Office of Admissions Staff

bbedsole@atu.edu	Dr. Blake Bedsole Vice President for Enrollment Management Ed.D., The University of Georgia, 2013. M.A., The University of Alabama, 2006. B.S., The University of Alabama, 2003. Blake began his career at The University of Alabama, serving in various admissions/enrollment management capacities from 2004-2015, until he left his role as Director of Enrollment Management for the UA Graduate School to take a new position at the University of West Alabama. Blake served as the Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management at UWA from 2015-2017 before joining the Arkansas Tech family in January 2018. He is/has been active in the leadership of several higher education organizations including the Graduate Business Student Services Association, the National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals, the Graduate Management Admissions Council, the American Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers, and the Southern Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, the latter including a recent appointment as a member of the editorial board for The SACRAO Journal. Blake has a wife (Belinda) and daughter (Chloe) and looks forward to selling their Tuscaloosa house and plugging into the Russellville community very soon.
jbrock15@atu.edu	Jessica Brock Director of Admissions & Associate Director for Concurrent Enrollment M.B.A., University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 2003. B.S., Arkansas Tech University, 2000. Jessica began her career at Arkansas Tech as a student in 1996. She has worked in the capacities of Publicity and Student Recruitment Specialist, Associate Registrar, Associate Director for Concurrent Enrollment and Interim Director of Admissions. She currently resides in Russellville with her husband, Matt, and children Braden, Jordan, Kaleb, and Kade.
awaniewski@atu.edu	Alisa Waniewski Associate Director for Academic Scholarships B.S., Henderson State University, 1990. Alisa began working for Arkansas Tech University in 1992. While at Tech, she has worked in the Office of Admissions, the Registrar's Office and the Financial Aid Office. Alisa also served as President of the Arkansas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers in 2000-2001. Alisa serves on many campus committees, to include: Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee, Institutional Scholarship Appeals Committee, University Honors Council, Ambassador for the Working and Giving Together Campaign, and as a Bridge to Excellence Mentor. She and her husband, Scott, have one child, Grey, and live on Mount Nebo in Dardanelle. Alisa is the contact person for all academic and transfer scholarships.
bgriffin5@atu.edu	Brandie Griffin Associate Director for Undergraduate Recruitment M.S., Arkansas Tech University, 2009. B.S.B.A., Arkansas Tech University, 2004. Brandie began her career at Arkansas Tech as a student, working in the Admissions Office, giving prospective students tours of campus. After graduating with her BSBA in Management and Marketing, she took a two year hiatus from ATU to run a local retail store. Upon her return in 2006, she worked in Student Accounts before returning to the Admissions Office for the next five years to work as an Admissions Officer recruiting students from Northern Arkansas and Missouri. In the fall of 2011, she joined the College of Business to launch the College to Career Center and assist the next class of alumni. She returned home to the Admissions Office in fall of 2015 as the Associate Director for Undergraduate Recruitment.
kthrelkeld@atu.edu	Kerri Threlkeld Associate Director for Admissions Operations B.A., Arkansas Tech University, 2016. A.A., Arkansas Tech University, 2013. Kerri came to the Office of Admissions in July of 2007 after working as a Registrar's Assistant. Kerri oversees and manages domestic undergraduate admissions operations for the Russellville campus. She and her husband Jeff reside in Russellville with their son Alex, Peggy the corgi, and Howie the standard poodle. Kerri enjoys reading, sewing, and traveling with her family.
dduncan4@atu.edu	Dausen Duncan Visit Day Coordinator M.S., Arkansas Tech University, pending. B.A., Arkansas Tech University, 2016. Dausen is a 2016 graduate from Arkansas Tech University with a B.A. in Communications. While a student, Dausen was involved with the Student Activities Board, Residence Life as a Resident Assistant, Debate Team, Presidential Leadership Cabinet, and was a tour guide with the Admissions Office. In his free time, he enjoys any outdoor activity including hiking, camping, kayaking, riding horses, and spending time with friends and family. Dausen currently resides in Russellville, Arkansas.
ggarrison4@atu.edu	Gabrielle (Gabby) Garrison Admissions Officer M.S.E., University of Kansas, 2017. B.A., Emporia State University, 2015. Gabby earned a B.A. in English from Emporia State University in 2015. As a student, Gabby was actively involved in Residential Life as a Resident Assistant, Admissions as an Ambassador, Cross Country, and Fraternity and Sorority Life. Upon graduation, she pursued a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration. She joined the Office of Admissions staff in 2017. In her free time she enjoys going to the movies, being active, and spending time with her family.
