University of Oklahoma Athletics

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David L. Boren
University President

Widely respected for his academic credentials and focus on scholastic excellence, David L. Boren became the 13th president of the University of Oklahoma in November of 1994. He came to OU after representing the state as governor and U.S. Senator.

An American history major, Boren received his degree from Yale University in 1963. He graduated summa cum laude for his ranking in the top one percent of his class and was chosen for membership in Phi Beta Kappa, a national arts and sciences honorary.

A Rhodes scholar, Boren studied at Oxford University where he received a master’s in politics, philosophy and economics in 1965. In 1968, he earned his juris doctorate from the University of Oklahoma where he was on the Law Review and named to the Order of the Coif. Boren also received the Bledsoe Prize as the outstanding graduate by a vote of faculty.

Governor of Oklahoma from 1975 through 1979, Boren promoted key educational initiatives that continue to serve the state. In 1976, he appropriated the first state funding for Gifted and Talented classes. From 1976 to 1979, Oklahoma ranked first among all states in percentage of funding increases for higher education. Boren also established the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute and Scholar-Leadership Enrichment Program.

His involvement in promoting quality education at all levels was further evidenced by his founding of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence in 1985. Boren was also honored in 1993 when the American Association of University Professors presented him the Henry Yost Award as the Education Advocate of the Year.

Boren has been a member of the Yale University Board of Trustees since 1988. His credentials also go into the classroom where he spent four years on the Oklahoma Baptist University faculty. He served as an assistant and associate professor of Political Science, chairman of the Department of Political Science and chairman of the Division of Social Sciences.

The commitment Boren exhibits for academics and arts is matched with his support to maintain Oklahoma’s rich athletic tradition.

"I am committed to ensuring that OU remains a competitive national force in the area of athletics," Boren said. "At the same time, we must make certain that our programs maintain high standards of integrity. We need to pay attention to an athlete’s total well-being, including his or her academic development, and we must involve players with all aspects of campus life."

Boren and his wife, Molly, remain active in state education and art projects and have received numerous awards and honors. Molly, a former judge and English teacher, earned master’s and juris doctorate degrees from OU.

A native of Seminole, Boren has two grown children: Carrie Christine and David Daniel.