Spears Business marketing and communications director honored at 2025 Distinguished Service Awards
Monday, December 15, 2025
Media Contact:
Hallie Hart | Communications Coordinator | 405-744-1050 | [email protected]
Stephen Howard, director of marketing and communications in the Spears School of Business, has received a campuswide honor for his service and impact on Oklahoma State University.
OSU’s Staff Advisory Council presented Howard with the third-place Distinguished Service
Award at the Dec. 11 ceremony in the Student Union’s Starlight Terrace. The award
annually allows OSU-Stillwater employees to nominate staff members who go above and
beyond in their roles and represent the university in a positive and meaningful way.
Howard leads strategic planning, media relations, branding, positioning, advertising
and writing for Spears Business while inspiring creativity in his team. He finished
in the top three along with first-place winner John Lee, Landscape Services director,
and runner-up Jim Coakley, Animal and Food Sciences herd manager.
Two of the 10 finalists represented Spears Business. Erin Potts, administrative associate
in the School of Architecture, was nominated for her previous role as administrative
associate in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Potts balanced numerous
responsibilities to serve HTM faculty, staff and students while maintaining the personal
approach that defines Spears Business.
SAC chair and Spears Business assistant director of student services, speaks at the
ceremony. SAC Endowed Scholarship recipients are recognized.
Howard was also one of three Spears Business employees to receive a 2025-26 Staff
Advisory Council Endowed Scholarship. The council recognized 10 winners, including
Lori Christian, assistant director of student services in the Chesapeake Energy Business Student Success Center, and Samantha Lancaster, academic advisor in the BSSC.
Scholarship recipients must have full-time continuous employment at OSU-Stillwater
for at least one year and be enrolled for college credit in at least one OSU course.
Founded in 1975, the Staff Advisory Council serves as the voice of staff to OSU Administration.
Visit the website to learn more about the SAC Distinguished Service Award and scholarships, including
past recipients.
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