Arkansas Tech University faculty and staff attended a welcome reception for Dr. Adolfo Santos, ATU executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, on Tuesday, March 5.
Santos took office as ATU’s chief academic officer on Monday, March 4.
“Dr. Santos has a talent for building partnerships across academic units in support of student recruitment and retention,” said Dr. Russell Jones, ATU interim president, when he announced Santos’ appointment in January. “He understands the role and scope of a comprehensive regional university and is a proven advocate for faculty development and teaching excellence. I look forward to Dr. Santos’ leadership of our core academic mission and to the advances Arkansas Tech will make in teaching, scholarship and service during his tenure as executive vice president for academic affairs and provost.”
Santos was assistant provost and professor of political science for Texas A&M University from 2018-24. He carried out his service at the Texas A&M Higher Education Center at McAllen and in the Bush School of Government and Public Service.
“My wife, Betin, and I are very excited about this new chapter in our lives and about joining the Arkansas Tech family,” said Santos. “I am humbled to have been chosen to serve an institution with such a rich and impactful history. I look forward to joining the ATU leadership, as we serve our students, faculty, staff and region.”
Previous to his time at Texas A&M, Santos was dean of the Georgia Gwinnett College School of Liberal Arts (2013-18), special assistant to the president and chief liaison officer at the University of Houston-Downtown (2012-13) and American Council on Education fellow at California State University-Monterey Bay (2011-12).
Santos began his higher education career in the University of Houston system from 1995-2011. He was a department chair, assistant chair and faculty member in social sciences.
He also served as a statistical analyst in the UH Center for Mexican American Studies and a research associate in the UH Hobby Center for Public Policy.
Santos holds a Bachelor of General Studies degree in political science from the University of Houston-Downtown and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in political science from the University of Houston.
