The 2025-26 Friends of Finance Executive Speaker Series continued on Oct. 8 with an engaging Q&A featuring Interim President Rick Dickson of The University of Tulsa. A UTulsa alumnus, former student-athlete and two-time athletics director, Dickson brought a blend of wit, candor and vision to the stage as he addressed more than 200 guests at Allen Chapman Student Union.
From joking about a secret passage between the president’s office and boardroom to recalling how a gift from his wife became a good-luck charm during the pandemic, Dickson had the crowd laughing early and often. Yet his message was clear: UTulsa may be facing some challenges — as is most of higher education — and he’s here to help lead through them.
“My message since I’ve come on board is it’s time that we reinvest in the best of TU,” Dickson said, calling for renewed focus on supporting the faculty, programs and students who define the university’s identity.
He acknowledged past missteps, noting that while the university pursued admirable goals, it did so at an unsustainable pace. With a financial plan approved by UTulsa’s Board of Trustees, Dickson is focused on stabilizing operations, boosting enrollment and retention and restoring confidence among internal and external stakeholders.
Throughout the conversation, Dickson emphasized the need for transparency, shared purpose and community partnership. He praised Friends of Finance for its role in promoting the university. “You are at the front of the line,” he said. “This kind of private support is critical to sustaining what makes TU great.”
Reflecting on his leadership experiences — including guiding Tulane athletics through Hurricane Katrina and UTulsa athletics through a pandemic — Dickson offered advice to students facing an uncertain world: “You have to be fearless and relentless. That mindset will serve you well no matter what challenges come your way.”
Dickson closed with a note on the future, both for UTulsa and himself. With nine grandchildren, he joked that his post-presidency plans include trading blazers for ball caps and becoming a full-time sports grandpa.
Friends of Finance returns Nov. 12 with Greg Kidd, co-founder and CEO of Hard Yaka Inc. and an early investor in Twitter, Coinbase and Ripple.