Smith Named As New President Of Eastern Oklahoma State College
(Press Release 03-30-07)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

In a special meeting Wednesday (3-28-07) Eastern Oklahoma State College Regents accepted the resignation of the Wilburton college President, Dr. Richard M. Bernard, following an hour and a half executive session.

Eastern regents also named Eastern McAlester campus Dean, Dr. Stephen E. Smith, as Eastern’s 20th president to finish out this academic year through June and the following 2007-2008 academic year.

Regent Chairman Burl Williams from Stigler said Bernard “was a historian that came to Eastern in a difficult time. He had many successes during his tenor including meeting and exceeding accreditation expectations.

“He was responsible for bringing many grants to Eastern and we are set to break ground on a new student life and learning center this spring. Due to his efforts, this will be the first new building on Eastern’s Wilburton campus in more than 40 years.”

During Bernard’s presidency Eastern received $6.8 million U.S. Department of Education GEAR-UP Grant, a $1.7 U.S. Department of Labor Nursing Grant and  U.S. Department of Justice Violence Prevention Grants totaling $400,000.

Eastern’s student graduation rate is 15 points above the average for Oklahoma’s two-year colleges. Some of their achievements include: Agricultural National Championships in Livestock Judging, Soils Judging, and Horticulture, regional Best Chapter Honors for Eastern’s Phi Theta Kappa honor society, and Phi Beta Lambda business club and top state honors for the student newspaper and yearbook.

Bernard replaced Dr. William J. Campion Feb. 24, 2004 as Eastern’s president.

Smith will be Eastern’s fourth president to serve since Dr. Bill H. Hill retired from the position July 2000.

As an administrator with 13 years experience in mid-sized and large public school districts as well as a technology center, Smith joined the Eastern staff in July 2005 as Dean of the McAlester campus.

Smith came to Eastern from Meridian Technology Center where he served as the director of full-time programs. His duties there included teacher supervision, staff evaluations, personnel, program development, program budgeting, student supervision, recruitment, marketing and campus promotion.

Smith was originally from Quinton. He also serves as the current president of the McAlester Chamber of Commerce.

Smith said that he will be overseeing both campuses until “we get a replacement for me as McAlester dean.”

Dr. Stephen E. Smith		Dr. Richard M. Bernard