Dr. Joel Kendall Named Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at SWOSU

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May 13, 2021

SWOSU Press Release

Dr. Joel Kendall has been selected as the new provost and vice president of academic affairs at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) in Weatherford and Sayre, according to incoming SWOSU President Dr. Diana Lovell and current President Randy Beutler.Kendall has been serving as SWOSU’s associate provost since 2018.

“SWOSU, for many years, has enjoyed an outstanding academic reputation, and I look forward to working with Dr. Kendall in this important position as we continue that long-standing mission of the university,” Lovell said.

As vice president of academic affairs, Kendall is chief academic officer at SWOSU. The appointment is subject to Regional University System of Oklahoma (RUSO) regents’ approval.

Kendall has been employed at SWOSU since 1998. As associate provost, he has led the university in implementation of a new strategic plan and efforts to improve student retention and completion. He spearheaded the university’s successful 10-year re-accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission in 2020.

He has provided oversight for four academic affairs departments – Academic Support Center, Center for Assessment and Testing, Institutional Research and Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

Prior to his role as associate provost, Kendall served as chair of the Department of Art, Communication and Theatre. He also served as professor of mass communication for 20 years at SWOSU, and in that role published research, acquired various grants for the institution, and taught courses in journalism, public relations and communications.

Kendall graduated from Mooreland High School and received a B.A. in Journalism from Oklahoma State University in 1994, an M.A. in Journalism from Indiana University in 1996, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Oklahoma in 2005.

Kendall is active in the Weatherford Kiwanis Club and serves as a deacon at First Baptist Church of Weatherford. He is a member of the American Conference of Academic Deans. He and his wife, Allison, have two sons: Lane, 23, and Ethan, 20.

Kendall takes over for Dr. James South, who is retiring from SWOSU having served as provost since 2013.