Dr. Robin E. Bowen, president of Arkansas Tech University, announced on Wednesday, March 27, that Dr. Barbara J. Johnson has accepted an offer to become the next vice president for academic affairs at ATU.
Johnson has more than 20 years of administrative experience in higher education and has invested nine years of her career as a faculty member.
She has worked in roles such as vice president, department chair, graduate coordinator and program coordinator while also gaining experience in admissions, student services, leadership and mentoring programming, public safety, facilities, strategic planning, accreditation and faculty affairs.
Since 2013, Johnson has served as vice president for accreditation relations for The Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Her role with HLC has included collaboration with 130 institutions across 19 states.
“Dr. Johnson possesses the experience and leadership qualities we need in the chief academic officer role at Arkansas Tech University,” said Bowen. “I am excited to welcome her to our university and our community.”
Johnson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Winston-Salem State University. She earned a Master of Business Administration degree from The Ohio State University and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in higher education administration from the Vanderbilt University Peabody College of Education.
She worked in graduate assistant, faculty and/or administrative roles at Wake Forest University, Vanderbilt University, Livingstone College, the University of New Orleans, Northern Illinois University and Meharry Medical College before accepting her position with The Higher Learning Commission.
Pending approval by the ATU Board of Trustees, Johnson will take office on July 1, 2019.
“I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the search committee and to those across campus who actively participated in the search process,” said Bowen.
