Dr. Richard Schoephoerster has been recommended by Dr. Barbara Johnson, vice president for academic affairs at Arkansas Tech University, as the next dean of the ATU Graduate College.
Schoephoerster will also provide oversight for all ATU research initiatives. The ATU Board of Trustees confirmed his appointment during its regularly scheduled Jan. 16 meeting.
Schoephoerster has previously held leadership positions at Florida International University (FIU), the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and the American University of Sharjah (AUS) in the United Arab Emirates as part of a career in higher education that spans 30 years.
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to add Dr. Schoephoerster to our community and our university,” said Johnson. “Student access and student success are our foremost academic priorities at Arkansas Tech University, and Dr. Schoephoerster has been an advocate for and facilitator of those objectives throughout his career. We are excited to partner with him in developing a comprehensive strategy for a renewed graduate education initiative at ATU as described in our strategic plan. In addition, his experience with governmental and industry funding will be an asset in his oversight of sponsored programs and research activities.”
Schoephoerster holds three degrees — Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering, Master of Science in mechanical engineering and Doctor of Philosophy in mechanical engineering — from the University of Iowa.
Previously, he was a faculty member and department chair during 17 years at FIU before accepting the position of dean in the UTEP College of Engineering in 2007. Schoephoerster went on to serve as dean and professor in the AUS College of Engineering from 2016-19. He is currently working with the American Society of Engineering Education.
Schoephoerster will begin his duties at Arkansas Tech in February 2020.
