Spears Business announces 2026 MSIS Cloud of Honor inductees ahead of 5th annual celebration

Spears Business announces 2026 MSIS Cloud of Honor inductees ahead of 5th annual celebration

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Media Contact: Stephen Howard | Director of Marketing & Communications | 405-744-4363 | [email protected]

Oklahoma State University's Department of Management Science and Information Systems is inducting four distinguished alumni into the MSIS Cloud of Honor.

The department will honor Jamie Adamson, Richard Amos, Dr. Bill Hardgrave and Ayana Spriggs Talley during the fifth annual Cloud of Honor Celebration on Feb. 27 at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center.

Founded in 2022, the Cloud of Honor recognizes professional leaders who are longtime graduates of OSU's information systems programs. These Spears School of Business academic programs date back to the 1970s and have been offered through the MSIS department since its 2002 creation.

The celebration will also honor Cumulus Award recipients Holt Calder, Alex Evers, Katie O'Neil and Matt Tucker. The Cumulus Award goes to recent MSIS alumni making a significant impact early in their careers.

"We are excited that Jamie, Richard, Bill and Ayana are the next class of inductees into the MSIS Cloud of Honor," said Dr. Rick Wilson, MSIS department head. "This is yet another outstanding group of honorees from both industry and academia. We are proud of our alumni, and I know our students are inspired by the career accomplishments of such renowned leaders in the information systems and analytics fields."

Jamie Adamson, '99

Jamie Adamson earned a bachelor's degree in management information systems (MIS) from OSU in 1999. He has spent 25-plus years in technology leadership spanning enterprise consulting, energy, manufacturing and executive roles.

After beginning his career with JD Edwards (now Oracle), Adamson went on to serve in senior technology roles at organizations including Chesapeake Energy, Red Bluff Resources and Associated Steel Group. In 2024, he joined The LYT Group as Chief Technology Officer and Partner, co-founding LYT Technology.

Adamson has remained deeply engaged with OSU, recruiting MSIS interns since 2009 and serving on the Spears Alumni Board and the MSIS Department Advisory Board. He serves as board chair for Skyline Urban Outreach, an Oklahoma City nonprofit food resource center addressing food insecurity.

Adamson is passionate about mentoring students, serving his community and supporting the continued growth of Oklahoma's technology ecosystem.

Richard Amos, '85

Richard Amos is the chief information officer at Blue Mantis, where he leads enterprise technology and co-leads the advisory services practice. He is responsible for driving digital transformation, operational excellence and innovation, aligning technology strategy with business outcomes while reinforcing a security-first culture.

Partnering closely with clients and internal stakeholders, Amos delivers strategic IT solutions including virtual CIO leadership, business resilience, AI and data enablement, and hybrid cloud optimization.

Amos graduated from OSU in 1985, earning a bachelor's degree in organizational administration with an option in information processing, a precursor of the present MIS program.

Amos has a long and distinguished career in the IT field. Prior to Blue Mantis, Amos was a transformation advisor at Cloud Technology Partners/Hewlett Packard Enterprise, leading cross-industry modernization initiatives. Earlier, he spent nearly 25 years at American Century Investments, ultimately serving as chief technology officer and leading enterprise-wide digital transformation.

Dr. Bill Hardgrave, '93

Dr. Bill Hardgrave earned his doctorate in management information systems from OSU in 1993. He began serving as the 13th president of the University of Memphis on April 1, 2022.

Prior to joining the University of Memphis, Hardgrave served four years as Auburn University's provost and senior vice president for academic affairs and eight years as dean of Auburn's Harbert College of Business. He also spent 17 years at the University of Arkansas in the Sam M. Walton College of Business, eventually holding the Edwin & Karlee Bradberry Chair in information systems.

Hardgrave is an accomplished scholar - having published several books and more than 100 articles - and is considered a thought leader in the field of radio-frequency identification. He has worked with numerous companies, including Walmart, Amazon, Macy's, Nike, Intel and Microsoft.

Hardgrave is a highly sought-after speaker, delivering more than 200 invited talks around the globe.

Ayana Spriggs Talley, '00

Ayana Spriggs Talley serves as the executive director of technology - CIO at Langston University, leading strategic initiatives throughout campus. She has nearly 25 years of extensive IT leadership and executive level experience at companies such as Devon Energy, OG&E and Accenture.

Spriggs Talley is a proud graduate of OSU, where she earned a bachelor's degree in MIS in 2000. She later completed her MBA at Oklahoma City University.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Spriggs Talley is deeply committed to community service. She (along with husband Henry) founded The Talley Community Service Foundation, which provides scholarships and hosts programs that uplift inner city youth.

Spriggs Talley serves as an advisory board member for Oklahoma Women in Technology, along with numerous other civic roles. Her service has been recognized through honors such as the John A. Reed Spirit of the Community Award and Legacy Builder award from the Spencer Chamber of Commerce.

Visit the website for more information on the MSIS Cloud of Honor Celebration.