Stephanie Duffield of Russellville was elected by her fellow trustees on Tuesday, Dec. 16, to serve as chair of the Arkansas Tech University Board of Trustees for the 2026 calendar year.
Duffield was appointed to a five-year term on the ATU Board of Trustees by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in 2023. Her term expires on Jan. 14, 2028.
This is Duffield’s second term as a member of the ATU Board of Trustees. She was initially appointed to a five-year term by Gov. Asa Hutchinson in 2018. Duffield served as chair of the ATU Board of Trustees in 2022.
A 2005 graduate of ATU with a Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies and a concentration in business, Duffield is employed by Blackstone Construction LLC of Russellville. Her previous work experience includes Microplane/Grace Manufacturing of Russellville and Heifer International, headquartered in Little Rock.
Duffield has given volunteer service to the ATU Foundation Board of Directors, the RussVegas Foot Races Foundation and the Russellville First United Methodist Church vision team, children’s coordinating committee and staff parish relations committee.
She and her husband, Luke Duffield, are parents to four daughters.
Other Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees officers for 2026 are Cory Cox of Perryville (vice chair) and Jim Smith of Bentonville (secretary). They are joined on the board by Len Cotton of Dardanelle.
The fifth member of the ATU Board of Trustees for 2026 will be appointed by Sanders.
Bill Clary of Conway, who is ATU Board of Trustees chairman in 2025, will continue as a board member through the end of his five-year appointment on Jan. 14, 2026.
In other business on Tuesday, Dec. 16, the ATU Board of Trustees approved:
*establishment of a new faculty rank, distinguished professor, that was described in a memorandum from Dr. Adolfo Santos, ATU executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, as establishing a “framework for recognizing exceptional faculty who demonstrate sustained excellence in teaching, scholarship, service and institutional commitment” and the “highest honor for faculty achievement;”
*a policy outlining the usage policies and procedures for Ferguson Student Union when it opens during the spring 2026 semester, including hours of operation, rental rates, reservation and scheduling policies, user group fee structures, related additional fees and rentals and employee membership costs;
*awarding a contract in the amount of $2,735,000 to Western Millwright of Russellville to perform the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) renovation and skilled trades building expansion project at ATU-Ozark Campus, a project made possible by a grant from the Arkansas Workforce Initiative HIRED (Higher Industry Readiness through Educational Development) program;
*awarding a contract in the amount of $714,270 to Kinco Constructors of Conway to perform a boiler replacement project at Tucker Coliseum;
*an application from ATU to the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council (ANCRC) requesting $1,128,392.55 in grant funding to perform renovations to Browning Hall, which is on the National Register of Historic Places;
*a request to initiate the architect search for the planned Browning Hall renovation;
*a transfer of up to $394,937 from the ATU Russellville campus educational and general fund balance to provide 25 percent matching funds for the Browning Hall project in the event the ANCRC approves the ATU grant request;
*the ATU financial statement and audit report for the period ending June 30, 2025, as well as the certification of appropriation and fund balance for submission to the chief fiscal officer of the State of Arkansas and the Arkansas Legislative Council;
*the 2025 ATU fiscal transparency report;
*an annual resolution that authorizes expense reimbursement for board members in accordance with Act 1211 of 1995;
*establishment of a project coordinator provisional position through funding from the National Science Foundation that will allow ATU to enable the successful implementation and sustainability of the EPIIC-BUILD grant initiative;
*transitioning the ATU-Ozark health information technology academic program to fully online delivery;
*deletion of the ATU-Ozark Certificate of Proficiency in mobile applications;
*creation of a Certificate of Proficiency in fundamentals of cybersecurity as part of the ATU-Ozark academic program in computer information technology;
*and cancellation of the ATU Board of Trustees meeting scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 18.
In personnel matters, the ATU Board of Trustees approved the following appointments:
*Emily Allen, residence hall maintenance worker, effective Nov. 14, 2025; Shane Bearden, post-award grants manager, effective Oct. 15, 2025; Debbie Blalock, ATU-Ozark fiscal support analyst, effective Nov. 3, 2025; Brittany Bruton-Thomas, administrative specialist III, effective Oct. 13, 2025; Kimber Campbell, ATU-Ozark coordinator of student recruitment, effective Oct. 15, 2025; Maven Cauthen, financial aid specialist, effective Nov. 10, 2025; Tonya Chaffin, custodial services, effective Sept. 11, 2025; Carly Chance, records management analyst, effective Nov. 3, 2025; Dr. Daniel Clark, associate vice president for academic affairs and associate professor of professional studies, effective Jan. 2, 2026; Wesley Clayton, lead electrician, effective Nov. 14, 2025; DeShawn Gove, admissions officer, effective Oct. 13, 2025; Dr. Tamika Harrel, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students, effective Nov. 3, 2025; Douglas Housley, maintenance assistant, effective Nov. 3, 2025; Garrett Houston, administrative specialist II, effective Oct. 13, 2025; Sarah Kizer, ATU-Ozark administrative assistant III, effective Nov. 4, 2025; Dr. John Lewis, vice president for enrollment management, effective Jan. 1, 2026; Jymme Ann Moore, assistant director of residence life, effective Oct. 13, 2025; Dr. Gergely Motolai, assistant professor of agriculture, for the spring 2026 semester; Chelsea Osborn, financial aid analyst, effective Nov. 10, 2025; Sabrina Pacheco, custodial services, effective Sept. 10, 2025; Dr. Jyotheeswaran Panapakam, assistant professor of biology, for the 2025-26 academic year; Cody Patterson, Arkansas Tech Career Center (ATCC) visiting workforce education instructor of metal fabrication, effective Oct. 21, 2025; Tyler Pepi, ATU-Ozark maintenance specialist, effective Oct. 15, 2025; Elisabeth Proctor, academic and career advisor, effective Nov. 10, 2025; Marvin Reilly, equipment mechanic, effective Nov. 3, 2025; Julia Reynolds, financial aid analyst, effective Oct. 7, 2025; Heath Roper, residence hall maintenance worker, effective Nov. 14, 2025; Michael Sawyer, ATU-Ozark maintenance specialist, effective Nov. 3, 2025; Linda Smith, research assistant, effective Oct. 13, 2025; Zeke Stevens, maintenance assistant, effective Nov. 3, 2025; Carlie Tapley, ATU-Ozark adjunct instructor of cardiovascular technology, effective Oct. 28, 2025; Kami Turner, administrative specialist II, effective Oct. 13, 2025; and Wendy Sierra, administrative specialist III, effective Dec. 1, 2025.
Trustees granted four changes in assignment on the ATU campus in Russellville.
Rhonda Ralph transitioned from project/program specialist to assistant director of student aid in the ATU Office of Financial Aid effective Oct. 1, 2025.
Piper Orio-Dettling transitioned from graduate recruitment coordinator in the ATU College of Research and Graduate Studies to coordinator of student success in the ATU College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics effective Dec. 1, 2025.
In the ATU Office of Human Resources, Leigh Hill transitioned from benefits specialist to benefits manager effective Oct. 13, 2025, and Eva Garcia Diazbarriga transitioned from onboarding specialist to benefits and leave specialist effective Nov. 4, 2025.
Trustees accepted resignations from the following ATU employees:
*Alix Copsy, ATCC workforce education faculty of health science technology, effective Dec. 19, 2025; Charles Majors, instructional designer, effective Oct. 29, 2025; Laura Marshall, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction, effective Dec. 17, 2025; and Brittany Stewart, custodial services, effective Oct. 29, 2025.
