Langston University

Langston University is excited to announce a new administrative realignment intended to strengthen the university’s leadership structure and better support the university’s mission following approval by its Board of Regents on Friday.

During the regular meeting of the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents on Sept. 11, Langston University received formal approval for an administrative realignment that includes the creation of two divisions, the dissolution of a previously existing division and the addition of a vice president for a previously existing division. Additionally, the university’s Senior Leadership Team has officially transitioned into a broader executive team known as the President’s Cabinet.

Parts of the realignment had been approved by the Board at its regular meeting in June, but the Board’s approval on Friday finalized the rest of the changes. The new organizational structure reflects a deliberate effort from Langston University to strengthen its leadership accountability, right-size the organization and better align responsibilities with the university’s strategic priorities.

“We are excited to be able to announce this administrative realignment and the new opportunities it creates for the future of our institution,” said President Ruth Ray Jackson. “We were very intentional about the changes we made to ensure that our structure supports our strategy, that responsibilities are clearly assigned, and that our resources are focused where they can have the greatest impact on student success and institutional effectiveness.”

As part of the realignment, the university has introduced two new divisions: the Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and the Division of University Relations.

The Division of Strategic Enrollment Management will include the Office of Strategic Enrollment Management, the Office of Admissions, Recruitment and Outreach Services, and the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships. As enrollment is a pressing strategic priority that directly impacts student success, institutional sustainability and state funding, creating a dedicated vice presidency establishes executive accountability for enrollment outcomes, aligns all enrollment functions under one leader, improves coordination from recruitment through persistence, and provides focused leadership for enrollment growth and retention strategies.

Lindsey Hunter is the inaugural Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management.

The Division of University Relations will encompass formalized Board and Legislative Relations, Public Relations, Strategic Initiatives, Economic Development, and Career and Professional Development. This new vice presidency creates executive accountability for Board engagement and external partnerships, and it aligns Career and Professional Development with employer, community and partnership development. It also allows for greater focus on institutional strategy, presidential initiatives and organizational coordination.

Theresa Powell is the inaugural Vice President for University Relations and Chief of Staff.

“Under our previous organizational model, several important functions did not have a natural organizational home or a single executive accountable for outcomes,” Powell said. “This position consolidates those responsibilities under a Chief of Staff model focused on strategic coordination and relationship management. It’s designed to build capacity within several areas including strategic planning, economic development and the cultivation of institutional partnerships.”

Powell previously served as the Vice President for Operations, in charge of the Division of Operations. With the realignment, the Division of Operations has been dissolved. The offices under the Division of Operations have been reassigned under the new and existing divisions.

With the realignment, the Division of Student Affairs has also added a vice presidential role. Joshua Busby has been promoted from Dean of Students to Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students. He will continue to lead the Division of Student Affairs.

The change came about because the role has expanded significantly beyond the traditional Dean of Students’ functions since Busby first took over the position. It now includes broader oversight of student affairs operations and executive-level leadership responsibilities, and the revised title more accurately reflects that scope of responsibility, recognizes the position’s role as a cabinet-level officer, and establishes clear executive accountability for the student experience, student engagement and student-facing initiatives.

Vice President Hunter, Vice President Powell and Vice President Busby are all members of the President’s Cabinet, the university’s executive-level administrative team that replaced the Senior Leadership Team. The President’s Cabinet also includes Vice President for Academic Affairs Alonzo Peterson, Vice President for Institutional Advancement Diana Lasswell, and Vice President for Fiscal and Administrative Affairs Mark Rasor. The President’s Cabinet is led by President Jackson.