Speech as a Middle Ground

In this episode of Conversations with the President, President Harroz sits down with Pulitzer Prize-winning author, physician and scientist Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee to explore the rapidly evolving future of medicine. Their conversation examines the latest advances in cancer research and treatment, the growing role of artificial intelligence in drug discovery, and how emerging technologies could reshape medicine in the years ahead.

College athletics is changing faster than ever before — from NIL and roster management to recruiting strategy and evolving leadership models. In this episode of Conversations with the President, Joseph Harroz Jr. sits down with OU General Manager for Football Jim Nagy to discuss what it takes to build and lead a modern college football program in the middle of unprecedented transformation.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept—it’s already transforming how we learn, work, and solve complex challenges. In this episode of Conversations with the President, Joseph Harroz Jr. sits down with Dr. Shishir Shah, the University of Oklahoma’s inaugural Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, to explore how OU is stepping forward as a leader in this rapidly evolving space.

In this episode of Conversations with the President, OU President Joe Harroz sits down with Chancellor Sean Burrage of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for a timely and wide-ranging conversation about the role of higher education in shaping Oklahoma’s future.

In this episode of Conversations with the President,  President Harroz sits down with OU’s new Vice President and Director of Athletics, Roger Denny, during his very first week on the job. At a moment of unprecedented disruption in college athletics, OU is embracing change — not resisting it. President Harroz and Denny discuss the national search process that led to his hire, the qualities that set him apart, and why this era of transformation presents the greatest opportunity in decades to build lasting dynasties in Norman.

In this episode of Conversations with the President, President Harroz sits down with one of America’s foremost constitutional scholars, Akhil Reed Amar, to explore how a 236-year-old document continues to shape our democracy today. From the founding ideals of the U.S. Constitution to the challenges facing our republic on the eve of its 250th anniversary, the conversation delves deep into why this framework still matters — and how each generation redefines what it means to live under it.

In this episode of Conversations with the President, President Joseph Harroz Jr. welcomes Dr. Wilfred McClay — acclaimed historian, author, and former OU faculty member — for a timely discussion on the meaning and importance of free speech in today’s world. Drawing from his keynote address, “Speech as a Middle Ground,” Dr. McClay explores how speech serves as a vital bridge between thought and action, and how true dialogue can help bridge divides in an era of polarization and rapid technological change.

President Harroz sits down with Leo Mingee and Lauren Von Mingee of Quintessa Marketing about their journey as entrepreneurs, disruptors in the legal marketing industry, and champions of “irrational generosity.” From donating half of their profits to charity to creating a historic $6 million scholarship endowment for OU’s first-generation business students, the Mingees share how giving shapes their business, family, and vision for Oklahoma’s future.

In this episode, President Harroz sits down with Dr. Ian Dunn, Executive Dean of the OU College of Medicine and Chief Physician Executive for OU Health, to explore why Oklahoma’s leading comprehensive academic health system matters for our state. From improving health outcomes to training the next generation of physicians and advancing groundbreaking research, Dr. Dunn shares how OU is shaping a healthier future for all Oklahomans.

President Harroz is joined by Athletics Director Joe Castiglione and new General Manager for Football Jim Nagy to discuss the excitement of OU’s second season in the SEC and the future of college athletics. They highlight OU’s pioneering approach with a pro-style GM model, expanded game day traditions like tailgating on the North Oval, and the importance of balancing innovation with preserving the traditions that make college sports unique. The conversation also looks ahead to the challenges and opportunities of revenue sharing, competitive scheduling, and sustaining a student-first culture rooted in family and growth.