Professor Tracy Cole is serving as interim dean of the Arkansas Tech University College of Business and Economic Development.
Her appointment follows the selection of Dr. Russell Jones as ATU acting interim president. Jones joined Arkansas Tech as dean of the ATU College of Business and Economic Development in 2020.
“The College of Business and Economic Development and the experience we provide ultimately, really is all about people,” said Cole. “Students start in the classroom and they need those skills and that knowledge as the building blocks for what they are going to do, but it’s the relationships they form, the people they meet and the experiences they have together that really transform them from students into business and community leaders. They learn to do it ethically and in a way that benefits not only their businesses, but also their communities and society as a whole.”
Cole has served on the ATU faculty since 2007. Her faculty rank is professor of legal studies and she has functioned as associate dean for the ATU College of Business and Economic Development since 2019. She was a member of the academic restructuring committee that guided a reorganization of ATU’s academic programs during the 2021-22 academic year.
“Our promise is that we really want our students to succeed,” said Cole. “Our college, and ATU in general, is a place where faculty and staff are genuinely pulling for students to reach their goals. We are invested in our students.”
Cole holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees from the University of Arkansas. She earned her Juris Doctor from the William H. Bowen School of Law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Joining Cole on the ATU College of Business and Economic Development leadership team is Dr. Kevin Mason, who is serving as interim associate dean.
Mason has been a member of the ATU faculty since 1986. He is professor of marketing. Mason obtained his Bachelor of Science degree at ATU and Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from the University of Arkansas.
Learn more about the ATU College of Business and Economic Development at www.atu.edu/business.
