DISTINGUISHED JUDGE NAMED CHAIRMAN
OF OU’S INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS CENTER BOARD

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9-29-08

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: OU Public Affairs, (405) 325-1701

NORMAN – Robert H. Henry, Chief Judge for the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, is the new Chairman of the University of Oklahoma’s International Programs Center Board of Visitors, OU President David L. Boren announced today. Judge Henry replaces the late Admiral William J. Crowe, a native Oklahoman and former Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who passed away last fall.

“We are honored that one of our graduates, Judge Robert Henry, a leader of American judges in working with judges around the world, will chair the Board of our International Programs Center,” Boren said.

A lifelong public servant with a commitment to international legal issues, Judge Henry is the Chair of the Middle East/North Africa Council for the American Bar Association and a member of the Advisory Board for the Judicial Outreach Program of the American Society of International Law. In 2005 Chief Justice William Rehnquist named Judge Henry the Chair of International Judicial Relations Committee, a post he held until last spring. He has traveled on international judicial exchange missions to the Balkans, former Soviet Republics, Russia, North Africa, the Gulf States, Middle East and China.

“I am delighted to work with President David Boren, one of our nation’s most respected figures in foreign relations, who has made the University of Oklahoma a center for international studies,” said Chief Judge Henry. “I am hopeful that we can foster more OU students studying and learning abroad. This will advance the state's position economically, culturally and artistically in our internationalized world.”

Judge Henry earned his undergraduate degree in political science from OU in 1974 and his law degree from OU in 1976. He served in the Oklahoma Legislature for 10 years and was elected Attorney General in 1986 and 1990. In 1994 President Bill Clinton appointed him to the federal bench.

“I look forward to working with an internationally known scholar and jurist who has already given so much to the state of Oklahoma,” said Zach Messitte, OU’s Vice Provost for International Programs. “Judge Henry’s passion for global issues and OU’s students make him the ideal person to help guide our international programs.”

The International Programs Center was created by President Boren in August 1996 to: coordinate and promote international activities and programs; enhance the international content of the curriculum and degree programs; increase the University’s outreach on international matters in state, national and international arenas; provide Oklahoma and the region with a greater voice in our country’s international relations; serve as a forum for coordinating research, seminars, conferences and publications on international and foreign policy issues; and enhance the University’s outreach to business, civic and educational leaders in Oklahoma and the region.

The International Programs Center is the coordinating element for the Center for Middle East Studies, the School of International and Area Studies, and Education Abroad & International Student Services.

For more information, please call the International Programs Center at (405) 325-1095 or ryanbowling@ou.edu.