Otis Sullivant Award For Perceptivity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   3-23-03                    

University Press Secretary                          (Scroll Down for Picture)

                  NORMAN - Catherine F. Bishop, who has served as vice president for public affairs since 1998, has been named as the second recipient of the Otis Sullivant Award for Perceptivity at the University of Oklahoma.

             OU First Lady Molly Shi Boren, chair of the selection committee, announced the recipient on behalf of the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation and the selection committee, which is composed of faculty and staff members, students and alumni.

            The late Edith Kinney Gaylord of Oklahoma City established the $500,000 Sullivant Prize endowment shortly before her death in January 2001. The award, which carries a $20,000 prize, honors the late Otis Sullivant, a longtime Oklahoma journalist. Sullivant, who covered Oklahoma and national political news for several decades, was known for his ability to analyze and accurately predict political trends. Edith Kinney Gaylord was a long-time supporter of many OU programs and a pioneering journalist. She was the first woman reporter to join the New York bureau of the Associated Press, and was the second president and one of the founders of the Women's National Press Club in Washington, D.C.  

            The award is presented to a faculty or staff member at OU who exhibits "keen perceptivity." The agreement establishing the prize also states that a person "who manifests intuitiveness, instant comprehension, empathy, is observant and interprets from experience" should be selected. The benefit to society and the broader community, which comes from the insight of the recipient, also is considered.

             "The committee unanimously felt that Catherine Bishop fully embodies those qualities which the late Edith K. Gaylord wanted to recognize and honor," Mrs. Boren said.

             A public relations professional with 23 years' experience in higher education. Bishop is responsible for OU's internal and external communications and programs, which are designed to enhance relationships with constituencies and increase understanding of and support for the University's missions and goals. She oversees the public relations functions on the Norman, Health Sciences Center and OU-Tulsa campuses.

            "Catherine Bishop is known not only for helping the public to better understand OU and its excellence, but also for the incredibly long hours she devotes to the University," said OU President David L. Boren. "Everyone in the OU family knows that the lights in her office are the last ones to be turned out at night, even on weekends."

            In nominating Bishop for the award, one colleague wrote, "Catherine has risen to the top of a profession that demands exceptional perceptivity. As the University's Vice President for Public Affairs, Catherine must keep abreast of current events, campus sentiments and public opinion using talents for human understanding and instant comprehension that are possessed by very few people. I can think of no position at the University that demands greater perceptivity."  

            Another nominator wrote, "Catherine is an excellent communicator with a keen understanding of the University's mission. Her insights into the issues facing higher education today and an ability to respond quickly to critical matters have allowed her to develop creative solutions to the daily challenges face? in a university setting." 

            One of Bishop's fellow University executive officers wrote to the committee: "I have observed Catherine handling a myriad of situations from organizing and orchestrating events to welcoming heads-of-state, I could list event after event and each would rate as spectacular because she always does it right. If there has ever been a better choice for the Otis Sullivant Award for Perceptivity, I would like to meet that person."

             "Catherine's keen observational skills and acute understanding of the vision for the University has made her a cornerstone for many University-wide projects," another continued. "Valuing the importance of her own experiential knowledge, she allows others to learn by experience and, in turn, experience success." 

            Bishop began her career at OU as an assistant copy editor for University Publications, moving to OU News in 1980, where, she served as writer, senior writer, assistant director and associate director before being assigned responsibilities for additional aspects of OU's media activities in 1989 as Associate Director, and later, Director of Media Services.

             In 1993, Bishop was elevated to the position of Associate Vice President for Public Affairs and was charged with a reorganization to unify OU's public relations activities on the Norman campus and coordinate the efforts of University Publications, News Services, Electronic Media and Photo Services, and Special Events, including Commencement. A year later, she was assigned the additional responsibility of oversight for public relations activities on OU's Health Sciences Center campus in Oklahoma City. 

            An OU Associate, Bishop has been vice president of two OU staff governance groups and has served on more than 40 OU Councils, committees and boards. She has been honored with OU's Administrative Staff Council Superior Performance Award and the University's Professional Staff Association Distinguished Service Award, Bishop is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, the Council of Communicators of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Oklahoma College Public Relations Association, for which she has served as a member of the board of directors and as a secretary.

             Active in many statewide efforts. Bishop is a member of the Oklahoma Academy and the Heartland Flyer Coalition of AMTRAC. She has chaired subcommittees of the State Chamber and has served on the Oklahoma Criminal Justice System Task Force on Public Education. 

            Locally, Bishop is a member of the Norman Chamber of Commerce and serves on the Board of Directors for LINK Norman. She has held leadership positions in numerous area civic and philanthropic efforts, including the Norman Public Schools Foundation, the Norman Arts and Humanities Council and the United Way of Norman.

             Before coming to OU, Bishop covered The University of Oklahoma as a reporter for The Norman Transcript. Ms. Bishop earned a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism in 1969, when she was named Outstanding Senior Woman in Journalism.

   Otis Sullivant Award 2003 Presentation

Catherine F. Bishop (Recipient), Molly Shi  Boren and Bill Ross, Chairman of the Board EEJF

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