Dr. Allison Garrett to Speak at Commencement

Dr. Allison D. Garrett, president of Emporia State University, will be the featured speaker at York College’s spring commencement ceremony, Saturday, May 1. Prior to joining Emporia State, she worked nearly four years as executive vice president at Abilene Christian University, five years as senior vice president for academic affairs at Oklahoma Christian University and three years as associate professor of law at Faulkner University.

Before pursuing a career in higher education, Garrett spent 16 years as an attorney, including two years as a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission attorney and 10 years with Walmart Stores, Inc., where she rose from corporate counsel to vice president and general counsel of the corporate division. She also served as the vice president for Benefits Compliance and Planning at Walmart.

Garrett earned a bachelor’s degree in English in two years from Oklahoma Christian University, followed by a juris doctorate from the University of Tulsa College of Law and a master of laws degree in securities regulation from Georgetown University Law Center.

Garrett believes in giving back to the community and is active in many professional and community organizations including Leadership Kansas; the Kansas Board of Regents Retirement Committee; American Association of State Colleges and Universities Committee on Professional Development; United Way of the Flint Hills Board of Directors; National Teachers Hall of Fame Board of Directors; Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas Board of Directors; Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association President’s Council; the NCAA Division 2 Presidents’ Council on Economic Education and Community Research; Kansas Business Hall of Fame Board of Directors; and Boy Scouts of America Jayhawk Area Council Executive Board.

A native of Neosho, Missouri, Garrett and her husband, Chip enjoy living in the beautiful city of Emporia. The couple has three adult children.

York College spring commencement will begin at 10 am on Saturday, May 1, in the Campbell Activity Center located on the corner of 10th Street and Mayhew Avenue. Masks will be required at all times inside the facility. There are no tickets required to enter. A live stream will be available to watch at york.edu/live.