Langston University president to retire from education

Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoman
·1 min read
Kent J. Smith Jr., president of Langston University, speaks June 5, 2012, from his office.
Kent J. Smith Jr., president of Langston University, speaks June 5, 2012, from his office.

LANGSTON — The president of Oklahoma's only historically Black university will end his tenure after 11 years.

Langston University announced Tuesday its president, Kent J. Smith Jr., will depart at the end of the current spring semester.

Smith, who took office in June 2012, said he will retire from his 30-year career in education to follow entrepreneurial pursuits. The Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents will conduct a national search for a successor.

"I have dreamt of building a legacy to leave for my five children and my grandson," Smith said in a statement. "I feel strongly that the time is right to begin a new chapter in my life."

Smith said his family has been "blessed beyond measure" to be part of Langston. His children grew up on the university's campuses in Langston, Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

More: Oklahoma's Langston University clearing $4M from student balances

Langston added its Tulsa location during Smith's tenure and secured the donation of a permanent Oklahoma City campus from Griffin Communications last year. Griffin donated News 9's former building, 7401 N Kelley, and broadcast equipment to Langston's journalism program.

The university, with 1,900 students, recruited its seven largest freshmen classes in the institution's history while Smith was president. However, like at other regional colleges in the state, total enrollment has steadily declined by 6,000 students over the past 10 years.

"As Regents, we express our gratitude to Dr. Smith for his focus on student success and his advocacy for the important role Langston University plays in Oklahoma and the nation," said Jarold Callahan, chairperson of the Oklahoma A&M regents.

Reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel covers K-12 and higher education throughout the state of Oklahoma. Have a story idea for Nuria? She can be reached at nmartinez-keel@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @NuriaMKeel. Support Nuria’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Langston University President Kent J. Smith Jr. to retire