Two finalists named for OSU-Tulsa presidency

Thursday, August 13, 2009

TULSA (Aug. 12, 2009) – Tulsa business executive Howard Barnett and University of Kansas leader Robert Clark have been named as finalists in the search for the new president at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa.

Barnett is the managing director of TSF Capital in Tulsa and Clark is vice chancellor and dean of the University of Kansas Edwards Campus in Overland Park, Kan.

A search committee chose the finalists from a pool of more than 80 applicants from across the nation, according to Larry Mocha, OSU-Tulsa Trustee and chair of the search committee. Both candidates will visit OSU-Tulsa on Aug. 18 and OSU-Stillwater on Aug. 19 to meet with students, faculty, staff and community members.

"The exceptional caliber of our two finalists speaks to the overall quality of our entire pool of candidates,” Mocha said. “Both are both highly experienced leaders and we're excited to introduce two outstanding candidates for consideration."

Barnett earned a juris doctorate from Southern Methodist University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Tulsa.

A life-long Tulsan, Barnett served as chief of staff for Gov. Frank Keating and as the Oklahoma secretary of commerce. Earlier this year, Barnett was the chief negotiator for the OSU Medical Center Trust in its acquisition of the OSU Medical Center from Ardent Health Systems. He is also a former chairman of the Tulsa Metro Chamber and president of Leadership Oklahoma.

Clark earned a Ph.D. in educational management with an emphasis in strategic planning from Syracuse University, a master's degree in higher education from Colorado State University and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Arizona State University. He is also a graduate of Harvard University's Institute for Educational Management.

During Clark’s leadership at the KU Edwards Campus, enrollment has increased 55 percent and the number of academic programs offered has doubled. In addition, Clark has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in organizational strategy, leadership and organizational behavior since 1983.

The seven-member presidential search committee members began their search process in May. The committee is comprised of two OSU/A&M Regents, two OSU-Tulsa Trustees and student, faculty and staff representatives.

Following campus visits, OSU President Burns Hargis will make a recommendation to the OSU-Tulsa Board of Trustees and then to the OSU/A&M Board for final approval.

The new president will replace Dr. Gary Trennepohl, who announced in March that he would be leaving his position of 10 years as president to return to a full-time OSU faculty position.