OSU-Tulsa Trustees Approve Tulsa Businessman As Next President

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- The Oklahoma State University-Tulsa Board of Trustees have voted to approve Howard Barnett as OSU-Tulsa's next president.

OSU President Burns Hargis recommended the Tulsa business executive to the Trustees during their special meeting last Friday. 

9/4/2009 Related story: Trustees Meeting Set To Discuss New OSU-Tulsa President 

"Howard Barnett will bring a broad array of exceptional credentials to OSU-Tulsa and the OSU System," Hargis said. "I am pleased to recommend him and believe his demonstrated leadership, active community involvement, success in fundraising, and passion for the city of Tulsa and higher education will guide OSU-Tulsa to new levels of achievement."

Barnett is the managing director of TSF Capital in Tulsa. He earned a juris doctorate from Southern Methodist University and a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Tulsa.

"I'm very privileged and grateful for the confidence the search committee, President Hargis and the Trustees have placed in me. I have tremendous respect for OSU-Tulsa's success and achievements under Gary Trennepohl's leadership. If approved by the Regents, I will be honored to work with students, faculty and staff to aggressively pursue OSU-Tulsa's academic mission and build on the school's vision for the future," Howard Barnett said.  

Barnett served as chief of staff for Gov. Frank Keating and as the Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce.  

The Trustee's decision now goes to the OSU Board of Regents for final consideration.   

If Barnett is approved by the OSU Regents, a starting date will be set after the announcement.