President Howard Barnett

Howard G. Barnett, Jr.

President, Oklahoma State University-Tulsa and OSU Center for Health Sciences

Howard Barnett was appointed to succeed Dr. Gary Trennepohl as president of OSU-Tulsa in September 2009. He took over duties on October 5, 2009. In March 2010, the OSU/A&M Board of Regents expanded Barnett's role to serve as president of the OSU Center for Health Sciences in addition to president of OSU-Tulsa. The consolidated leadership position for the university's operations in Tulsa is designed to strengthen academic and medical operations in Tulsa and to serve the community more efficiently.

Previously, Barnett was managing director of TSF Capital in Tulsa. He earned a juris doctorate from Southern Methodist University and a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Tulsa.

A life-long Tulsan, Barnett served as chief of staff for Gov. Frank Keating and as the Oklahoma secretary of commerce. In 2009, he was the chief negotiator for the OSU Medical Center Trust in its acquisition of the OSU Medical Center from Ardent Health Systems. He is also a former chairman of the Tulsa Metro Chamber and past president of Leadership Oklahoma.

Barnett and his wife, Billie, are involved with many local and state civic and charitable organizations including the Tulsa Ballet, the Salvation Army, The Oklahoma Academy, the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, Philbrook Museum of Art, the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa and Youth Services of Tulsa.