Oklahoma City, OK – The Regional University System of Oklahoma (RUSO) Board of Regents selected Lake Carpenter to serve as chair of the board at its May 27 meeting. Carpenter, who previously served as vice chair, was appointed to the board by Gov. Mary Fallin in 2013 and reappointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt in 2022.
As chair, Carpenter said he looks forward to elevating the work of RUSO’s six institutions and highlighting their critical role in preparing graduates for Oklahoma’s workforce, supporting economic growth and strengthening communities across the state. He said he also hopes to help spotlight the ways RUSO universities are preparing students for high-demand careers that meet the needs of Oklahoma’s growing communities and industries.
The Regional University System of Oklahoma governs East Central University, Northeastern State University, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Southwestern Oklahoma State University and the University of Central Oklahoma. The six universities together serve more than 40,000 students across the state.
"RUSO universities have a direct and lasting impact on Oklahoma students, families, communities and employers," Carpenter said. "As a SWOSU graduate and as the father of RUSO graduates and students, I know firsthand how these universities open doors and prepare people to build successful careers here in Oklahoma. These campuses are deeply connected to the people and places they serve, and as chair, I want to help tell that story for each of our six institutions."
RUSO institutions play a central role in addressing state workforce needs, including teacher preparation, nursing, health care, STEM fields and other critical occupations. Ninety-five percent of RUSO graduates are employed in Oklahoma one year after graduation, and 89% are working in the state five years later.
"Our regional universities are one of Oklahoma's strongest assets for workforce development and economic growth," Carpenter said. "They prepare teachers for our classrooms, nurses and health care professionals for our hospitals and clinics, and business leaders for our local economies. RUSO graduates serve communities across the state."
A western Oklahoma native, Carpenter is senior vice president at Bank of Western Oklahoma and serves as minister of music at First Baptist Church of Leedey. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in social science, magna cum laude, from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1999, with an endorsement in physical education.
He has a long record of civic and community service, including leadership roles with the Elk City Rotary Club, the Leedey Education Foundation, the Leedey Public School Mentor Program, Western Oklahoma Family Care Center and youth agriculture and livestock programs. He has received multiple Paul Harris Fellow recognitions through Rotary and has been awarded the Honorary FFA Chapter Degree. Carpenter and his family are also involved in farming and ranching in western Oklahoma.
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