Southeastern Oklahoma State University president Thomas Newsom was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus by Austin College Friday night during homecoming activities.
Newsom, a 1991 graduate of the Sherman (Texas) college, was one of six individuals to receive this recognition at an awards dinner.
A Sherman native, Newsom began his duties as the 21st president of Southeastern in April of 2020. Under his leadership, the University achieved record enrollment with more than 5,000 students in fall 2020 – all in the midst of the pandemic.
Newsom is active in Imagine Durant, the Durant Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Durant Industrial Authority.
He 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 became the third member of his family to receive the AC Distinguished Alumni Award, joining his parents Don and Carol Campbell Newsom, both retired public school educators, who received the honor in 2019 and 1997, respectively.
Newsom and his wife Vicky, a teacher in the Denison ISD, have three children – Katie, a current Southeastern student, Will, an Austin College graduate, and John, a current AC student.
