From The President

Jari Askins 

President

Welcome to Cameron University!

Whether you are a new student, someone considering Cameron as the place to pursue your career dreams, a parent of a prospective student, or someone with an established relationship with Cameron – as a student, an employee, a supporter or maybe as alumni – you will soon discover that CU is in a state of transition.

I have the honor of serving as interim president of Cameron University for the 2024-2025 academic year. Cameron’s previous president, Dr. John McArthur, retired after more that two decades of service on this campus, first as a dean and member of the faculty, then as vice president, and finally as president for the past 11 years.

As a native of Duncan, I have enjoyed the opportunity to work for the people of southwest Oklahoma during most of my life, either as an attorney, a judge, a legislator or a state official. These roles provided opportunities to become familiar with Cameron and its impact in the region. When CU’s governing board approached me with an offer to lead Cameron while they search for the next university president, I accepted.

Our governing board believes that Cameron is essential to the economic growth of southwest Oklahoma and is well-positioned to provide the workforce needed by business and industry. State leaders continue to look closely at workforce development and higher education’s ability to respond to economic development needs. Cameron is good at that. We work with a vast array of groups – from the military and Department of Defense contractors to the technology visionaries in Lawton’s FISTA Innovation Park. Cameron University is positioned to prove our worth to Regents, to the Legislature, and to the citizens we serve.

Today’s students want hands-on experiences and I am a believer in out-of-classroom learning. Cameron faculty have created challenging research opportunities for our students – and those students are excelling! We must make sure that communities outside of campus know what we are doing and that our students are benefiting.

Yes, Cameron University is in a state of transition which impacts the entire campus; but, this is also a time to be excited. I feel the energy here and it is spreading…but it will not continue to spread without your help. My challenge is for each of us to talk about Cameron University to our families, friends, civic organizations, community contacts. Share the excitement we have here.

Will Rogers once said, “Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” Cameron University is on the right track, but we are not going to sit here. We will keep moving forward.

Your success is our success.

Jari Askins
President