Long before he became Oklahoma State University’s biggest champion, Kyle Wray was a true Cowboy in every sense of the word.
His early years were rooted in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, where, as a teen at Charles Page High School, he fell in love with horses, boots, bull riding, and the grit that inevitably goes along with it. Kyle took that work ethic with him to Oklahoma Christian University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history and political science, and later to Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, for a Master of Arts degree.
After several years as a high school history teacher and coach, Kyle began his journey in higher education. His success in recruiting for Oklahoma Christian eventually led to leadership roles in enrollment management and marketing, where he revolutionized the university’s approach to recruiting and brought in the largest freshman classes in school history.
In 2004, Kyle joined Oklahoma State University as the director of marketing and began to lead the university’s approach to enrollment management in 2008. Record-setting enrollment years ensued, including the largest freshman class ever in 2012. He launched a complete revitalization of the university’s marketing and communications efforts in 2017, culminating in the establishment of the new Office of Brand Management in 2019. While serving as Vice President for Enrollment and Brand Management, Kyle led a team dedicated to recruitment, retention, and reputation. In 2019, he became a member of the board of trustees for the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, which works to advance both K-12 and higher education across the State of Oklahoma.
Appointed in July 2021 as a senior member of the president’s leadership team, Kyle now serves as Senior Vice President for Executive Affairs at Oklahoma State, providing strategic leadership for the president’s office. In this role, Kyle serves as a chief strategic advisor to the president and is directly involved with a wide range of activities and initiatives supporting the university’s strategic plan.
As the embodiment of OSU’s Cowboy spirit, Kyle is always a presence on the sidelines during OSU football games, in his signature boots and cowboy hat. Today, he has a ranch in Morrison, Oklahoma, where he keeps his horse, Ranger, along with two dogs, Cheyenne and Stormy. Most importantly, he is a dad to two beautiful young women, Kimberly and Summer, and two grandchildren, Devon and Daxon, who lovingly call their cowboy “Dadaw.”