Chancellor Allison Garrett to Address NOC Graduates at May 4 Ceremony; Changes Announced for Nursing Pinning Ceremonies

Dr. Allison Garrett, Chancellor of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, will speak at the Northern Oklahoma College (NOC) graduation on May 4, 2024. The ceremony will be held at the Foster-Piper Fieldhouse for NOC Tonkawa students, and at the Briggs Auditorium for NOC Enid and Stillwater students. The NOC nursing program's pinning ceremonies will occur on May 3, 2024, at the Kinzer Performing Arts Center in Tonkawa, a departure from previous years.

Interim President Diana Watkins is looking forward to celebrating the students' achievements. She believes that moving the pinning ceremonies to Friday will give nursing graduates more time to celebrate with their families after Saturday's graduation.

Chancellor Allison D. Garrett heads the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. This system comprises 25 state colleges and universities, 11 constituent agencies, one university center, and several independent colleges and universities. She oversees an annual budget of around $2.8 billion and a state endowment fund valued at approximately $931.5 million.

Garrett has held leadership roles at universities in three states and spent over ten years at Walmart Inc.'s corporate offices. She earned 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.

Northern Oklahoma College, the first public two-year community college in the state, serves about 4,000 students. It operates a home campus in Tonkawa, a branch in Enid, and the NOC/OSU Gateway Program in Stillwater. The college provides affordable educational opportunities, with around 80% of students receiving financial aid or scholarships. 75% of NOC students graduate without any debt.

This article has been enhanced with AI assistance. Agree to access AI-generated content by clicking here, or opt for content with less AI influence here.