Published: July 02, 2009 01:46 pm      

New president takes reins at ECU

By Justin Lofton

Staff Writer



John Hargrave, the new President of East Central University, will be sleeping in the dorms this summer.

“I want to learn everything I can about being a student here,” Hargrave said.

Hargrave, a native of Wewoka and former ECU graduate, said he is interested in maintaining the current programs at ECU.

“I think that the programs in place at East Central right now are all in great shape,” Hargrave said. “I came to East Central with the time period to evaluate the existing programs, to learn the people, to learn the programs that are going on and we’re going to move slowly on any kind of changes and hopefully build on the programs that were here.”

Hargrave, like many ECU presidents before him, is interested in offering on-campus activities for students.

“That’s not a new issue here at East Central. That’s been an issue through the years,” he said. “I think it is important for us to offer alternatives to going home and alternatives to increase student activity on campus.”

Hargrave said his decision to become president of ECU came about largely because of his passion for education.

“I live with a family full of educators,” he said. “A lot of my friends who are alums encouraged me to look into this job. They thought I had a background that was unique and would be beneficial to East Central and my family and I are really looking forward to it.”

With his background in education, Hargrave is aiming high.

“My future goal is to be considered one of the best Presidents ever at East Central University. Like I said, I don’t have any specific plans on making sweeping changes at this time. I think my goal would be to accentuate the positive programs we currently have in place.”

Hargrave would also like to get involved with the Ada community.

“Both my wife and I have the goal of getting very involved in the community,” he said. “We have both been very active in community activities in Wewoka. My wife and I have both been named citizens of the year in different years in Wewoka. We’ve both been named volunteer parent of the year at the high school. We were named the outstanding Bar Association state-wide community service award winners and we are looking forward to living in Ada, becoming just as active in Ada as we were in Wewoka and being not only people at East Central but being people of Ada, Okla.”

The community is invited to welcome Hargrave at a reception in the University Center on Tuesday, July 7, from 4 to 6 p.m.