Abdelrahman Selected VP for Academic Affairs

Dr. Mohamed Abdelrahman has been selected as the next vice president for academic affairs at Arkansas Tech University.

Abdelrahman has served as associate vice president for research and graduate studies at Texas A&M University-Kingsville since November 2011 and as a member of the faculty there since August 2010. He will take office as the chief academic officer at Arkansas Tech in June 2016.

“When we began our search for the next vice president for academic affairs at Arkansas Tech University, it was our goal to locate a person who recognized the quality of our intellectual tradition and had the capacity to lead us to the next level of academic excellence,” said Dr. Robin E. Bowen, Arkansas Tech president. “In Dr. Abdelrahman, we found that person. We look forward to welcoming him to our faculty, our administrative team and our community.”

Abdelrahman earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electronics and telecommunications engineering from Cairo University in 1988. He went on to receive a Master of Science degree in engineering physics from Cairo University in 1992 and a Master of Science degree in measurements and controls engineering from Idaho State University in 1994.

In 1996, Abdelrahman earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in nuclear science and engineering from Idaho State.

He joined the faculty at Tennessee Tech University in January 1997 and advanced from assistant professor to associate professor to professor while building interdisciplinary programs that resulted in more than $8 million in external funding, more than 100 published articles and two patents.

During his time at Tennessee Tech, Abdelrahman was selected to be a visiting scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and awarded a Fulbright Scholarship.

Since transitioning to the role of associate vice president at Texas A&M-Kingsville, Abdelrahman has contributed to a more than 100 percent growth in graduate enrollment, increased funding for the institution and renewed shared governance through faculty-led research groups. He has also contributed to increased retention among undergraduate students.

Thomas Pennington, professor of legal studies, associate vice president and counsel to the president, served as chair for the vice president for academic affairs search committee. Other search committee members included Dr. Mary Gunter, dean of the College of Education and Graduate College; Mike Murders, chief academic officer at Arkansas Tech-Ozark Campus; Dr. David Ward, head of the Department of Behavioral Sciences; Dr. V. Carole Smith, professor of curriculum and instruction; Brandi Collins, staff senate president; and Zach Schwartz, secretary of internal affairs for Student Government Association.

“On behalf of the university, I extend a special word of appreciation to the committee that led our vice president for academic affairs search,” said Bowen. “It was a thorough and transparent process with opportunities for all members of the campus community to offer input, and I say thank you to each individual who made that commitment of time and thought. I was especially impressed with the level of interest shown by our students.”

Abdelrahman will succeed Dr. AJ Anglin, who came to Arkansas Tech in January 2015 to serve as interim vice president for academic affairs.

As vice president for academic affairs at Arkansas Tech, Abdelrahman will have primary responsibility for the leadership, administration and development of academic programs. He will also promote continued excellence within the faculty.

Additional areas of oversight include the university library, honors program, the Arkansas Tech Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, enrollment management, institutional assessment, international student services, the Arkansas Tech Center for Leadership and Learning, academic advising, registrar and information systems.