Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) with locations in Weatherford, Sayre and Yukon has announced several key updates to the institution’s administration and leadership.

SWOSU President Dr. Diana “Diane” Lovell has made the following appointments.

• Effective January 1, 2022, Jonna Myers, director of graduate programs in the Dobson School of Business & Technology, will become Dean of Enrollment, reporting to the vice president for student services. In this role, Myers will use best practices and sound, data-driven direction to centralize SWOSU’s admissions, financial aid and residence life into a comprehensive enrollment team. This unification of SWOSU’s enrollment management departments will enable SWOSU to optimize and improve its recruitment of undergraduate, graduate, transfer and online students.

Myers holds degrees in College Services Personnel (Arkansas Tech University) and Communication Arts (SWOSU). She is currently in the dissertation phase of a doctorate in Human Resources and Workforce Development (University of Arkansas).

• Effective January 1, 2022, Dr. Chad Kinder, Dean of the College of Professional & Graduate Studies, will become Acting Assistant Vice President for Strategic Partnerships. In this role, Dr. Kinder will continue his efforts to forge and strengthen cooperative agreements and working alliances that lead to more opportunities for SWOSU students, increased enrollment and revenue for SWOSU and a stronger overall institutional impact on Oklahoma’s workforce. Kinder will continue to oversee the crucial expansion of SWOSU’s services and programs into the most populated part of the SWOSU service area, Canadian County, and will focus on creating and sustaining academic arrangements that benefit SWOSU.

Kinder holds undergraduate and master’s degrees in Education (SWOSU) and a Doctor of Education (Oklahoma State University).

• Effective immediately, Garrett King, assistant vice president for institutional advancement, will become Vice President for Institutional Advancement & Chief of Staff to the President. In this role, King will continue serving as SWOSU’s chief philanthropic/fundraising officer and leading the SWOSU Foundation, Inc. Additionally, as chief of staff to the president, King will coordinate the president’s office and cabinet and assist the president in the tracking and implementation of key projects and priorities. King will also serve SWOSU as the institution’s primary point of contact and liaison to elected officials and government agencies.

King holds an undergraduate degree in political science and a master’s degree in Education (both SWOSU) and is currently a doctoral candidate in History (Swansea University).

• Effective immediately, Jason Barr, assistant director of residence life, will become Acting Director of Residence Life and oversee SWOSU’s provision of quality, affordable and safe student housing services.

Barr holds an undergraduate degree in Speech Communications (SWOSU) and a master’s degree in Sports Management (Texas A&M University).

“SWOSU is committed to meeting its mission to the public to deliver an accessible, workforce-aligned, quality, affordable public education,” Dr. Lovell said. “Our administrative team is working with intention and focus to grow our enrollment, improve our retention, and to provide students and faculty with better service. I am grateful to Ms. Myers, Dr. Kinder, Mr. King, and Mr. Barr for stepping up to these important leadership roles here on the Hilltop.”

For more information, please visit www.swosu.edu.