The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education restarted the search process for the next Chancellor of the Oklahoma state system of higher education with the announcement today of the selection of a firm to assist in the process. In April 2020, Chancellor Glen D. Johnson announced that he would extend his planned retirement date of December 31, 2020, to September 30, 2021, after the State Regents asked him to consider extending his retirement date due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Chancellor Johnson’s retirement extension to September 30, 2021, provides the State Regents with adequate time to conduct a thorough and comprehensive national search.
The State Regents have selected the firm of Buffkin/Baker to lead the search process for the next Chancellor of the state system of higher education, as recommended by the committee appointed to oversee the search process. Regents Ann Holloway, Joseph Parker Jr., Jay Helm, and Ronald White serve on the search committee.
“Selecting the next Chancellor of Oklahoma public higher education is a responsibility we take very seriously,” said State Regents’ chair Ann Holloway. “Buffkin/Baker has extensive experience conducting high-profile higher education executive searches. We are confident Buffkin/Baker is the right partner to help our committee structure a successful search process and identify qualified candidates. We appreciate Chancellor Johnson for extending his retirement date to accommodate our request, enabling us to conduct a more deliberate search.”