Four retired members of the Arkansas Tech University faculty who gave a combined 118 years of service to the institution received the designation of professor emeritus following action by the Tech Board of Trustees on Thursday.
Dr. Jack R. Hamm, Dr. Joseph L. Moore, Dr. Richard S. Smith and Dr. Thomas P. Tyler were all named professor emeritus, an honorary title that according to the Arkansas Tech Faculty Handbook is “reserved only for those who have given extraordinary and outstanding service to the university over an extended period of years.”
Hamm (photographed, top left) joined the Arkansas Tech faculty as an assistant professor of mathematics in 1972. He was promoted to associate professor of mathematics in 1977 and professor of mathematics in 1981.
In addition to his work in the classroom, Hamm also served Arkansas Tech in an administrative capacity as head of the Department of Mathematics (1977-82), dean of the School of Systems Science (1982-2001) and vice president for academic affairs (2002-08).
The other men granted the title of professor emeritus on Thursday all served Arkansas Tech in its College of Business.
Moore (photographed, top right) came to Arkansas Tech as a professor of economics in 1988. He retired from full-time teaching in 2009 but continues to lend his talents to the university as a member of its adjunct faculty.
Smith (photographed, bottom left) was a member of the Arkansas Tech faculty from 1991-2009. He joined the university as an assistant professor of economics. In 1995, he was promoted to associate professor and named head of what was then known as the Business and Economics Department. Smith was promoted to professor and returned to full-time classroom teaching in 2003.
Tyler (photographed, bottom right) gave 43 years of service to Arkansas Tech. He was hired as an instructor of economics in 1967, promoted to assistant professor in 1970, named associate professor in 1974 and earned professor status in 1983.
Tyler served three stints as head of the Arkansas Tech Department of Business and Economics. He was named dean of the College of Business in 1995, and he held that position until his retirement in 2010.
Requirements for professor emeritus status for faculty members who have retired from Arkansas Tech include 15 or more years of consecutive service and nomination by any member of the university community who holds faculty rank.
Authority to grant emeritus status rests with the Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees upon the recommendation of the president of the university.
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