Higher Education Leadership Recruits Business Dean for Arkansas Tech University

July 2, 2020 – Following a nationwide search, C. Wayne Alderman and Alan Medders of Anniston, AL-based Higher Education Leadership Search have completed the search for the new dean of the college of business for Arkansas Tech University (ATU). K. Russell Jones will start in his new role with the university on Monday.

“Dr. Jones is an experienced academician and administrator who is diverse in his areas of study and expertise,” said Barbara Johnson, ATU’s vice president for academic affairs. “He possesses a wealth of experience and will be a valued addition to our university community. We are pleased to have the opportunity to welcome him to Arkansas Tech University.”

Dr. Jones joins ATU from Arkansas State University (ASU), where he served as the Kathy White Professor of Management Information Systems since 2006. His previous roles at ASU included chair of accounting and computer information technology, online MBA degree coordinator, associate professor of decision sciences and assistant professor of computer information science. He also has experience as a lecturer at the University of Caen in France and the University of Otago in New Zealand.

Dr. Jones holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering technology and a master’s degree in information systems from ASU. He earned his doctorate with dual emphases in accounting and information systems from the University of Texas at Arlington.

A New Model 

“I am very excited about the opportunity to serve the College of Business and Arkansas Tech University,” said Dr. Jones. “ATU has shown tremendous growth over the past years, and I believe we are poised to continue that success in providing high-quality education to the people of the Arkansas River Valley and beyond. The ATU College of Business has a great faculty and offers cutting-edge programs in areas such as digital marketing and business data analytics. I look forward to working with the faculty and staff to make ATU the institution of choice for higher education in the region.”

Related: Recruitment of Academia Presidents Rising

Higher Education Leadership offers what it describes as a new model of higher education search: matching talented candidates with distinguished positions in the most cost-effective, streamlined and efficient manner. With search consultants from a variety of academic and administrative positions, the firm offers universities and candidates a variety of services: profile development, position advertising, candidate support and recruiting, facilitation of the interview process, as well as complete internet and social-media vetting.


 Higher Education Leadership Seeks President for Southeastern Oklahoma State University

The Regional University System of Oklahoma (RUSO) Board of Regents has selected Anniston, AL-based Higher Education Leadership Search to find a new president for Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Sean Burrage recently stepped down. Consultants Bill Meehan and Alan Medders are leading the assignment.

“We are seeking someone who understands the diverse and dynamic academic environment and connects with our multiple stakeholders,” said Susan Winchester, RUSO regent chair.


Dr. Alderman has served on the faculties of the University of Texas at Austin and Auburn University. During his tenure as a professor, he received numerous teaching awards including recognition several times as the outstanding professor in the business school and has received an outstanding teacher award at Auburn six times. In addition, both the American Institute of CPAs and the Alabama Society of CPAs have recognized him with outstanding discussion leader awards. Over the years, he has taught professional education courses to CPAs in 35 states.  He has also served as a facilitator in strategic planning for numerous organizations. Early in his career, he worked at Ernst & Young as a senior auditor.

Dr. Medders was previously president of Myers McRae Executive Search, serving as consultant on over 30 public and private institutional searches for academic affairs, advancement and business and finance vice presidents, advancement officers, academic deans and directors, state and national executive directors, nursing and cybersecurity faculty. During his academic career, Dr. Medders served as vice president for advancement at Columbus State University (CSU) and executive director of the CSU Foundation, vice president for university advancement at the University of North Alabama (UNA) and executive director of the UNA Foundation, and vice president of development at Campbellsville University in Kentucky.

Related: Why Universities Have Stepped Up Efforts to Involve Search Firms

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media

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