Ruth Ray Jackson Selected to Lead Langston University in Oklahoma

The board of regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural & Mechanical Colleges has appointed Ruth Ray Jackson as interim president of Langston University. She will take office on July 6.

“I appreciate the confidence of the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents in asking me to serve Langston University during this transitional period,” said Dr. Jackson. “I look forward to collaborating with the campus community to ensure continuity and remain focused on our mission.”

Historically Black Langston University enrolls just over 1,800 undergraduate students and close to 150 graduate students, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s latest data. African Americans make up 81 percent of the undergraduate student body.

Dr. Jackson has been with Langston University since 2014 and currently serves as the vice president for academic affairs. She has held other leadership positions at the university including associate vice president for student success and dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences. Before joining Langston University, Dr. Jackson spent 11 years at Louisiana State University in Shreveport, where she served as tenured faculty, graduate program director, and department chair.

Dr. Jackson holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and a master’s degree in administration and supervision from Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She earned a Ph.D. in education and human resource studies from Colorado State University.