Brown Hall Dedicated at Arkansas Tech

On a day when Arkansas Tech University honored its former president and first lady and celebrated the dedication of a new $15.1 million academic facility, it was a current student who summed up what Dr. Robert Charles Brown and Jill Lestage Brown Hall will mean to the institution.

“This is where the adventure of college will begin for generations of Arkansas Tech students,” said Zachary Schwartz, a senior from Cedarville and Arkansas Tech Student Government Association secretary of internal affairs. “They will walk through these doors for a campus tour. They will apply for admission here. They will gain access to the financial aid that will make their education, and their future, possible. They will come here to take the photo for their student ID. They will attend class here. When they are having a rough day, they will come here to give Jerry the Bulldog a hug.

“And when it is time to begin a new adventure, they will return here, to the Office of the Registrar, to pick up their well-earned degree,” continued Schwartz. “Brown Hall will be the heartbeat of Arkansas Tech. On behalf of our more than 12,000 current students and thousands of future students, thank you to everyone who made it possible.”

Named for the 11th president of Arkansas Tech and his wife, Brown Hall is a four-story, 66,900-square foot structure designed to serve academic, student support and administrative needs of the university.

The facility includes classrooms and conference rooms on all four floors. There are also offices for operating areas such as admissions, registrar, student accounts, financial aid, veteran services, payroll, budget, human resources and the university’s federally-funded TRIO programs — Upward Bound and Student Support Services.

“This facility will provide Arkansas Tech University with one of its greatest needs — classroom space,” said Dr. Robin E. Bowen, president of Arkansas Tech. “Students and faculty from all disciplines will have the opportunity to benefit from the technological advances that appear at almost every turn. There are even spaces for two of our students’ favorite things — Starbucks coffee and our campus ambassador, Jerry the Bulldog. In short, Dr. Robert Charles Brown and Jill Lestage Brown Hall is an important element in our plan to build upon their legacy by taking Arkansas Tech University to the next level of excellence.”

Construction of Brown Hall began in spring 2014. Funding for the project was made possible through general improvement funds from the State of Arkansas, Arkansas Tech physical plant funds and the sale of revenue bonds.

“It is with special appreciation that we recognize our leaders in state government,” said David Moseley, senior vice president for administration and finance at Arkansas Tech. “This facility would not exist without the $4.4 million in general improvement funds that we received from the State of Arkansas.”

The Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees voted on May 10, 2014, to name the facility in honor of the Browns.

Dr. Robert C. Brown served as president of Arkansas Tech from 1993-2014. He retired as the second-longest serving president in the history of the institution after overseeing the addition of more than 50 new academic programs of study and implementation of $260 million in campus infrastructure improvements.

Enrollment at Arkansas Tech increased by 168 percent from 1997 through the end of Brown’s tenure, and the university began what is now a streak of 17 consecutive years of record enrollments under his leadership. Tech has become one of the three largest institutions of higher learning in Arkansas with 12,054 students as of fall 2015.

Of all the degrees Arkansas Tech awarded during its first 105 years, more than 60 percent were conferred during the Brown presidency. Upon his retirement on June 30, 2014, Brown assumed the titles of president emeritus and distinguished professor of economics.

“Simply put, during Dr. Brown’s tenure as president Arkansas Tech University was transformed from a second option to a first choice,” said Thomas Pennington, professor of legal studies, associate vice president and counsel to the president at Arkansas Tech and a member of the Tech Class of 1990. “It is most appropriate that for many, many years when people enter the campus of Arkansas Tech University, they will see Rothwell Hall and Brown Hall. They’re going to see the future.”

Jill Brown’s contributions as first lady are remembered through the Jill Lestage Brown Service Leadership Award, which is presented on an annual basis to a graduating senior.

“The most key member of my team, my best friend, my confidant, the love of my life and my life partner for 48 years is Jill Brown,” said Dr. Brown. “When the Board of Trustees approached me about naming this facility, I told them they could not use my name unless Jill’s name was also included. I felt that strongly about it. It’s a dangerous thing to give the floor to a former college president who is also a ministerial student, but I will simply say, sincerely, from the bottom of my heart on behalf of Jill and my family, my most sincere thanks for this high honor and for all the years of hard work and support.”