Chancellor Speaks To McAlester Rotary
(Press Release 09-22-08)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

Oklahoma Chancellor for Higher Education is slated to address McAlester Rotarians Tuesday, Sept. 30 during their weekly meeting at the Meeting Place in McAlester.      

Chancellor Glenn Johnson is expected to give the local Rotary Club an overview of the Oklahoma Higher Education system, where it is going tomorrow and how the system affects the future of Oklahoma.      

Eastern Oklahoma State College President Dr. Steve Smith invited the Chancellor to address the group and share the outlook of Oklahoma Higher Education with McAlester area businessmen and leaders.      

Johnson serves as the chief executive officer for the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education and leads a state system comprised of 25 state colleges and universities, 10 constituent agencies, one higher education center and independent colleges and universities coordinated with the state system.      

Johnson 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. He is responsible for an annual higher education budget in excess of $1.4 billion as well as the state endowment fund, with a market value over $200 million. He is responsible for OneNet, the state’s telecommunications network for government and education, as well as the Oklahoma Guaranteed Student Loan Program, which has guaranteed more than 1 million student loans exceeding $2.5 billion in insured debt. Johnson directs 20 statewide scholarship programs as well as other programs, including the State Regents’ Summer Academies in Math and Science program and the statewide GEAR UP efforts.    

Johnson became the 8th chancellor of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education in January 2007 after a national search. Before assuming the role of chancellor, Johnson served as the 16th president of Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant for 10 years.    

Johnson served as director of public policy and professor of law at the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Prior to his work at OU, Johnson served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1982 to 1996 and was speaker of the house from 1990 to 1996. At the time of his election as speaker, he was the youngest sitting speaker in the United States. Johnson has been recognized both statewide and nationally as a strong, untiring advocate for funding for education, both secondary and higher education, in Oklahoma.    

Johnson is the son of former U.S. Congressman Glen D. Johnson Sr. and Imogene Johnson. He was born in Oklahoma City and attended grade school in Washington, D.C. He graduated from Muskogee High School in 1972.