Senate Appropriations Chair thanks Higher Education Chancellor for his service, leadership

State Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, issued the following statement on Tuesday thanking Glen Johnson, Chancellor of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, for his service and leadership on behalf of the state. Johnson plans to retire from that position at the end of 2020.

“Chancellor Johnson’s public service in Oklahoma spans four decades, serving as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, then as Speaker of the House and then becoming President of Southeastern Oklahoma State University before being named Chancellor of Higher Education.

For 12 years, he has been an excellent leader and advocate for higher education, and that included some of the most economically challenging years our state has faced in recent history.

During his tenure, many companies relocated here due to the quality of graduates that our state colleges and universities have produced, and I believe that’s directly attributable to his leadership. Just this summer, he was named by his peers across the nation as the Outstanding Chancellor in the United States.

As Appropriations Chairman, I had the great pleasure of working with Chancellor Johnson and can personally attest to his professionalism, passion and dedication to higher education and to the people of Oklahoma. Our state has benefited greatly because of his service.”