Sixteen members of the Arkansas Tech University faculty were promoted and 13 ATU faculty members were granted tenure by the ATU Board of Trustees during its meeting on Thursday, May 21.
ATU faculty members who wished to apply for promotion and/or tenure submitted portfolios to their respective department heads in January. Portfolio reviews were conducted by a committee of their faculty peers, department heads, deans and the ATU Office of Academic Affairs.
The successful candidates received positive recommendations for promotion and/or tenure from Dr. Adolfo Santos, ATU executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, and Dr. Russell Jones, ATU president.
The promotion and tenure actions taken by trustees on May 21 will become effective at the beginning of the 2026-27 academic year.
Promoted to Professor
- Dr. Shaana Escobar, Department of Nursing
- Dr. Debra Murphy, Department of Teaching and Educational Leadership
- Dr. Jamie Stacy, School of Professional and Community Education
Promoted to Associate Professor
- Dr. Christopher Housenick, Department of History and Political Science
Promoted to Associate Professor and Granted Tenure
- Dr. Afsana Ahamed, Department of Engineering and Computing Sciences
- Dr. Dustin Dunnick, Department of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science
- Dr. Tolga Ensari, Department of Engineering and Computing Sciences
- Dr. Matthew Hankins, Department of Math and Physical Sciences
- Dr. Chih-Hsin Hsu, Department of English and World Languages
- Dr. Nathan Mensink, Department of Music
- Dr. Jacob Siebach, Department of Biological and Earth Sciences
- Dr. Heather Stefanski, Department of Teaching and Educational Leadership
- Dr. Bethany Swindell, School of Professional and Community Education
- Dr. Dana Tribble, School of Professional and Community Education
- Dr. Zahra Zamanipour, Department of Engineering and Computing Sciences
Granted Tenure
- Dr. Lydia Brauer, Department of Teaching and Educational Leadership
- Dr. Brett Stone, College of Education and Health
Promoted to Senior Instructor
- Allie Cox, Department of Math and Physical Sciences
In other business on Thursday, May 21, the ATU Board of Trustees approved:
- the 2026-27 operating budget for Arkansas Tech University (click here to read more);
- awarding a one-time bonus to eligible ATU Russellville campus faculty and staff in the May 2026 payroll, with the amount to reflect 1 percent of their base pay according to their current letter of appointment;
- an easement agreement with the City of Russellville that will allow for roadway and pedestrian improvements at the intersection of North Arkansas Avenue and Reasoner Lane;
- a drainage and temporary construction easement agreement with the City of Russellville affecting ATU property located along North Arkansas Avenue and East O Street;
- awarding job order contracting for general contracting services agreements to Kinco Constructors, Nabholz Construction, Ideal Construction and Valley Industrial Services;
- a meal plan for on-campus students at ATU-Ozark Campus for the 2026-27 academic year;
- a letter of notification stating ATU’s intention to offer concurrent courses in Spanish at Central Arkansas Christian School;
- a letter of notification concerning the establishment of a new Certificate of General Studies by the ATU Department of History and Political Science and the ATU College of Arts and Humanities;
- updates to the ATU graduate admissions policy and the ATU academic clemency policy that align board-approved policy with current practice;
- a student support hours policy for ATU faculty that was developed by ATU Faculty Senate as a replacement for the previous office hours policy in an attempt to accurately reflect the broad range of ways faculty provide availability and support to students, including, but not limited to, traditional office hours, virtual meetings, advising, mentoring and other student-centered engagement opportunities;
- bestowing the honorary professor emeritus title upon retired ATU faculty members Nita Herrick Colpitts, Karen Futterer and Ken Futterer (click here to read more);
- parking regulations for the 2026-27 academic year on the ATU campuses in Russellville and Ozark;
- fines and fees administered by the ATU Division of Student Affairs for the 2026-2027 academic year;
- a new ATU service animal policy and a new ATU emotional support animal policy, which, in combination, replace the previous ATU service and assistance animal policy;
- a transfer of $175,000 from ATU-Ozark Campus reserves to fund summer renovation projects at the Technology and Academic Support Building and the Industrial Control Systems Building;
- a letter of notification concerning ATU-Ozark’s plans to establish concurrent credit partner locations at Lamar High School, Venture Career Center (Springdale), Waldron High School, Waldron School District, Northside High School (Fort Smith), Southside High School (Fort Smith), Gravette High School, Arkansas Connections Academy, Bentonville Ignite Academy and Clarksville High School;
- a letter of notification concerning a modification to the existing welding Certificate of Proficiency at ATU-Ozark Campus;
- a letter of notification requesting a distinct department code for the ATU-Ozark cardiac sonography program, separating it from the current health sciences umbrella to provide greater clarity in program structure, reporting and oversight;
- a letter of notification that seeks approval to establish a new industrial maintenance Certificate of Proficiency within the ATU-Ozark automation technology program;
- an updated ATU equal opportunity harassment (sexual misconduct) and non-discrimination policy and procedures document designed to ensure compliance with evolving legal requirements and to align with best practices, including updates recommended by the Association of Title IX Administrators;
- and the ATU Board of Trustees meeting calendar for 2026-27 and 2027-28, which sets scheduled meetings for Oct. 15, 2026, Dec. 17, 2026, Feb. 18, 2027, May 20, 2027, Oct. 21, 2027, Dec. 16, 2027, Feb. 17, 2028 and May 18, 2028;
In personnel matters, the ATU Board of Trustees extended the contract of ATU President Dr. Russell Jones through June 30, 2028.
