A top Oklahoma Christian University administrator has been named the new executive vice president of the university.
Dr. Allison Garrett, previously the senior vice president for academic affairs at Oklahoma Christian, now fills the position formerly held by Dr. Phil Schubert before he was moved to the role of president. Garrett began her responsibilities Aug. 20.
Garrett’s appointment was announced in an email on July 6. Schubert introduced her to ACU’s faculty and staff as qualified and the right fit to fill this position.
“Allison comes to us with impressive academic and business experience,” said Schubert. “Most importantly, she is a strong Christian woman who is passionate about transforming the lives of students. ACU is fortunate to have such a talented individual who will help advance our mission.”
Garrett’s responsibilities will include financial operations, enrollment, marketing, and facilities and campus management (including landscape and grounds, physical resources and construction). Garrett, who was one of two finalists last year for the presidency of Oklahoma Christian, will serve on the Senior Leadership Team and as a liaison to the Board of Trustees.
“I have respected ACU for years,” Garrett said. “It’s a university that seems to have a very clear vision and is doing some really innovative things that makes it a leader in Christian higher education, so the opportunity to work here is something that was really attractive.”
Garrett earned a bachelor’s degree with honors from Oklahoma Christian, a Juris Doctor degree (J.D.) from the University of Tulsa College of Law, and a Master of Laws degree (LL.M.) in securities regulation from the Georgetown University Law Center.
Since 2007, Garrett has held a position at Oklahoma Christian, overseeing three colleges, graduate studies, the library, Honors, the registrar’s office, international programs, the student success program, Institutional Research and OC’s faculty technical support group. Previously, she was an executive in various roles with Arkansas-based Walmart Stores Inc. for more than a decade.
“I love Christian higher education and left a corporate role to be involved in it because I feel so strongly about the need for people of faith to be in positions to share their expertise with students,” Garrett said. “It’s been a wonderful opportunity to work with bright students who are passionate about changing the world, about their disciplines and really wanting to express their faith with what they do.”
