Alumni remember President Robert Henry as an involved and dedicated administrator. He has supported students through the years with advice, recommendation letters and time.
Henry will retire as the 17th university president June 30. Martha Burger will assume the role the next day.
Alumnus Camal Pennington graduated in 2010, the year Henry was inaugurated. Pennington was the outgoing
Student Government Association president at the time, as well as a member of the presidential search committee that chose Henry.
“As soon as I met Robert Henry, I thought he was an excellent choice for president,” Pennington said. “He was engaging, intelligent and had a passion for students.”
Henry had a tough act to follow after former President Tom McDaniel and first lady Brenda McDaniel, Pennington said.
“One of his main jobs was to make OCU Oklahoma City’s university,” he said. “The stature of the university has raised significantly from his efforts directly.”
Henry wrote Pennington a recommendation letter for law school and also supported him through his campaign when he ran for a seat in the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2016, Pennington said. He also said Henry not only helps students prepare for their careers, but he had a successful career as well.
“I would attribute almost every part of my career to him,” he said. “Robert Henry is the Thomas Jefferson of Oklahoma.”
Pennington said he hopes Henry knows how grateful people are for him.
“I hope he feels appreciated,” he said. “He has been a leader and mentor for me, as well as so many others.”
Alumnus John Riesenberg graduated in 2011 and was the SGA president after Pennington. He said Henry had
a positive impact on OCU and “thousands of students.”
“President Henry has had a larger impact on my life than probably anyone outside of my immediate family,” he said. “Even after I graduated, President Henry continues to mentor me. He’s always asking me how my job is going and introducing me to people he thinks I should know. He’s also constantly reminding me to make sure and save for retirement.”
Alumna Kelsey Griswold graduated in 2014 and is an actress in Los Angeles. Griswold said she met Henry 
through his son, Josh Henry, who she considers a dear friend.
Griswold entered the 2012 Miss Oklahoma pageant after running out of scholarship money. She went to Henry for assistance in her journey to Miss Oklahoma.
“I lost Miss OCU, which was so sad to me because I just loved our school so much,” Griswold said. “I went to President Henry for help. How many college students at other universities can go straight to their presidents for help?”
Henry gave Griswold advice and wrote recommendation letters for her. She was crowned Miss Oklahoma in 2013.
“He believed in me long before I became Miss Oklahoma,” she said. “He was a support system for me before and during my reign.”
Henry provided Griswold with her first speaking engagement at a Methodist conference on campus and also introduced her to her lifelong mentor, Jane Jayroe, trustee and former Miss America.
Griswold is engaged to Alumnus Hunter Paul who also graduated in 2014. Henry will officiate their wedding in June.
“He really rooted us on in our relationship, even when no one else really did,” Griswold said. “So it was a no-brainer for us to ask him to officiate our wedding.”
Griswold said she could talk about Henry and how he affected her life for hours.
“I’m sad he’s leaving,” she said. “But he invests in students’ lives, and he’s instilled a sense of pride and a sense of family in OCU that extends far beyond graduation.”
Caleb Harlin graduated from the School of Law in 2015. Harlin said he remembers the first time he met Henry.
“I was struck by President Henry,” he said. “It just seemed like he was so incredibly well-read. I mean, no matter what topic the conversation turned to, he spoke intelligently on the subject.”
Harlin applied to law school without having an undergraduate degree and said Henry helped him get in.
“He really made it happen,” he said. “Without him assisting and making sure that the admissions committee took a real hard look at my unusual circumstance, I don’t think I would’ve actually ended up at law school there.”
Harlin goes to Henry’s house and tunes his piano once a year.
“He’s always warm,” Harlin said. “He’s interested in what I’m doing and where I’m heading and always offers assistance.”
Not only does Harlin have a professional relationship with Henry, but a personal one as well, he said.
“He’s the kind of man you want to have as your friend, have as your ally,” he said. “If something is going a little bit wrong, just to be able to call him up and say, ‘Hey, do you have any thoughts on this?’ I just really appreciate him a lot.”
Harlin said Henry had a strong vision for OCU.
“As president of the whole university, he cared about all the different schools and was trying to promote each of them as best as he could,” he said.
Harlin said Henry’s legacy is impactful.
“He didn’t really care which side of the aisle you were on, he just wanted to listen to you and move forward,” he said. “He’s leaving behind a legacy of collegiality in the true sense of the word.”
Harlin said Henry will thrive in whatever path he chooses.
“Wherever he goes, he’s going to be a huge asset to them in a lot of ways,” he said.
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