The board approved the following full-time appointments:
- Dr. Vinicius Cruz, assistant professor of agriculture, for the 2026-27 academic year; Daryl Fimple, head women’s basketball coach, effective April 15, 2026; Stephen Harrel, coordinator of campus recreation, effective April 1, 2026; Tena Herren, fiscal support analyst, effective April 14, 2026; Kara Johnson, EPIIC Build project coordinator, effective April 1, 2026; Lukas Lassabe, ATU-Ozark maintenance specialist, effective May 4, 2026; Bailey Proctor, assistant football coach, effective March 1, 2026; Kade Ratcliff, coordinator of campus recreation, effective April 1, 2026; Jon Dylan Riley, assistant volleyball coach, effective March 2, 2026; Kelsey Ross, administrative specialist II, effective June 1, 2026; Shane Shackleford, outreach services coordinator, effective May 1, 2026; and Taylor Young, ATU-Ozark academic and career counselor for the Career Pathways Initiative, effective May 15, 2026.
Trustees approved the following changes in assignment:
- Jessica Brock, from instructor of business administration to assistant professor of management, effective Aug. 12, 2026; Melanie Ewing, from interim director to director of grants and sponsored programs, effective March 9, 2026; Belinda Hilliard, from administrative specialist III for the ATU Department of Music to administrative specialist III for the ATU College of Arts and Humanities, effective July 1, 2026; Dr. Emily Hoffman, from department head of the ATU Department of English and World Languages and professor of English to professor of English, effective July 1, 2026; Douglas Housley, from lands and grounds maintenance to housing maintenance, effective Feb. 1, 2026; Garrett Houston, from administrative specialist II to admissions officer, effective April 1, 2026; Braden Jones, from admissions officer to associate director for recruitment, effective April 1, 2026; Scott Pullen, from Arkansas Tech Career Center visiting workforce education faculty of construction technology to ATCC workforce education faculty of construction technology, effective April 1, 2026; and Dr. Kuldeep Singh, from associate professor of management to associate dean of the ATU College of Business and Economic Development and associate professor of management, effective July 1, 2026.
The board accepted resignations from the following ATU employees:
- Emily Allen, housing maintenance, effective Feb. 27, 2026; Christopher Bonta, assistant football coach, effective Feb. 16, 2026; Abigail Breer, administrative analyst, effective March 31, 2026; Dr. Breanna Claire, associate professor of art, effective May 9, 2026; Bethany Gentry, custodial, effective March 3, 2026; McKinzie Kyle, admissions officer, effective March 18, 2026; Matthew Lundy, training specialist and business consultant for the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, effective June 30, 2026; Mark Moultrup, assistant director of residence life, effective Feb. 27, 2026; Allen Neece, public safety officer, effective Feb. 27, 2026; Jamie Sowers, public safety sergeant, effective April 9, 2026; Brandi Tripp, senior associate registrar, effective March 6, 2026; and Mario Varela-Pecina, ATU-Ozark TRIO academic advisor, effective May 14, 2026.
Trustees granted requests for retirement from:
- Valli Ashcraft, administrative specialist III, effective June 30, 2026; Dr. Christine Austin, professor of student affairs administration, effective May 9, 2026; Dr. John Freeman, professor of educational leadership and director of the ATU Doctor of Education program, effective May 9, 2026; Dr. Thomas Vaughn, professor of communication, effective May 9, 2026; and Tammy Weaver, registrar, effective July 6, 2026.
