Emporia State University students, faculty and the Emporia community as a whole came out to Wooster Lake Wednesday to bid a fond farewell to Allison and Chip Garrett as they prepare to move on to their next journey.
A farewell celebration was held on the ESU campus for the Garret’s as Allison Garrett gets set to take on her new role as Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer for the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. Garrett says she will remember her time in Emporia fondly and is certain the university is in a great position as the final days of her tenure as president begin to wind down.
In addition to serving as president of the university since 2016, Allison Garrett has been heavily involved in the local community serving on the United Way Board of Directors and as the vice-chair of the NCAA’s Board of Governors and chair of the Division II Presidents’ Council. Chip Garrett has also been heavily involved locally serving both on the SOS Board of Directors and the Emporia Metropolitan Area Planning Commission.
Chip says he doesn’t have any immediate plans for what he’ll be doing once they get to Oklahoma, however, he would like to continue being involved in those areas. He says this next adventure is an exciting one, however, it is bitter-sweet given the relationships they have built during their time in Emporia.
President Garrett’s final day is Friday. The Kansas Board of Regents has named ESU Provost George Arasimowicz as the acting president until an interim president is named.
