

Kinney began her Southwestern Bell career in a fast-track management program in Oklahoma and Missouri before being appointed district manager of the Tulsa Residence Service Center in 1978. She became division manager of personnel in Oklahoma City in 1985 and later held division level positions in customer services, marketing, human resources, and state rate and cross studies. From 1991 to1993, Kinney served as assistant vice president of human resources for Bellcore in Livingston, N.J.

During her career, Kinney was also assigned one year to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. As an exchange executive for the President's Commission on Executive Exchange in Washington, D.C., she was awarded a certificate of Management Excellence from the President's Council on Management Improvement and an outstanding achievement award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

As an undergraduate at OU, Kinney garnered many awards such as Mortar Board, Who's Who Among Students at American Colleges and Universities, Big Woman on Campus, Sooner Yearbook Personality and the Letzeiser List as one of the 10 most outstanding senior women. Kinney is also a certified compensation professional licensed through the American Compensation Association and has been active in human resource management associations. She and her husband, Sugg, recently moved to Norman.

As this year's distinguished service recipient, the College of Arts and Sciences is honoring Sandy Kinney for her generosity and service to the Sooner family.