Jim Gasaway

Goodbyes don’t come easily for one of the University of Oklahoma’s longtime figures. Jim Gasaway, the current director of development for OU’s College of Arts and Sciences, is retiring after 28 years of service.

Well known in the Norman community for his leadership roles in such civic organizations as the Norman Chamber of Commerce, Norman Lions Club, Norman Historic District Commission, and the congregation of the First Christian Church, Gasaway is now leaving OU to spend more time with his family.

Several years ago, Jim and his wife, Stephanie, agreed that they would swap places when he was eligible to retire. Stephanie will now become a full-time administrative assistant at First Christian Church, while Jim will have the opportunity to be at home with their children, James and Julia.

From the beginning, Gasaway’s career has taken cues from his family.
“My granddad worked for OU for 50 years. He’s the main reason I decided to begin my career here,” Gasaway said. “I have loved every minute of my 28 years.”

After a stint as a student volunteer through the President's Leadership Class, giving campus tours and helping the university expand its reputation, Gasaway was hired as a full-time employee by Paul D. Massad, senior associate vice president of University Development.
“It seemed natural to hire someone with such dedication,” Massad said. “Jim comes from a family so supportive of the university. His grandfather was secretary of the university Board of Regents for many years, and his grandparents and parents were all very involved in the campus community.”

Massad said that when Gasaway was hired, his years as a student and his knowledge of the university were a great asset.
Gasaway’s first job at OU was in Prospective Student Services, recruiting students to the university by visiting high schools. From there, he moved to University Affairs, serving as assistant to vice president David Burr, where he got his start in development. He then went to work for the Alumni Association and later went back to the central development office.

“Students I recruited back in 1975 are now donors to OU,” Gasaway said, and though he often met them in groups of 50 to 100, he is pleased so many remember him.

In 1998, Gasaway moved to the College of Arts and Sciences as director of development. In that capacity, he was instrumental in establishing a strong alumni support and development program.

“Before Jim came on board, the college had no development program to speak of. Jim helped us reconnect to our alumni and significantly increased alumni giving to the college,” said College of Arts and Sciences Dean Paul Bell.

Gasaway also worked closely with the college’s Leadership Scholars program, establishing ties with students that will help them remain connected to the university after they graduate.

“We will miss Jim’s leadership,” said Bell, “but he is leaving the college in better shape than when he joined us and has laid the foundation for our future successes.”

“As the college’s director of development, Gasaway has furthered understanding among those in the university community, including those interested in supporting university activities with needed funds and advice,” said Ed Sankowski, one of the college’s associate deans.

“He helped me to understand what goes on in development and how important being able to convey that to people outside the academic world is to providing resources that keep the inside going,” Sankowski said.

Gasaway’s duties as director of development included raising money for endowed professorships, program support and student scholarships.

“What I enjoy most in fund raising is seeing the satisfaction of helping the donor connect back to the university through giving,” Gasaway said.

Whomever it may be, Gasaway’s advice to his replacement is “to establish honest relationships with alumni and donors. It has always been important that the donors be able to trust me, and in many cases, have become my good friends.”