Three members of the Arkansas Tech University faculty have been recognized for their contributions to the campus community with a 2024 ATU Faculty Award of Excellence.
Dr. Peng “Roc” Huang, professor of finance and economics, is the 2024 ATU Faculty Award of Excellence winner in the teaching category.
Dr. Kelly Jones, associate professor of history, received the 2024 ATU Faculty Award of Excellence in the scholarly and creative activities category.
Dr. Tennille Lasker-Scott, associate professor of professional studies, won the 2024 ATU Faculty Award of Excellence in the service category.
Huang joined the Arkansas Tech faculty in 2017. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. He earned his Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Western Michigan University.
Jones has served on the Arkansas Tech faculty since 2018. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and her Master of Arts degree from the University of North Texas. She completed her Doctor of Philosophy degree at the University of Arkansas.
Lasker-Scott became an Arkansas Tech faculty member in 2015. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and a Master of Education degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Georgia.
The ATU Faculty Awards of Excellence were founded in 1996. To be eligible, a faculty member must be tenured and hold the current rank of associate professor or professor.
The 2024 winners were announced during a faculty awards event at the Hull Building Student Union on Friday, May 10.
In addition to the 2024 ATU Faculty Awards of Excellence, ATU faculty members were also recognized for mentorship, for reaching milestones in their service to the institution, for retirement, for earning promotion and tenure and for receiving emeritus status during the 2023-24 academic year.
Additional faculty recognitions during the May 10 event included:
Faculty Mentorship Award for Student Research
Dr. Bhaskar Ghosh, assistant professor of computer and information science
20 Years of Service
Dr. Shellie Hanna, professor of curriculum and instruction
Dr. Lisa Harless, professor of nursing
Teresa Taylor, university instructor of mathematics
25 Years of Service
Cheryl Chaney, assistant professor of biology
Dr. David Ward, head, Department of Behavioral Sciences, and professor of psychology
30 Years of Service
Dr. Scott Jordan, associate professor of mathematics
Dr. Jeff Mitchell, professor of philosophy
Dr. Jackie Paxton, professor of curriculum and instruction
35 Years of Service
Stan Apple, assistant professor of mechanical engineering
Tommy Mumert, assistant professor of journalism
40 Years of Service
Dr. Carl Brucker, professor of English
Retirees
Dr. Debra Hunter, associate professor of accounting, 13 years of service
Phillip Parker, professor of music, 47 years of service
Dr. Dana Ward, professor of Spanish, 36 years of service
Promotion to Professor
Dr. Rene Couture, Department of Emergency Management, Professional Studies and Student Affairs Administration
Dr. Pam Dixon, Department of Teaching and Educational Leadership
Dr. Mariusz Gajewski, Department of Physical and Earth Sciences
Dr. Sarah Gordon, Department of Teaching and Educational Leadership
Dr. Patrick Hagge, Department of History and Political Science
Dr. Masanori Kuroki, School of Business
Dr. Dong-Soo Lee, Department of Agriculture and Tourism
Dr. Aaron McArthur, Department of History and Political Science
Dr. Shelly Randall, Department of Nursing
Dr. Sean Reed, Department of Music
Dr. Jeremy Schwehm, Department of Emergency Management, Professional Studies and Student Affairs Administration
Dr. Loretta Smith, School of Business
Dr. Ellen Treadway, Department of Teaching and Educational Leadership
Promotion to Associate Professor and Tenure
Dr. Ahmed Elkassabgi, School of Business
Dr. Randy Kelley, Department of Engineering and Computing Sciences
Dr. John Narcum, School of Business
Dr. Kuldeep Singh, School of Business
Promotion to University Instructor
Dr. Jennifer Enderlin, Department of Emergency Management, Professional Studies and Student Affairs Administration
Promotion to Senior Instructor
Jacob Weidenfeller, Department of Engineering and Computing Sciences
Promotion to Librarian
Dr. Lowell Lybarger, multimedia librarian
Emeritus
Dr. Linda Bean, professor emeritus of business
Dr. Mary B. Gunter, professor emeritus of educational leadership
Dr. H. Micheal Tarver, professor emeritus of history
