From Staff Reports
A former Northwestern administrator will deliver the fall commencement address Sunday, university officials said Monday.
Longtime educator Dr. Steve Lohmann, who served as the university’s executive vice president and chief academic officer, will speak to more than 200 graduates and their families on Sunday during two graduation ceremonies in Percefull Fieldhouse.
“Having been at Northwestern for over 30 years, I will always remember the outstanding homecoming, concerts and graduation ceremonies,” Lohmann said in a news release. “I can honestly say that I cannot recall one single day that I did not look forward to going to work. Northwestern has fantastic faculty, staff and students whom I had the opportunity to work with over my professional career.”
Students who graduated in the spring and summer of 2020 will be able to walk the stage during a ceremony at 1 p.m. Sunday, and fall graduates will do the same during a ceremony at 3:30 p.m.
Spring commencement was canceled because of the pandemic. Attendance at both ceremonies is limited.
Lohmann obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northwestern and later earned his doctorate from Oklahoma State University, officials said in a news release on Monday. Lohmann coached high school football and later became the defensive end coordinator for the university’s football team.
He became the head football coach in 1993, leading the university’s football team to its first No. 1 ranking, officials said in a news release.
“Lohmann again returned to the classroom in 1997 and eventually became director of Northwestern’s J.R. Holder Wellness Center in 2000,” officials said in the news release. “He joined the administrative ranks in 2001 as dean of student services and a year later was promoted to vice president for academic affairs.
“In 2006, Lohmann was named executive vice president. Lohmann retired from Northwestern in 2016.
“During his tenure, he served as the chairman of the statewide Council of Instruction, which is comprised of chief academic officers of Oklahoma’s 25 public colleges and universities, and was a graduate of the Harvard University Institute for Management and Leadership. He also is a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma.
“Since retirement, Lohmann enjoys farming with his son, Derek, and brother, Terry. He and his wife, Lisa, love cheering on the Oklahoma City Thunder, watching grandkids and traveling. When he’s home, Lohmann looks forward to morning jogs and golfing.”
To watch the commencement ceremonies via livestream, visit https://www.youtube.com/NWOSURangers.