Academics
Campus
Thomas Newsom, PhD, was chosen after a search committee spent several months narrowing the field of applicants and KBOR conducted a day of interviews with finalists.
The new president follows Dan Shipp, who departed this summer to serve as president at Maryville University in St. Louis.
Since 2020, Newsom has served as president of Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Oklahoma. He has spent more than 20 years in higher education, leading several colleges and universities on the path to academic excellence and achievement.
Prior to his role at Southeastern Oklahoma State, Newsom served as vice president of Student Success and dean of students at Texas A&M-Commerce. There, he oversaw the development of new student success initiatives and led the university’s student affairs.
A native of Sherman, Texas, Newsom earned a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of North Texas, a Master's in higher education from A&M-Commerce, and a Bachelor’s in business administration from Austin College.
He and his wife, Vicky, a teacher, have three children.
Newsom will be on campus on Monday, June 23, for a public introduction to campus and the community at the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts.
The schedule will include Newsom delivering brief remarks at 1 p.m. in the Linda and Lee Scott Performance Hall, followed by a short press conference and a meet and greet in the lobby. The public is welcome.
KBOR Chair Carl Ice thanked the search committee, led by Rick Webb, for providing excellent candidates from which to choose.
“This is an important moment, not just for us making the right decision, but for the university – we think Pittsburg State has tremendous momentum in building a future, and a strategic plan is in place to guide those efforts," Ice said. “The leadership of our universities is incredibly important. Leaders matter.”
