Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) will host an Investiture Ceremony for the institution’s 19th President, Dr. Joel H. Kendall, on Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
The public is invited to attend the Ceremony which will take place at 1:30 p.m. in the Pioneer Event Center located at 900 North 7th Street in Weatherford on the SWOSU Campus. Governing board Regents and officials, fellow Oklahoma college and university presidents, notable SWOSU alumni, and other dignitaries are expected to participate along with SWOSU faculty, staff, and students.
Kendall was named President of SWOSU on April 17, 2026, by the Regional University System of Oklahoma (RUSO) Board of Regents.
A native of Mooreland, Oklahoma, Kendall began his career at SWOSU in 1998 as an instructor in communications and later became a full professor. He went on to serve as academic department chair, associate provost, and provost and vice president for academic affairs. Most recently, he served as vice chancellor for academic and student affairs for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
During his leadership at SWOSU, Kendall helped advance academic programs tied to high-demand fields, including engineering physics, engineering technology, computer science, nursing, allied health, and education. He also worked with regional and state partners to support development of the Jerry & Margaret Hodge Center for Pharmacy & Rural Health.
Kendall holds a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University, a master’s degree from Indiana University, and a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Oklahoma. He and his wife, Allison, have two adult sons.
The Investiture Ceremony is a time-honored tradition which will see Kendall saluted by university, community, and state leaders before being presented with SWOSU’s ceremonial mace and chain. Some previous SWOSU Presidential Investitures have included:
The Investiture of SWOSU’s 18th President, Dr. Diana R. Lovell, on April 29, 2022
The Investiture of SWOSU’s 17th President, Dr. Randy L. Beutler, ’83 & ’03, 2023 Distinguished Alumnus, on December 13, 2010
The Investiture of SWOSU’s 16th President, the late Dr. John M. Hays, ’69, 2011 Distinguished Alumnus, on December 5, 2001
The Investiture of SWOSU’s 15th President, Dr. Joe Anna Hibler, ’62, 2003 Distinguished Alumnus, on April 26, 1991
The Presidential Investiture is a joint undertaking between SWOSU and its longtime partner organization, the SWOSU Foundation, Incorporated. For more information, please visit www.SWOSU.edu or contact Ms. Kari Jones in the SWOSU Office of Institutional Advancement at 580-774-3289, kari.jones@swosu.edu.
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