FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2025
Regents name Thomas Newsom as 11th President of Pittsburg State University
(Topeka, Kan.) – Today the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) voted to name Thomas Newsom as the 11th President of Pittsburg State University.
“The Regents are excited to appoint Dr. Newsom as the next president of Pittsburg State,” said KBOR Chair Carl Ice. “He is positioned to continue the great success Pittsburg State has had in supporting families and businesses in the region and across the state.”
“Dr. Newsom brings a wealth of experience as a university and community college president,” said Regent Blake Benson. “He has helped multiple institutions grow enrollment and improve, all while focusing on student affordability.”
Dr. Newsom has more than 20 years of experience in higher education and has led several colleges and universities. He currently serves as President of Southeastern Oklahoma State University, where he helped the university set its all-time enrollment record and significantly improve retention, while delivering an affordable education for students.
“I would like to thank the wonderful faculty and staff at Southeastern Oklahoma State University as well as the Regional University System of Oklahoma Regents and the Oklahoma State Regents,” said Dr. Newsom. “I would also like to thank the Kansas Board of Regents for the opportunity to make this amazing professional and personal move. Vicky and I are looking forward to meeting everyone in Pittsburg and spending time with students, faculty and staff. I am excited to continue to build on the incredible momentum of Pittsburg State. It’s a great day to be a Gorilla.”
Prior to his role at Southeastern Oklahoma State, Dr. Newsom served as Vice President of Student Success and Dean of Students at Texas A&M-Commerce. There he oversaw the development of new student success initiatives and led the university’s student affairs. He also served for five years as the President of Mesalands Community College in New Mexico. During his tenure there, Mesalands earned distinction as the top community college in New Mexico and was the seventh fastest growing community college in the nation.
A native of Sherman, Texas, Dr. Newsom earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from The University of North Texas, an M.S. in Higher Education from Texas A&M-Commerce and a B.A. in Business Administration from Austin College.
He and his wife Vicky, a teacher, have three children.
The Regents chose Dr. Newsom after a committee-led search to identify the next president of Pittsburg State.
“On behalf of the Board, I’d like to thank Chair Rick Webb and the members of the committee who dedicated their time and talent to supporting the Board in this search,” said Chair Ice.
For more information, please contact Matt Keith at (785) 430-4237 or
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About the Kansas Board of Regents
The nine-member Kansas Board of Regents is the governing board of the state’s six universities and the statewide coordinating board for the state’s 32 public higher education institutions (six state universities, one municipal university, nineteen community colleges, and six technical colleges). In addition, the Board administers the state’s student financial aid, adult education, high school equivalency, and career and technical education programs. Private proprietary schools and out-of-state institutions are authorized by the Kansas Board of Regents to operate in Kansas.
Visit the Kansas Board of Regents online at www.kansasregents.org.