Oakland University Alumni Association

Oakland University Alumni Association Students for a few years, OU Alumni for a lifetime!

🖤OU Through the Ages: OU alum Barry M. Klein💛Barry M. Klein’s Oakland University story began as a student in the 1960s —...
08/21/2026

🖤OU Through the Ages: OU alum Barry M. Klein💛

Barry M. Klein’s Oakland University story began as a student in the 1960s — but the impact of that story continues today.

When Barry M. Klein graduated from Oakland University in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, his connection to the university was only beginning.

A self-described member of the 1960s counterculture, Klein valued the intellectual freedom and diversity he found on campus. He remained deeply engaged with Oakland University throughout his life, serving on the Oakland University Alumni Association Board and as a director of the OU Foundation. He received the OUAA Distinguished Alumni Award in 1984 and the OUAA Spirit Award in 2003.

Klein established the George R. and Helen Klein Memorial Scholarship in honor of his parents and later made a transformational estate commitment that expanded scholarship support and helped establish the Barry M. Klein Center for Culture and Globalization.

Created in 2021, the Klein Center brings global issues directly to Oakland University students, faculty and the broader community through interdisciplinary programs, international dialogue and cultural exchange.✈

In the past year alone, the Center welcomed ambassadors, scholars, journalists, filmmakers and artists to explore issues ranging from global trade and international security to migration, culture, war and peace.

Barry Klein believed Oakland University could help shape not only individual lives, but the future of our region and the world.

Today, his generosity continues to do exactly that — creating opportunities for students to think critically and engage globally.🌎

🔗 Read more about what Barry has made possible through the Barry M. Klein Center for Culture and Globalization at Oakland University: https://www.oakland.edu/cas/klein-center/

We are just over 5 weeks from race day!🎉 Remember, OU alumni get $10 off their registration with the code OUAlum26🐻
08/19/2026

We are just over 5 weeks from race day!🎉 Remember, OU alumni get $10 off their registration with the code OUAlum26🐻

OU Through the Ages: Coach Kampe🏀In 1984, Kampe joined the Oakland University team who, out of 16 years of competition, ...
08/18/2026

OU Through the Ages: Coach Kampe🏀

In 1984, Kampe joined the Oakland University team who, out of 16 years of competition, had only six winning seasons to their name. After only two seasons with Coach Kampe leading, the Pioneers burst onto the national scene when they went 20-8 in the 1986-87 season.✨

After continuing to have success at the D2 level, Kampe oversaw a two-season transition from the Pioneers to the Golden Grizzlies and led the new Division I team to the Mid-Continent Conference regular-season title in their first year of competition at 11-5.

Coach Kampe strongly believes in the motto “Consistency is the hallmark of success.” With over 730 career victories across more than 1,300 collegiate games with eight 20-win seasons and four D1 NCAA tournaments (the most current in 2024), his leadership has been consistently bringing success for OU!🎉

Kampe was recently honored with the 2026 Gene Bartow Award for his contributions to college basketball and mid-major basketball culture. He was also named a finalist for the 2025-26 Skip Prosser Man of the Year by CollegeInsider.com which honors Division I head coaches who demonstrate success and integrity both on and off the court.

Off the court, Kampe is active in supporting the community. He generously gives back to OU programs in support of his student-athletes, has helped raise over $500,000 for the American Cancer Society and spends extensive time working with local charities like Beyond Basics and the Boys & Girls Clubs.🖤💛

Learn more about Coach Kampe's recent awards:
👉The Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award: https://bit.ly/4wweycV
👉The Gene Bartow Award: https://bit.ly/4wFnqNj

🤠 GIVEAWAY ALERT! 🤠Ready for a night of country-rock and “total chaos”? Enter for a chance to win TWO tickets to see Koe...
08/17/2026

🤠 GIVEAWAY ALERT! 🤠

Ready for a night of country-rock and “total chaos”? Enter for a chance to win TWO tickets to see Koe Wetzel on The Night Champion World Tour at Meadow Brook Amphitheatre on Friday, August 28 at 6:45 p.m.

Koe Wetzel blends country, rock, hip-hop and ’90s grunge and has amassed 4.2 billion total streams. He’ll be joined by special guests Shane Smith & The Saints, Bayker Blankenship and Logan Jahnke.

🎟️ To enter:
✅ Comment below: What song would you want to hear Koe Wetzel perform live?

One winner will be randomly selected and contacted via direct message on Friday, August 21.

Good luck! 🐻💛

🖤OU Through the Ages💛Grizz 🐻 and Pioneer Pete 🧭 – OU’s two mascots Pioneer Pete, Oakland University’s first mascot, came...
08/14/2026

🖤OU Through the Ages💛

Grizz 🐻 and Pioneer Pete 🧭 – OU’s two mascots

Pioneer Pete, Oakland University’s first mascot, came to life in 1977 when OU alumnus Charles "Chick" Conklin, SBA '79, first donned the costume. Conklin served as the mascot for two years, leading both the men’s and women’s basketball teams onto the court at every home game and cheering the teams on from the sideline.🏀

The Pioneers was a fitting identity for our unique university. From its earliest days, Oakland University has embodied the pioneering spirit - forging new paths, advancing knowledge and creating new opportunities. Established through the vision and generosity of Matilda Dodge Wilson (a pioneer in her own right), OU has long been a place of innovation and persistence.

Twenty years after Pioneer Pete made his debut, Oakland University began pioneering (pun intended) a new mascot as the university prepared for its move to Division I. With input from a 19-member University-Wide Mascot Advisory Committee and a professional design firm, hundreds of suggestions were considered before the Golden Grizzlies emerged - a tough and unique identity with regional ties and a connection to OU’s school colors.

