Two Arkansas Tech University senior administrators will be recognized for their contributions to higher education and their support of student success during the 2024 NASPA Region IV-West Conference.
Dr. Russell Jones, ATU president, is the 2024 NASPA Region IV-West Presidential Excellence Award winner.
Dr. Keegan Nichols, ATU vice president for student affairs, is the 2024 NASPA Region IV-West James J. Rhatigan Award winner as the region’s most outstanding lead student affairs officer.
Jones and Nichols will be honored Tuesday, Oct. 22, in Albuquerque, N.M.
NASPA Region IV-West includes North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming as well as the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
NASPA is a national organization for student affairs professionals in higher education.
Jones’ award is based upon recognition by all constituencies as having a special interest in student life for a significant period of time, consistently providing support for student affairs staff and initiatives and record of publications, speeches and remarks that recognize the value and importance of student life.
Formerly the dean of the ATU College of Business and Economic Development, Jones became interim president at ATU on Aug. 17, 2023. During the 2023-24 academic year, he worked with ATU student leaders on planning for the Ferguson Student Union, which is under construction and will open at Arkansas Tech in 2026.
Under Jones’ leadership, ATU has addressed deferred maintenance issues by committing to $15.5 million in enhancements to university facilities and equipment. Tomlinson Hall and the Administration Building were razed to save approximately $7 million in renovation costs so those funds could be utilized to improve spaces that more directly influence the student experience.
ATU completed the final stages of its “Together, We Can” comprehensive campaign during Jones’ 10 months as interim president. The campaign raised $55 million in support of scholarships, student success programs, innovation initiatives and the construction of the Ferguson Student Union.
Jones was elected the 13th president of ATU on June 20, 2024, and took office on July 1, 2024. He is currently enrolled in Leadership Arkansas Class XIX.
Nichols’ award is based upon a reputation as a collaborative, effective and inspirational leader by a range of campus constituencies, strategic and innovative initiatives in programs and services to students, a high level of competency in developing staff and exemplary managerial and administrative skills.
Additional criteria for the Rhatigan Award include an extended length of service to the student affairs profession and as a chief student affairs officer, leadership in greater campus and community affairs, significant contributions to literature about student affairs and higher education and significant contributions to professional associations.
Nichols joined ATU as its vice president for student affairs on June 26, 2017. Under her leadership, the ATU Division of Student Affairs has earned national acclaim for its programs serving first-generation students and promoting civic engagement.
A graduate of Leadership Arkansas Class XIII and Leadership Tech cohort five, Nichols has served as director for NASPA Region IV-West and a national NASPA Board of Directors member.
She has previously contributed to NASPA Region IV-West in such capacities as conference chair, board member and ethics certificate chair. She was among the featured speakers at the 2018 NASPA Region IV-West Conference in Wichita, Kan., and was selected to speak at the 2019 NASPA Conference in Los Angeles, Calif.
A paper that Nichols co-authored, “The Perceived Role of Parents and Family Members of First-Generation College Students On Transition,” was included in the knowledge community publication that was shared with all individuals attending the 2019 NASPA Conference.
Nichols is also a member of the board of directors for Jana’s Campaign.
Learn more about NASPA Region IV-West at www.naspa.org/region/region-iv-w.
