Idaho State U. dean with Oklahoma ties chosen to be new president at Cameron University
The University of Oklahoma Board of Regents, which oversees Cameron, met on Monday at OU and voted to approve Hunt's hiring. Hunt will become the Lawton university's 18th president, as of July 1.
The board approved a one-year contract for Hunt, who will be paid $275,000. Cameron's interim president, former Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, will remain through June 30. She has served in that role since July 22, 2024, replacing former President John McArthur, who retired after 20 years at Cameron, the last 11 as president.
Hunt emerged from a field of 65 applicants. A 15-member search committee comprised of Cameron students, faculty, staff, alumni and community leaders reviewed resumes and conducted interviews that narrowed the field to a half-dozen prospects, and then to two candidates who were interviewed by regents.
'The board was exceptionally impressed with Dr. Hunt's qualifications and enthusiasm,' said regents' chair Eric Stevenson. 'His demonstrated leadership, along with a track record of fundraising success, indicates to us that he is a person with the drive and vision needed to lead Cameron University.'
Hunt now works at Idaho State as the dean of the college of business, a professor of marketing and vice provost of entrepreneurship and economic innovation. In a news release, Cameron officials said Hunt led Idaho State's business college through a successful reaccreditation process and contributed to "unprecedented" fundraising success.
According to his LinkedIn page, Hunt has been at Idaho State since May 2020. Before that he spent more than 13 years at Arkansas State University as a professor and dean. He earned a bachelor's and master's degree from OU and a doctorate in marketing from Oklahoma State University.
"I am thrilled and honored to serve as the next president of Cameron University and become part of the Aggie family and the Lawton community,' Hunt said. 'As a first-generation college graduate who grew up in this state, I can speak firsthand about the transformative power of public higher education in Oklahoma.
'Cameron University is filled with incredible faculty and staff, and I am so excited for the positive impact we are going to make together on the future of our students and community.'
In addition to its main campus in Lawton, Cameron has a satellite campus in Duncan in southwestern Oklahoma.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Idaho State dean to be next president of Oklahoma's Cameron University
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