Dr. Allison Garrett to speak at NOC commencement May 4

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Chancellor Dr. Allison Garrett will address candidates for graduation at Northern Oklahoma College 2024 commencement exercises Saturday, May 4.

NOC Tonkawa candidates will march into Foster-Piper Fieldhouse on the Tonkawa campus at 9:30 a.m. on May 4.

That same day NOC Enid and Stillwater candidates will enter Briggs Auditorium on the Enid campus at 2:30 p.m.

Pinning ceremonies for graduates from the NOC nursing program will take place at 6 p.m. on May 3 in the Kinzer Performing Arts Center in Tonkawa. This is a change from past years when the pinning ceremony was in Enid on graduation day.

“We are really excited to celebrate the academic achievements of these students,” said interim president Diana Watkins. “We hope that holding the pinning ceremonies on Friday evening will open up more time for our nursing graduates to celebrate with their families after they cross the stage and receive their diplomas on Saturday.”

Chancellor Allison D. Garrett is the chief executive officer for the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. Garrett leads a state system comprised of 25 state colleges and universities, 11 constituent agencies, one university center, and independent colleges and universities coordinated with the state system.

Garrett provides leadership on matters relating to standards for Oklahoma higher education, courses and programs of study, budget allocations for institutions, fees and tuition, and strategic planning. She is responsible for an annual higher education budget in excess of $2.8 billion as well as the state endowment fund, with a market value over $931.5 million. Garrett directs 20 statewide scholarship programs including the Oklahoma’s Promise Scholarship program and statewide GEAR UP efforts.

Prior to her role as Chancellor, she served in senior leadership roles at universities in three states, including as president, executive vice president and senior vice president for academic affairs.

Garrett also worked for more than a decade at the Walmart Inc. corporate offices, holding the positions of vice president and general counsel for the corporate division and vice president of benefits compliance and planning.

A native of Neosho, Missouri, Garrett holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Oklahoma Christian University, a juris doctorate from The University of Tulsa College of Law and a Master of Laws in securities regulation from Georgetown University.

Garrett and her husband live in Edmond, Oklahoma. They have three adult children and two grandchildren.