Arkansas Tech University (ATU) has just announced its Faculty Senate officers for the 2025-26 academic year. Leading the group is Dr. Michael Rogers, a political science professor. Dr. Carl Brucker, who teaches English, will support him as chair elect, while Dr. Virginia Jones, an associate professor of communication, will take on the role of secretary.
The transition was marked by a luncheon where Dr. Tom Nupp, the previous chair, passed the gavel to Dr. Rogers, signaling the start of a new chapter for the Faculty Senate.
Alongside the officers, several faculty members represent various colleges within ATU:
- College of Arts and Humanities
- Dr. Jon Clements, music
- Dr. Peter Dykema, history
- Dr. Sean Huss, sociology
- Dr. Sean Reed, music
- Kris Waid-Jones, art
- College of Business and Economic Development
- Dr. Siddharth Bhambhwani, accounting
- Cass Capen-Housley, management
- Dr. Syed Meerza, agriculture
- Susan West, tourism
- College of Education and Health
- Dr. Jeff Aulgur, organizational studies
- Dr. Dustin Dunnick, health and physical education
- Dr. Jennifer Enderlin, organizational studies
- Dr. Shaana Escobar, nursing
- Dr. Debra Murphy, curriculum and instruction
- Dr. Ellen Treadway, teaching and learning
- College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
- Dr. Jacob Grosskopf, geology
- Dr. Matthew Hankins, physics
- Dr. Thomas Limperis, mathematics
- Lucas Moody, cybersecurity
- Dr. Xinli Xiao, mathematics
- Library
- Angela Black, technical services librarian
- Adjunct Representative
- Tara Malone, English
The Faculty Senate meetings for this year will happen regularly, with sessions scheduled for the following dates: September 9, October 14, November 11, December 8, February 10, March 10, April 14, and April 30. Most meetings will kick off at 3 p.m., except for December 8 and April 30, which will start at 1 p.m. All will take place in Rothwell Hall, room 312.
Faculty senates play a crucial role in shaping university policy and advocating for faculty interests. According to recent data from the American Association of University Professors, faculty governance is linked to better academic performance and job satisfaction among faculty members.
For more details on the Faculty Senate and its initiatives, check out their official page at www.atu.edu/facultysenate.
