OSU Announces Howard Barnett’s Position Change

Friday, January 11, 2019

Oklahoma State University announced today that Howard Barnett, President of Oklahoma State University-Tulsa, will become President Emeritus of OSU-Tulsa effective July 1, 2019.

“Howard is not retiring but we are asking him to focus on issues external to the university such as legislative matters and fundraising, rather than the day-to-day running of the campus in Tulsa,” said OSU President Burns Hargis. “Over the next few months, we will undergo the process for choosing a new President for OSU-Tulsa. We appreciate Howard’s outstanding dedication and service to OSU.”

Barnett said, “I am looking forward to concentrating on these outside areas which are critical to enhancing the availability of higher education in Tulsa and to helping my successor build on OSU-Tulsa’s successes to date. I appreciate the excellent work of the entire OSU-Tulsa team.”

Barnett was named OSU-Tulsa president by the OSU/A&M Board of Regents on Oct. 5, 2009. Before joining OSU, Barnett was managing director of TSF Capital in Tulsa. A life-long Tulsan, Barnett served as chief of staff for Gov. Frank Keating and as the Oklahoma secretary of commerce.

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

Barnett and his wife, Billie, are involved with many local and state civic and charitable organizations including the Tulsa Ballet, the Salvation Army, The Oklahoma Academy, the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, Philbrook Museum of Art, the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa, Youth Services of Tulsa and the National Council of Nonprofits.