Allison Garrett
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Allison Garrett
| image = Chancellor Allison Garrett.jpg
| order = 9th
| title = Chancellor of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education
| term_start = November 8, 2021
| term_end = December 2, 2024
| predecessor = Glen D. Johnson Jr.
| successor = Sean Burrage
| order2 = 17th
| office2 = President of Emporia State University
| 1blankname2 = Provost
| 1namedata2 = David Cordle (2016–2021)
George Arasimowicz (2021)
| term_start2 = January 4, 2016
| term_end2 = October 15, 2021
| predecessor2 = Michael Shonrock
| successor2 = Ken Hush
| title3 = Executive Vice President of
Abilene Christian University
| term_start3 = August 20, 2012
| term_end3 = December 23, 2015
| predecessor3 = Phil Schubert
| successor3 = Kevin Campbell
| birth_name = Allison Dabbs
| birth_date = 1964
| birth_place = Neosho, Missouri
| alma_mater = Oklahoma Christian College
University of Tulsa
Georgetown University
| residence = Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| profession = Attorney and Educator
| spouse = Chip
| children = 3
| website =
| signature = Allison Garrett signature.svg
}}
Allison Dabbs Garrett (born 1964) is an American attorney, inventor, educator, and the former chancellor of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. She previously served as the 17th president of Emporia State University from January 2016 to October 2021. Prior to her time at Emporia State, Garrett served as Abilene Christian University's executive vice president, a position she held from August 20, 2012, to December 23, 2015.{{cite web|last=Llopis |first=Celia |url=http://cjonline.com/news/2015-10-22/regents-name-allison-garrett-emporia-state-university-president |title=Regents name Allison Garrett as Emporia State University president |publisher=CJOnline.com |date=October 2, 2015 |accessdate=October 22, 2015}} Garrett has held several vice president positions in both education and the private sector.
Biography
=Education=
Born and raised in Neosho, Missouri, Garrett graduated from Oklahoma Christian College as an English major in 1984, as well as the University of Tulsa's College of Law in 1987 with her Doctor of Jurisprudence. Her Master of Laws degree came from the Georgetown University's Law Center in 1992.{{cite web|last=Perez |first=Suzanne |url=http://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article40870209.html |title=Emporia State names new president | The Wichita Eagle |publisher=Kansas.com |accessdate=October 23, 2015}}
=Career=
==Early and pre-education career==
While attending Georgetown Law, Garrett worked at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from 1988 to 1991 as a staff attorney.{{cite web |title=Allison Garrett CV Resumé |url=http://www.acu.edu/WebSite/vice-president/documents/allison-garrett-cv-resume.pdf |publisher=Abilene Christian University |access-date=October 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919051110/http://www.acu.edu/WebSite/vice-president/documents/allison-garrett-cv-resume.pdf |archive-date=September 19, 2015 |url-status=dead}} In 1994, Garrett moved to Bentonville, Arkansas to work for Walmart Stores, Inc., where she served as vice president and general counsel for the corporate division and as vice president of benefits compliance and planning.{{cite news |url=http://www.oc.edu/news/garrett_named_vice_president_academic_affairs_at_oc |title= Garrett named Academic Affairs VP at OC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121144010/http://www.oc.edu/news/garrett_named_vice_president_academic_affairs_at_oc |date=April 27, 2007 |archive-date=November 21, 2015 |access-date=October 5, 2022}} Garrett also holds a U.S. patent for a media disk holder, granted in 2003.{{Cite web |title=US Patent Application for Systems and methods for holding media disks Patent Application (Application #20050087461 issued April 28, 2005) - Justia Patents Search |url=https://patents.justia.com/patent/20050087461 |access-date=August 14, 2022 |website=patents.justia.com}}
==Education==
After spending a decade with Walmart, Garrett moved to Montgomery, Alabama to serve as an assistant professor of law at Faulkner University's Thomas Goode Jones School of Law. Three years later in April 2007, Garrett was named Oklahoma Christian University's senior vice president for academic affairs in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.{{cite web |url=http://www.oc.edu/news/garrett_named_vice_president_academic_affairs_at_oc |title=Garrett named Academic Affairs VP at OC | Oklahoma Christian University |date=April 27, 2007 |accessdate=October 23, 2015}} While at Oklahoma Christian, Garrett oversaw the colleges, the school's library, the Honors program, and various other programs.{{cite web |url=http://www.acuoptimist.com/2012/08/garrett-named-executive-vice-president/#sthash.yyaqck2S.dpuf |title=Garrett named executive vice president | Optimist |publisher=Acuoptimist.com |date=August 25, 2012 |accessdate=October 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121082520/http://www.acuoptimist.com/2012/08/garrett-named-executive-vice-president/#sthash.yyaqck2S.dpuf |archive-date=November 21, 2015 |url-status=dead }}
