Garrett T King has been named assistant vice president for institutional advancement at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford.
SWOSU President Dr. Randy L. Beutler said the Regional University System of Oklahoma (RUSO) Regents recently approved the promotion.
King has been serving as assistant to the president and director of institutional advancement. King will continue to oversee SWOSU’s private investment and external fundraising efforts. In this capacity, he will also continue to serve as executive director of the SWOSU Foundation, Inc. and its two subsidiaries, the SWOSU Alumni Association and the SWOSU Athletic Association.
“I am pleased to be able to offer Garrett this title in recognition of the outstanding leadership he has exhibited in regards to institutional advancement through the SWOSU Foundation,” Beutler said. “Our ability to cultivate outside financial support is crucial to SWOSU’s continued success, and Garrett has done an outstanding job in making this happen.”
Beutler named King as SWOSU’s chief advancement officer in late 2014. Since then, the net asset valuation of the Foundation has increased by 27%. Charitable revenues, contributions and commitments to the Foundation have doubled, and the Foundation’s donor base has expanded by over 120%. Association volunteer engagement and membership recruitment levels have increased and the Foundation’s scholarship support to SWOSU students has risen by 70%. King’s financial management of the Foundation has resulted in lower fundraising costs and increased fundraising return-on-investment to SWOSU while facilitating a 65% increase in the value of the average Foundation scholarship awarded.
From 2007 to 2014, King served on the personal staff of U.S. Representative Frank D. Lucas (OK-3) where his work focused on issues related to education, agriculture, Indian affairs, energy, transportation and the environment.
King represented Oklahoma on the Young Republican National Committee from 2008 to 2013 and in 2009 was named Oklahoma's Young Republican of the Year.
He has served or is serving on the governing boards of the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA), General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute & Museum, Friends of the Weatherford Public Library, America’s Public Television Stations (APTS), Weatherford Community Habitat for Humanity, Weatherford Food & Resources Center, Wisdom Knot Basketball Camps, HOBY Oklahoma and the local advisory board for Hope is Alive Ministries.
King was raised on a peanut farm in the Oakdale Community near Eakly in northern Caddo County where his family has lived and worked since 1890. He is a 2004 graduate of Binger-Oney Public Schools and a 2008 alumnus of SWOSU where he studied history and political science. He holds an M. Ed. in social sciences and is currently a Ph. D. candidate in history at the University of Swansea in Wales.
King and his wife, Custer County attorney Carissa (Marquis) King, reside in Weatherford with their daughters, Nellie and Margie. The Kings are members of the Federated Church.