2025 Faculty Award of Excellence Winners Named

    Faculty Awards of Excellence 2025
    Photographed (from left-to-right): Dr. Jeff Aulgur, Dr. Douglas Barron and Dr. Peter Dykema, winners of the 2025 Arkansas Tech University Faculty Awards of Excellence.

    Three members of the Arkansas Tech University faculty have been recognized for their contributions to the campus community with a 2025 ATU Faculty Award of Excellence.

    Dr. Jeff Aulgur, professor of organizational studies, is the 2025 ATU Faculty Award of Excellence winner in the teaching category.

    Dr. Douglas Barron, associate professor of wildlife science, received the 2025 ATU Faculty Award of Excellence in the scholarly and creative activities category.

    Dr. Peter Dykema, professor of history, won the 2025 ATU Faculty Award of Excellence in the service category.

    Aulgur became a full-time Arkansas Tech faculty member in 2011. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hendrix College, a Master of Arts degree from the University of Arkansas, a Master of Science degree from Arkansas Tech and a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Arkansas.

    Barron joined the Arkansas Tech faculty in 2016. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University and a Master of Science degree from the University of Illinois. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree from Washington State University.

    Dykema joined the Arkansas Tech faculty in 2001. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Hope College, a Master of Divinity degree from Western Theological Seminary and Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from the University of Arizona.

    The ATU Faculty Awards of Excellence were founded in 1996. To be eligible, a faculty member must be tenured and hold the current rank of associate professor or professor.

    The 2025 winners were announced during a faculty awards event at Chambers Cafeteria West Dining Room on Thursday, May 8.

    In addition to the 2025 ATU Faculty Awards of Excellence, ATU faculty members were also recognized for reaching milestones in their service to the institution and for retirement during the 2024-25 academic year.

    Additional faculty recognitions during the May 8 event included:

    20 Years of Service
    Dr. Molly Brant, associate professor of agriculture
    Dr. Jon Clements, professor of music
    Dr. Ernest Enchelmayer, professor of English
    Dr. Sean Huss, professor of sociology
    Dr. Stephen Jones, professor of management
    Troy Norton, senior instructor of health and physical education
    Dr. Nelson Ramirez, professor of Spanish
    Elizabeth Gray, professor of emergency management and homeland security

    25 Years of Service
    Dr. Shelly Daily, professor of nursing

    30 Years of Service
    Thomas Pennington, professor of legal studies

    Retirees
    Susan Capehart, instructor of computer and information science, 17 years of service
    Dr. Marcel Finan, professor of mathematics, 24 years of service
    Dr. Cynthia Jacobs, professor of biology, 18 years of service

    Photographed (from left-to-right): Dr. Jon Clements, Dr. Ernest Enchelmayer, Dr. Sean Huss, Elizabeth Gray, Dr. Molly Brant and Dr. Stephen Jones, each of whom was recognized for 20 years of service on the Arkansas Tech University faculty.
    Dr. Adolfo Santos, Arkansas Tech University executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, and Dr. Shelly Daily, who was recognized for 25 years of service on the ATU faculty.
    Dr. Adolfo Santos, Arkansas Tech University executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, and Thomas Pennington, who was recognized for 30 years of service on the ATU faculty.
    Dr. Adolfo Santos, Arkansas Tech University executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, and Dr. Cynthia Jacobs, who was recognized on the occasion of her retirement from the ATU faculty.