About Us | Oklahoma State University

Interim Provost and Senior Vice President

Dr. Chris Francisco

Dr. Chris Francisco serves as Interim Provost and Senior Vice President in the Division of Academic Affairs at OSU, where he is also a Professor of Mathematics. He has been at OSU since 2007, having previously served as Head of the Department of Mathematics from 2018 to 2021 and as the department’s Associate Head for Lower-Division Instruction from 2012 to 2018. Francisco helped lead OSU’s efforts to reform lower-division mathematics instruction and introduce corequisite support to make college-level mathematics accessible to more students. His research is in commutative algebra, and he is interested in its connections to combinatorics and the use of computer algebra systems.

Francisco’s accolades include being named Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate by the National Resource Center for First-Year Experience and Students in Transition (2018) and receiving the OSU Regents Distinguished Teaching Award (2016), the Mathematical Association of America Oklahoma-Arkansas Section Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics (2016), and the OSU University Service Award (2015).

Learn More About Dr. Francisco

Interim Senior Vice Provost

Dr. Kirsten Olds

Dr. Kirsten Olds serves as Interim Senior Vice Provost at Oklahoma State University, bringing extensive academic leadership experience and a broad understanding of faculty, curricular and administrative matters to the role. She also serves as associate provost for the Arts, director of the OSU Museum of Art, the Marilynn and Carl Thoma Professor of the Art, and a professor in the Department of Art, Art History and Graphic Design.

Olds joined OSU in 2025 after many years at the University of Tulsa, where she held several administrative leadership roles, including interim dean of the Kendall College of Arts and Sciences, senior associate dean for Faculty and Community Engagement, and faculty athletic representative. An art historian and curator specializing in modern and contemporary art and visual culture, she has authored numerous exhibition catalogues and scholarly essays and has curated exhibitions featuring a wide range of artists.

Olds has an excellent understanding of the landscape of higher education, great experience in a broad array of curricular issues and a keen eye for detail. She holds a B.A. from Columbia University and M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.

Assistant Vice President for Provost's Priorities and Strategic Initiatives

Becky Taylor

Becky Taylor serves as assistant vice president for Provost's Priorities and Strategic Initiatives at Oklahoma State University, where she works across the university to advance institutional priorities and lead major initiatives from strategy through implementation. Since joining the Division of Academic Affairs in 2023, she has led a wide range of projects and initiatives, bringing together collaborative working groups and stakeholders from across the university to move priorities forward.

Prior to joining Academic Affairs, Taylor served as chief civic innovation officer for the City of Stillwater, leading citywide strategic initiatives, community engagement and cross-sector partnerships. She was also the founding executive director of Our Daily Bread Food & Resource Center and previously led a countywide public health initiative through OSU.

Across higher education, local government, nonprofit leadership and public health, Taylor's work has centered on bringing people and organizations together to address complex challenges and turn ideas into action.

Academic and Division Leadership

Our dedicated academic and division leaders prioritize creativity, teamwork, and academic excellence to provide you with the best educational experience possible.

Our Academic Leaders