The Arkansas Tech University Board off Trustees voted unanimously last week to extend the rolling three-year contract of Dr. Robin E. Bowen, president, for an additional year. Tom Kennedy, vice chairman of the board, commented that trustees are “very pleased” with her performance in leading the institution.
The board offered to provide the raise stipulated in Bowen’s contract, but she declined those terms and asked to receive a lower raise (1 percent) that is commensurate with the raise that all other ATU employees will receive in 2019-20. The board agreed to her request.
In other personnel matters, trustees approved hiring the following new, full-time employees:
*Dr. C. Soumia Amrine, assistant professor of chemistry, for the 2019-20 academic year; Drew Dickey, assistant director of facilities management, effective March 25, 2019; Dr. Barbara Johnson, vice president for academic affairs and professor of college student personnel, effective July 1, 2019; Tanya Martin, project/program administrator in the Office of Human Resources, effective April 15, 2019; Josh Lawson, assistant football coach and defensive coordinator, effective April 1, 2019; Dr. William Morelan, assistant professor of educational leadership, for the 2019-20 academic year; Dr. Azin Sanjari Pirmahaleh, assistant professor of mathematics, for the 2019-20 academic year; Frances Roberson, assistant professor of theatre and film and technical director of theatre, for the 2019-20 academic year; Dr. Xinli Xiao, assistant professor of mathematics, for the 2019-20 academic year; and Dr. Hye Sun You, assistant professor of physical science, for the 2019-20 academic year.
Two faculty members who have been serving in administrative roles on an interim basis received those appointments on a permanent basis. Dr. Tim Carter, professor of curriculum and instruction, will be associate dean for the College of Education and Dr. Alaric Williams, associate professor of college student personnel, will be head of the Department of College Student Personnel as of July 1, 2019.
Two administrators seeking a return to full-time teaching had those requests granted by the board. Dr. Jeff Woods, professor of history, will step down as dean of the College of Arts and Humanities and Dr. Jason Warnick, professor of psychology, will step down as assistant vice president for student success as of July 1, 2019.
The board accepted resignations from the following individuals:
*Dr. Xiang Chen, assistant professor of emergency management, effective Aug. 9, 2019; Dr. Dana Fox, incoming dean of the Graduate College, effective May 16, 2019; Dr. Deborah Leslie, assistant professor of geology, effective July 31, 2019; Clay Moore, coordinator of event and building management in the Department of Campus Life, effective May 18, 2019; Darla Sparacino, associate professor of health information management, effective May 11, 2019; and Holli Weiss, assistant dean for student wellness and Title IX deputy coordinator, effective June 30, 2019.
Trustees accepted retirement notices from Dr. Pamela Carr, professor of accounting, effective Dec. 31, 2019; and Dr. Kim Troboy, professor of management information systems and interim head of the Department of Management and Marketing, effective June 30, 2019.
Carr has served on the ATU faculty since 1991, while Troboy has taught at Arkansas Tech since 2002.