ddillard1@atu.edu	Deidra Dillard Admissions Officer M.S., Arkansas Tech University, 2017. B.S.B.A., Arkansas Tech University, 2014. Deidra is a 2014 graduate of Arkansas Tech with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management & Marketing. She has gone on to continue her education and earned a Master of Science degree in College Student Personnel in May of 2017. As a student, Deidra was actively involved in several registered student organizations, including the African-American Student Association, United Voices of Praise, and the College Student Personnel Association. She even volunteered to serve on the Student Services Conduct Board for a year. She spends much of her free time with friends and family. She enjoys reading, going to the movies, 4-wheeling, and traveling. She currently resides in Greenbrier, Arkansas. Deidra joined the Office of Admissions staff in July 2017.
ksimpson5@atu.edu	Kassidy Simpson Admissions Officer M.S., Arkansas Tech University, pending. B.S., Arkansas Tech University, 2016. Kassidy is a 2016 graduate from Arkansas Tech University and earned her BSBA in Management and Marketing. During her time at ATU, Kassidy was involved in the Dean’s Leadership Class, was a College of Education Ambassador, participated in Intramurals, and was a student worker for Campus Recreation. Upon graduation, she returned to ATU to study College Student Personnel where she taught Tech 1001 as her Graduate Assistantship position. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, kickboxing, and spending time with her family, friends, and dog.
sshen@atu.edu	Shannon Shen Administrative Specialist III AA Nursing, Hungkuang University, Taiwan, 1991. Shannon and her husband, Ernest, moved to Russellville in 2000. Shannon joined the Admissions Office in 2007 and processes admission applications and assists prospective students with the admission process. Shannon loves the River Valley and currently resides in Russellville with her husband, Ernest, and their two children, Gloria and Ethan.
gvilavanh@atu.edu	Hope Vilavanh Administrative Specialist III B.S., Arkansas Tech University, pending. A.A., Arkansas Tech University, 2016. Hope is a 2007 graduate from Western Yell County. She has previously worked in the Office of Admissions as student worker. In 2010, Hope took a break from school to manage a local business full time. After 6 years, she is finally back home at ATU to finish her degree. Hope currently resides in Russellville with her fiancé, Irvin. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her puppies Vinny and Amy. She also loves to volunteer at events for Special Olympics Arkansas.
skellar1@atu.edu	Suzanne Kellar Administrative Specialist III B.S., Arkansas Tech University, pending. A.S., Arkansas Tech University, 2002. Suzanne is a 2002 graduate of Arkansas Tech with an Associate of Science degree in Medical Assisting. She joined the office of Admissions staff in February 2017. Suzanne processes concurrent admission applications and assists prospective students with the admission process. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends and watching her husband and girls play sports. Suzanne currently resides in Pottsville with her husband, Mitch, and 2 daughters, Madison and Maci.
mlee18@atu.edu	Maitab Lee Administrative Specialist II B.A., Arkansas Tech University, 2016. Maitab started her career with Arkansas Tech University as a student in 2012 and graduated with a B.A. in Rehabilitation Science. She joined the Arkansas Tech University Admissions office in July 2016 as an Administrative Specialist I. She currently resides in Russellville and during her free time enjoys hiking and spending time with family and friends.
sgentry@atu.edu	Shelbea Gentry Administrative Specialist II M.A., Arkansas Tech University, 2017. B.A., Arkansas Tech University, 2013. Shelbea graduated in 2017, from Arkansas Tech University, with a Master of Arts degree in History. She also earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in History, with a minor in English, from Arkansas Tech University in 2013. As a student, Shelbea served as a Resident Assistant with Jones Hall from 2010-2011. Upon returning to Arkansas Tech University for her graduate degree in 2015, Shelbea worked as a Graduate Assistant within the Office of Admissions & Student Recruitment, where she contributed to the Concurrent Enrollment program. She also worked as a Graduate Assistant with the Arkansas Tech University Museum. Shelbea returned to the Office of Admissions in 2017 as a full-time staff member. In her spare time Shelbea surfs JSTOR, saves far too many George Washington memes, reads fiction and non-fiction (literally anything), binge-watches PBS period dramas, travels, and spends time with her family.
kwilliams129@atu.edu	Kayla Williams Administrative Specialist I A.A.S., Lamar Institute of Technology, 2004. Kayla joined the Admissions Office in April 2018. She worked as the Registrar/Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) Coordinator for Iowa Park High School in Texas for 9 ½ years before she and her husband Eddie made the move to Russellville in 2017. Their son is a pharmacist in Hot Springs, AR and their daughter is a registered nurse in Wichita Falls, TX. Kayla enjoys spending time with her family, horseback riding, and competing in equine events like barrel racing!
#ATUJerry	Jerry Official University Ambassador Jerry the Bulldog serves as campus ambassador at Arkansas Tech University. He was anointed with that title by the Arkansas Tech Student Government Association on Oct. 23, 2013. Jerry returned to campus after 76 years away to represent all Wonder Boys and Golden Suns at campus events and athletics competitions throughout the academic year. The original Jerry was owned by the Young family, which has enjoyed a continuous affiliation with the university since 1917. Now, Jerry is back...and we're pretty excited! Come see us and you just might get to meet him.

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