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OUAZ now has a president. In May, Chancellor Kevin Eichner announced that Dr. Dennis Tyner would be the first president of the University’s two-year-old residential campus in Surprise, Ariz. Tyner has led OUAZ as senior vice president and provost from its inception in February 2017. He will now lead the rapidly growing institution into the future. 

“Dr. Tyner has done a tremendous job leading our new Surprise campus — and literally helping it rise out of the ground from day one — in his role as senior vice president and provost,” Eichner said. “He has provided superior leadership as our lead executive in the past two years, during which time enormous progress has been made in planting this new version of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ in the Valley of the Sun.”

Eichner hand selected Tyner in 2016 to lead the start-up and logistics for the new Arizona campus after his stalwart seven years of service as vice president and provost at the university’s main location in Kansas. The chancellor said that decision has paid off handsomely.

“He is completely devoted to the OU mission, and especially our students,” Eichner said. “He has worked tirelessly and passionately on behalf our institution. He is smart, dedicated, enjoyable, results-driven, academically rigorous, and is highly respected. Deploying him in this way is consistent with our philosophy of putting our key people in positions of their highest and best use, and he is most deserving of this new role.”

Tyner, who has been with the university for 13 years, has shepherded OUAZ’s evolution in its first 27 months of operation. It has been a time of tremendous growth both in enrollment from zero students to more than 800 students projected for fall 2019 and in campus infrastructure from 13 acres of undeveloped land to more than $50 million in new construction. Now, as OUAZ’s first president, he begins writing a new chapter in the emerging institution’s young history. 

“I’m deeply honored to have been selected by Chancellor Eichner to serve as the first president of our OUAZ residential campus, and I’m excited about the continued growth opportunities,” Tyner said. “I’m grateful for the talented team of people we have on this campus, who I’ve been privileged to work with since arriving on the Surprise campus. I’m so proud of their accomplishments to date. Together, we have built a solid foundation that focuses on providing our students with a college experience that is second to none.”

With more than 30 years of experience in higher education, Tyner has a wealth of knowledge from time spent working in the areas of instruction, admissions, curriculum and program development, facilities operations, student activities and athletics. Prior to joining ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ in 2007, he was dean of the David Crawford School of Engineering at Norwich University in Vermont. There, he helped to substantially increase the enrollment of undergraduate engineering students, was instrumental in the development of new undergraduate programs and established the school's first online graduate program.

As president of OUAZ, Tyner will work to make further strides in advancing the newest arm of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ to further its reach as a comprehensive educational institution.

“Dr. Tyner will personally oversee academic affairs for both Surprise and Phoenix,” Eichner said. “In addition, the Surprise athletic and student affairs areas will report up to him. He will continue to build and personally teach in the engineering and sciences areas, and will focus his fundraising activities in support of those. Finally, he will continue to be the major day-to-day liaison with the City of Surprise working closely with our partners there.”

The appointment of Tyner as president of OUAZ is the latest phase of a large-scale, university-wide restructuring strategy that commenced with the launch of the new Arizona campus, coupled with Eichner being named chancellor by the board of trustees after he had served for 10 years as president of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ in Kansas. The next stage involved the search for and selection of Dr. Reggies Wenyika as the new president of the Kansas residential campus. With Tyner now in place as president of OUAZ, the university’s new Chancellor/President leadership model is now solidified.

“I share the passion that Dr. Eichner and Dr. Wenyika have for higher education, and I’m especially inspired by the chancellor’s entrepreneurial foresight,” Tyner said. “His vision will serve as a catalyst for building an educational experience that will prepare OAUZ students for lifetimes of significance, vocational fulfillment and service to God and humanity.”

Tyner earned his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Northeastern University in Boston in 1985, 1986 and 1992, respectively. His primary research focused on applying digital communication methods in magnetic storage systems to increase the storage capacity of magnetic media. He published several articles on his research and presented his results at national and international conferences. Additionally, he has taught engineering students for more than 20 years at every institution for which he has served.

