February 1, 2021
By News Director Jared Atha
Regents of the Regional University System of Oklahoma voted to conduct interviews with 15 candidates for president of Southwestern Oklahoma State University with campus locations in Weatherford and Sayre.
The regents met Friday (January 29) in Edmond.
RUSO Executive Director Sheridan McCaffree said zoom interviews will be done with the 15 during the first part of this month with the list narrowed for in-person interviews to be conducted when the regents meet again in late February in Weatherford.
The selection process started with 83 candidates that applied for the position currently held by SWOSU President Randy Beutler, who is retiring June 30.
A screening committee, led by Regent Jane McDermott and comprised of 21 individuals, earlier reviewed credentials of the 83 and narrowed the list, which was presented to the regents at the recent meeting.
Included in the 22-member committee is RUSO Regent, and local banker, Lake Carpenter, SWOSU Vice President of Public Relations & Marketing Brian Adler, Mayor of Weatherford Mike Brown, Former President of the Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal College and Alumnus Dr. Henrietta Mann, General Manager of Northfork Electric Cooperative and Alumnus Brent Meador, and Dean of the SWOSU-Sayre Campus Bill Swartwood.
