New Langston University President to Take Office Next Month

The 16th president of Langston University will take the helm of the school next month. 

Dr. Kent Smith, Jr. who is the current Vice President for Student Affairs at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio will officially become president on June 4, 2012. 

Dr. Smith was selected by the OSU A&M Board of Regents earlier this year to succeed former Langston University President JoAnn Haysbert.  She resigned last summer after six years of service to return to Hampton University.

"My family and I have had the pleasure of visiting Oklahoma and the Langston University campuses in recent months and immediately fell in love with the students, who went out of their way to greet us with the warmest of welcomes," said President-Elect Dr. Kent Smith. "We are anxious to get to work on the future of Langston University and thrilled to soon call the area home."

Dr. Smith will take over from Dr. Henry Ponder, who has been serving as interim president of Langston University during the transition period.