On August 20, 2012, Garrett began her three-and-a-half-year term at Abilene Christian University. While at ACU, Garrett oversaw the financial operations, enrollment, and marketing, as well as the university's facilities. Garrett also worked with academics, advancement and athletics, as well as chairing several university committees.{{cite web|last=Perez |first=Suzanne |url=http://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article37803708.html |title=First finalist for Emporia State president to visit campus | The Wichita Eagle |publisher=Kansas.com |date=October 5, 2015 |accessdate=October 23, 2015}} On October 22, 2015, Garrett was named Emporia State University's 17th president.{{cite web|last=Llopis |first=Celia |url=http://cjonline.com/news/2015-10-22/emporia-state-taps-abilene-christian-university-administrator-new-president |title=Emporia State taps Abilene Christian University administrator as new president |publisher=CJOnline.com |date=October 2, 2015 |accessdate=October 23, 2015}} She began her work as ESU's president in January 2016.{{cite web|last=Ranker |first=Luke |url=http://cjonline.com/news/2016-01-24/emporia-state-president-allison-garrett-looking-ways-boost-enrollment-coming-years |title=Emporia State President Allison Garrett looking for ways to boost enrollment in coming years |publisher=CJOnline.com |date=January 24, 2016 |accessdate=August 10, 2016}}
During her time at Emporia State, Garrett helped Emporia State achieve increased enrollment in the graduate school, set fundraising records for the university, and helped oversee projects including an aquatic research center, a new house for the university president, a new tennis complex, and a new residence hall.{{Cite web|url=https://www.emporia.edu/news/september-2021-president-garrett-resigns/|title=September 2021 — President Garrett Resigns - Emporia State University|website=www.emporia.edu|date=September 24, 2021|access-date=October 22, 2021}} As ESU president, she served as vice chair of the NCAA Board of Governors and as chair of the NCAA Division II Presidents’ Council.
On September 24, 2021, she was named the first woman and ninth chancellor of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oc.edu/news/oc-alum-appointed-as-chancellor|title=OC Alum Appointed as Chancellor|website=Oklahoma Christian University|date=September 24, 2021|access-date=October 22, 2021}} Garrett led a state system comprising 25 state colleges and universities, 11 constituent agencies, one university center, and independent colleges and universities coordinated with the state system. She reported to a constitutional board whose nine members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. Garrett directed 20 statewide scholarship programs, including the Oklahoma's Promise scholarship program, and statewide GEAR UP efforts. She was appointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt in November 2021 to serve a three-year term as an Oklahoma designee to the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). In April 2024, Garrett was named by The Journal Record as one of Oklahoma's Most Admired CEOs.{{cite web | url=https://journalrecord.com/2024/04/journal-record-honors-most-admired-ceos/ | title=Journal Record honors Most Admired CEOs | the Journal Record | date=April 16, 2024 }} In November 2024, Garrett received the Oklahoma National Guard's Oklahoma Thunderbird Medal, which is the highest honor presented to a civilian. {{Cite web|url=https://okhighered.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2024-11-7-State-Regents-Agenda.pdf|title=2024-11-7-State-Regents-Agenda|website=okhighered.org|date=November 5, 2024|access-date=November 8, 2024}}
On July 2, 2024, Garrett announced her intention to retire.{{cite web |title=Public Higher Education Chancellor Announces Plans to Retire in January 2025 |url=https://okhighered.org/2024/07/public-higher-education-chancellor-announces-plans-to-retire-in-january-2025/ |website=Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education |date=July 2, 2024 |access-date=18 April 2025}} Following a national search, she worked with her successor, Sean Burrage, during a "near-seamless" transition.{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Murray |title=Oklahoma higher education system transitions to new chancellor: 'Hand the baton off' |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/education/campus/2024/11/29/oklahoma-state-regents-higher-education-new-chancellor-sean-burrage/76297667007/ |website=The Oklahoman |access-date=18 April 2025}} Garrett's retirement took effect December 2, 2024.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Emporia State University presidents}}
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Category:Presidents of Emporia State University
Category:Abilene Christian University faculty
Category:Georgetown University Law Center alumni
Category:University of Tulsa College of Law alumni
Category:Oklahoma Christian University alumni
Category:Educators from Kansas
Category:People from Neosho, Missouri
Category:American women academics