Allison Garrett

Allison Garrett plays a critical role in Spencer Fane’s higher education practice, resolving complex regulatory, administrative, operational, and transactional issues specific to public and private universities. Supported by a decades-long track record of success in legal, educational, and leadership roles, she has held prominent positions in government, at a multinational retail corporation, and at the highest levels of several higher education institutions.

Allison most recently served as chancellor for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, where she oversaw 25 public colleges and universities. She was responsible for statewide higher education strategic planning, informed higher education policy, directed 20 statewide scholarship programs, set policy, and helped to define programs of study as the chief executive officer of the state’s higher education system.

She has served on national higher education boards, including as vice chair of the NCAA and on the Executive Committee of the State Higher Education Executives Organization.

After earning her Juris Doctor and while completing her Master of Laws, Allison worked in private practice before serving as a staff attorney for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, acquiring in-depth legal knowledge of the inner workings of federal securities laws and regulations, investigations, and enforcement.

Following this, she worked for Walmart Stores, Inc.’s legal department, serving as general counsel and vice president of the corporate division and later as vice president of benefits compliance and planning. While overseeing national and international legal and benefits issues, Allison also fine-tuned her skills in operations and team oversight, risk management, and all executive legal functions – strengths which are evident throughout her current work in higher education, litigation, and dispute resolution.

Upon shifting to higher education, Allison worked as an associate professor of law at Faulkner University in Alabama before earning the title of senior vice president for academic affairs at Oklahoma Christian University. She then served as executive vice president of Abilene Christian University.

For more than five years, Allison served as the president of Emporia State University (ESU) in Kansas. She directed the University’s strategic planning, oversaw all internal operations, and facilitated external relations with the legislature and university donors. Her ESU presidency saw the completion of the University’s largest capital campaign, several transformative building projects, new academic program development to align with state and regional industry needs, and record-setting increases in student retention and graduation rates. She also notably served as vice chair of the NCAA Board of Governors, a member of the NCAA Audit Committee, and as chair of the NCAA Division II Presidents’ Council.

This critical work culminated in her most recent position as the first woman and ninth overall chancellor of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. During her tenure, the state system completed a bold new strategic plan, received investment increases from the state, and increased enrollment. Allison frequently spoke across the state on education issues.

Allison’s entire professional career serves as a testament to her ability to cultivate the highest level of authoritative trust and respect as she makes law- and data-informed decisions which benefit the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals. This currently includes her clients, colleagues, and the people and sectors they directly impact.