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Kansas education board hires Oklahoman to serve as president of Pittsburg State University
Kansas Board of Regents appoints Thomas Newsom, far right, president of Southeastern Oklahoma State University, to become president of Pittsburg State University. He replaces Dan Shipp, who resigned to become president of Maryville University in St. Louis. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from SOSU)
TOPEKA — The Kansas Board of Regents selected the president of Southeastern Oklahoma State University to take over leadership of Pittsburg State University.
Thomas Newsom, a former Texan with more than 20 years of experience in higher education, will become the 11th president of 5,700-student public university in southeast Kansas.
'Dr. Newsom brings a wealth of experience as a university and community college president,' said Blake Benson, a Pittsburg resident due to become chairperson of the Board of Regents in July. 'He has helped multiple institutions grow enrollment and improve, all while focusing on student affordability.'
Newsom, appointed president of Southeastern Oklahoma State in 2020, was credited with helping set an all-time enrollment record of 5,800 students in 2024 on the campus in Durant, Oklahoma.
Enrollment at Southeastern Oklahoma State has grown nearly 500 students since 2020, while PSU enrollment has declined 13% in that period.
Newsom was previously vice president of student success and dean of students at Texas A&M University at Commerce, Texas. He worked five years as president of Mesalands Community College in Tucumcari, New Mexico.
He said in a statement Friday announcing the PSU appointment that he was appreciative of the faculty and staff at Southeastern Oklahoma State.
'I would also like to thank the Kansas Board of Regents for the opportunity to make this amazing professional and personal move,' Newsom said.
Newsom earned a doctorate in higher education administration at University of North Texas, a master's degree in higher education from Texas A&M-Commerce and an undergraduate degree in business at Austin College.
He was selected to replace Dan Shipp, who resigned as PSU president in May to become president of Maryville University in St. Louis.
The Board of Regents' objective was to hire a 'growth-oriented, proven leader' capable of building on PSU's foundation of 'good fiscal management, unique program delivery and exceptional relationships' with the city of Pittsburg.