He and his wife, Patricia, relocated to Surprise, Ariz., in January 2017 after having lived in Ottawa, Kan., for several years. They have eight grown children, and a grandchild. His wife and five of their children are all graduates of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ, including his youngest, Keith, who just graduated in May 2019.

“If they come, we will build it.” That’s Chancellor Kevin Eichner’s variation on the famous movie line, which is taking real-life shape on 13 acres of land in Surprise, Ariz. It is there that two years ago ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ pounded a stake in the dirt and began laying the foundation for a brand-new residential campus some 1,200 miles from its 154-year-old main campus in Kansas.

Recruitment kicked off at ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ-Arizona (OUAZ) in February 2017 before any major construction had begun on the new campus. From a single building — and with only a vision of what OUAZ could be to share with prospective students — admissions recruiters and Athletic Department coaches set to work on their goal of bringing in 250 students for its first semester of classes. When the doors opened in August 2017, 434 new students walked through them.

“It’s really quite amazing what we were able to accomplish, all things considered,” Keith Johnson, chief operating officer at OUAZ, said. “Not only did we surpass our initial enrollment goals, but we did so by recruiting students to 13 acres of dirt and air. We asked them to use their imagination, and then we made them a promise that we are proud to be keeping.”

The first part of that promise was OUAZ’s own version of a “field of dreams” built for its student athletes, who in the first year made up the majority of the university’s new enrollment. Spirit Field, a $3 million competitive athletic field for football, soccer, lacrosse, and ultimate frisbee, opened in October 2017. The state-of-the-art playing field was built to NAIA/NCAA standards, and features AstroTurf’s Astroflect technology and Musco LED lighting that are similar to what is used in the NFL.

“Spirit Field is iconic in representing the future of OUAZ,” Johnson said. “The field is a centerpiece, and our future growth will surround it.”

Johnson said this is already happening. With three major construction projects currently in progress, the landscape of OUAZ is rapidly changing. These projects, which are outlined below, are the O’Dell Center for Athletics, the OUAZ student union and a residence hall.

The O’Dell Center for Athletics: This $25-million, 97,000-square-foot athletic complex is being built by Haydon Building Corp. adjacent to Spirit Field to the west, just north of Tierra Buena Lane. The complex will include a recreation center, four-court gymnasium, locker rooms, an athletic training room, the Spirit Performance Center, five classrooms, and faculty and athletic department offices. The press box for Spirit Field is also part of the new complex, which is slated for completion on or around Oct. 1, 2019.

OUAZ Student Union: This two-story, 27,000-square-foot building, developed by Phoenix-based NOVO Development Group, will house the cafeteria with indoor and outdoor dining space, the Spirit Fan Shop, campus mailroom, student lounge with indoor/outdoor fireplace, conference center and designated quiet study spaces. Plans are for this $7-million facility to open in August 2019 prior to the start of the fall term.

Residence Hall: A 76,000-square-foot, four-story residence hall to the east of Spirit Field is also being constructed buy NOVO. This 83-room, 332-bed dormitory is the first of the on-site housing buildings planned for the campus, and will feature fully furnished, four-person suites, four student lounges and the campus security office. It will be located on four acres adjacent to the community greenspace OUAZ shares with Surprise City Hall. The $20-million project is scheduled for completion in November 2019.

Chancellor Eichner said the progress of these construction projects are a testament to the support the University has garnered in the Valley of the Sun. He describes Ottawa’s new residential campus as “an overnight success seven years in the making.”

“We are thrilled to be at this stage of our exciting new campus in Surprise,” Eichner said. “Our partnerships with the City of Surprise and NOVO Development are exemplary and give us great confidence in the impact these first-class facilities will have on our rapidly growing student population.”

Dennis Tyner, vice president and provost at OUAZ, said momentum has been building since the new residential campus was announced in February 2017.

“The place is abuzz with activity, and the sights and sounds of new construction all around us are joined by the brisk movement of students between classes, practices and activities,” Tyner said. “Our leadership team has worked tirelessly to bring this wonderful new campus to fruition, and we are thrilled by the reception of students, parents, and the community at large.”