Grizz made his debut at Oakland University's inaugural basketball game against Michigan State University in the new athletics arena in November 1998. He has been cheering on the Golden Grizzlies and the Oakland University community ever since! 📣

We love to celebrate our Pioneers and Golden Grizzlies alike! Share your favorite mascot memory below for a chance to win some swag👇

🎓 Celebrating two outstanding Oakland University alumni!After decades of serving students and their communities, Ron Rob...
08/13/2026

🎓 Celebrating two outstanding Oakland University alumni!

After decades of serving students and their communities, Ron Roberts (SEHS ’77) and Jim Schwarz, Ph.D. (SEHS ’91, ’94, ’97 and ’10), have retired from their respective roles as superintendents of Chippewa Valley Schools and the Avondale School District.

Their accomplished careers - spanning 48 years for Roberts and 35 years for Dr. Schwarz - reflect a deep commitment to public education and a lasting partnership with Oakland University. We’re proud to celebrate their leadership, service and continued impact on education. 💛

Read the story at the link to learn more about their remarkable careers and the partnerships they helped build between their school districts and OU: 🔗https://bit.ly/4gg1ySS

Oakland University School of Education and Human Services
Oakland University Graduate School

✨Congratulations to Jeremy Geist, CAS '14 & '22, on his recent selection to receive a national award from the US Forest...
08/12/2026

✨Congratulations to Jeremy Geist, CAS '14 & '22, on his recent selection to receive a national award from the US Forest Service for his ecological restoration work with Trout Unlimited (TU). 🌲

The Rise to the Future Awards recognize exceptional employees who demonstrate leadership and management excellence in fisheries, hydrology, wildlife, air resources and soil science programs across the country. Jeremy received the Partnership Award as part of this series, which recognizes an external partner who has made outstanding contributions to or advanced the effectiveness of the Forest Service fisheries, aquatic resources or watershed stewardship programs.

After earning his Ph.D. from Oakland University, Jeremy was hired by TU as their Great Lakes Restoration Manager, where he has brought in millions of federal dollars to help restore Michigan’s streams and rivers. He also continues to share his expertise by occasionally teaching at Oakland University.

We’re proud to celebrate Jeremy and the impact he is making throughout Michigan! 🍃🛶

U.S. Forest Service Huron-Manistee NFs
Oakland University Graduate School
Oakland University College of Arts and Sciences

💛OU Through the Ages: Woody Varner🖤When Durward B. “Woody” Varner arrived at Michigan State University-Oakland in 1959 a...
08/11/2026

💛OU Through the Ages: Woody Varner🖤

When Durward B. “Woody” Varner arrived at Michigan State University-Oakland in 1959 as its first chancellor, he was tasked with helping build a university from the ground up.

And build it he did.

During Varner’s decade of leadership, the student body grew from 570 to 6,000, faculty grew from 23 to 238, and 20 new buildings were added to campus!

“I like to grow things and a university was a great thing to grow,” Varner once said.

But Varner envisioned more than just a growing university. He believed the arts should have a permanent place in the life of the institution and the community surrounding it.

Varner and his wife, Paula, were instrumental in establishing the performing arts as an enduring part of university life. Their legacy lives on in Varner Hall, which opened in 1970 and has welcomed generations of Oakland University students, artists and audiences.

More than 50 years later, the OU community helped write the building's next act. The Varner: Act II campaign supported renovations to spaces including student practice rooms, the recital hall and Studio Theatre lobby while creating new opportunities for students through the School of Music, Theatre and Dance Student Opportunity Fund. Supporters can even name a seat in Varner Recital Hall, with gifts benefiting the Student Opportunity Fund and the next generation of performing artists!

Through philanthropy, a vision established decades ago continues to shape the Oakland University student experience today.

From the university Woody Varner helped grow to the building that bears his name, his influence can still be seen — and heard — across campus.🎵

🔗Read more about Woody Varner and his legacy at Oakland University: https://library.oakland.edu/archives/varner/index.php

Whether you proudly cheer for the Golden Grizzlies or still have a special place in your heart for the Pioneers, there's...
08/10/2026

Whether you proudly cheer for the Golden Grizzlies or still have a special place in your heart for the Pioneers, there's alumni gear made just for you! 💛🖤

The OU Gear Shop features a wide variety of alumni apparel and accessories with designs celebrating both Oakland University traditions, so you can find the style that fits your OU story. From classic looks to modern favorites, there are plenty of options to show your school pride.

Browse the collection and find your next favorite piece of OU gear: https://shop.goldengrizzlies.com/alumni

Before there were more than 145,000 Oakland University alumni, there were 125✨In 1963, Oakland University's Charter Clas...
08/07/2026

Before there were more than 145,000 Oakland University alumni, there were 125✨

In 1963, Oakland University's Charter Class became the first graduates to carry the university's mission into the world. They helped establish traditions, student organizations and a proud OU culture that continues to shape the student experience today.

As we celebrate "OU Through the Ages" this month, we're grateful to the alumni who helped write the university's earliest chapters — and to every graduate who has carried that legacy forward since. 💛🖤

The Charter Class helped establish Oakland University's legacy — and each year, that legacy is celebrated during Homecoming as alumni return to campus for the Golden Celebration Reunion. This year, we're honoring the Class of 1976! Members of the Class of 1976 and earlier are invited to join us on October 9 for brunch and a campus bus tour.

👉Registration for this event will open soon! Contact [email protected] for more information.

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