The current phase of new development at OUAZ encompasses 13 acres of land on the north side of Tierra Buena Lane. The next phase, in keeping with the University’s enrollment goal of 2,500 to 3,000 students at OUAZ in the next 10 to 15 years, will be to develop another two acres on the north, as well as 20 acres of land across the road to the south. Beyond the initial 35 acres, conversations are underway to acquire additional land for future development.

Chancellor Kevin Eichner announced today that Dr. Lena Rodriguez has been appointed to the position of Dean of the Angell Snyder School of Business at ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ. The Angell Snyder School is the largest of the three schools in the university including the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education. Dr. Rodriguez will assume her new duties in mid-October and will maintain her office at the university’s new residential campus in Surprise, Arizona, from which she will lead the Business School staff and faculty at all university locations including the residential campus in Ottawa and Ottawa’s adult and professional education sites in Overland Park, Kansas and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as well its online business programs.

Dr. Rodriguez succeeds Dr. Kirk Wessel who served successfully as the Angell Snyder School’s inaugural dean for the past several years. Dr. Wessel announced his retirement earlier this year.

Dr. Rodriguez comes to ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ after a nationwide search. “We were looking for a student-centered individual who not only exemplified the necessary academic background and intellect, but also a strong leader with an equal emphasis and capability for managing the internal affairs of the School combined with a strong external friend and fundraising orientation. Lena’s prior experiences, obvious breadth and depth in the various business disciplines, personal values, commitment to advancing diversity, and powerful presence and personality will be essential attributes as we seek to raise the profile and impact of the Angell Snyder School,” said Eichner.

Prior to her appointment at Ottawa, Dr. Rodriguez served as Dean of the School of Business and Management and as Endowed Director of the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy for National University; as Dean of Academic Programs, School of Business and Community College Partnerships Manager for Apollo Education Group, University of Phoenix; in a lead marketing and development role for the Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, Missouri; and in an executive and community development capacity for San Diego State University. She is known as an adept academician with a keen appreciation for innovation in experiential learning and in developing strong community and corporate sponsorship and participation to ensure that her students are always at the cutting edge of leadership and business practices.

Dr. Rodriguez received her Bachelor of Science degree in business from Arizona State University and also a Master of Public Administration degree from ASU. She earned her doctorate in business from the University of Nebraska. She has attended the Harvard Institute for Higher Education management development program and has also earned a certificate in fundraising management from Indiana University.

Dr. Rodriguez will report directly to University Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Terry Haines, but will also work closely with Chancellor Eichner on program development, fundraising, and external relations in Arizona and throughout the nation. “I am extremely pleased that ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ has been able to attract such an exemplary business trailblazer to lead our outstanding Business faculty. Dr. Rodriguez brings a strategic vision and passion for excellence that matches ours and is certain to positively impact thousands of students for years to come,” said Haines.

In just its second year of operation, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Arizona (OUAZ) began the 2018-2019 academic year with a 42% increase over prior year, with a total enrollment of 618, consisting of 602 undergraduates and 16 graduate students.

“We are thrilled with the response to our unique higher educational offerings at our new campus in Surprise,” said Dr. Kevin Eichner, chancellor of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ. “Our approach to the development of the whole person is being extremely well received, and we are excited about the impact of our programs such as our FlexTerm calendar, Spirit life opportunities, Personal Growth Days, and extensive and rigorous academic curriculum.”

New undergraduate students arrived on campus Saturday, August 18, for a two-day orientation. Students learned about campus life, student affairs, OUAZ’s Adawe Center, and a host of community building activities.  

This fall, students are participating in 22 varsity sports within the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). OUAZ is competing in the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) for all sports except football. The football team is competing in the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC). In addition, the University is offering numerous club sports and non-athletic programs to enrich the overall student experience.

Classes began for students on August 20. The University will continue to enroll students for the first 8-week term through Friday, August 24. Enrollment is also currently open for the second 8-week term, which begins October 8. Students, faculty and staff will officially kick-off the new school year at Fall Convocation at 11 a.m. on August 29 at Christ Church of the Valley (CCV), 14787 W. Cholla St., Surprise.