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 and his wife Belinda have a daughter named Chloe.

 jbrock15@atu.edu

Jessica Brock
Director of Admissions

• 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 a son, Grey, and live on Mount Nebo in Dardanelle. Alisa is the contact person for all academic and transfer scholarships.  

 bgibbs@atu.edu

Brandie Gibbs
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.

jcrouch4@atu.edu

Jana Crouch 
Associate Director for Enrollment

• M.S., Arkansas Tech University, 2011.
• B.S.B.A., Arkansas Tech University, 2005.

Jana joined the Office of Admissions as the Associate Director for Enrollment in April 2018, after working nearly nine years in Academic Affairs at ATU. She earned a B.S.B.A. in Management and Marketing, and an M.S. in College Student Personnel, both from ATU. She teaches the introductory course for the undergraduate Leadership minor and serves as a faculty/staff advisor to the Mary B. Gunter Emerging Leaders LLC. She is also a member of the Hydrocephalus Association and the Co-Chair of the NW Arkansas WALK to End Hydrocephalus. Jana lives in Russellville with her husband Greg, also an employee of ATU, and their son Elliot.

sbilley@atu.edu

Sabrina billey
Assistant Director for transfer recruitment

• M.S., Arkansas Tech University, 2011.
• B.S.B.A., Oklahoma State University, 2005.

Sabrina joined the Office of Admissions in November 2018, after working nearly seven years in Residence Life at ATU. She earned a B.S.B.A. in Management and Accounting from Oklahoma State University and a M.S. in College Student Personnel from ATU. She is a member of Junior Auxiliary of Russellville and serves on the Promotion and Events Council for the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce. She and her boyfriend Daniel reside in Russellville with their dog Sadie.

@atu.edu

TBA
Assistant Director for Recruitment Events

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.    

ksmith152@atu.edu 

Kristen Smith
Admissions Officer

• M.S., Arkansas Tech University, pending.
• B.A., McNeese State University, 2017.

Kristen earned a B.A. in Foreign Languages at McNeese State University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2017. In addition to her Spanish and French studies, Kristen participated in independent study abroad programs in Mexico and Nicaragua, and freelanced as a Spanish tutor in the McNeese Department of English and Foreign Languages and in local high schools. Kristen moved from southwest Louisiana to Russellville in March 2018 to begin her career in the Admissions Office and her graduate studies in the College Student Personnel program.  Now living in a town that is nestled in-between mountain ranges, Kristen loves to spend her time hiking, playing sports, wakeboarding, and swinging in a hammock while getting lost in a good book.    

 blewellen@atu.edu 

Bradly Lewellen
Admissions Officer

• M.Ed., Texas Tech University, 2018.
• B.A., Arkansas Tech University, 2015.

Bradly is a 2015 graduate from Arkansas Tech University where he earned his B.A. in Psychology. While a student at ATU, Bradly was involved in Residence Life as a Resident Assistant, the Residence Halls Association, the National Residence Hall Honorary, Greek Life, and served as a tutor for Student Support Services. After graduating from Arkansas Tech, he pursued a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from Texas Tech University where he served as a Graduate Hall Coordinator. He is excited to now be back at ATU as a part of the Office of Admissions team! In his free time he enjoys kayaking, reading, and spending time with friends, family, and his puppy, Cleo. 

Morgan Lunsford
Admissions Officer

• B.A., Arkansas Tech University, 2018.

sshen@atu.edu

Shannon Shen
Administrative Specialist III

• A.A. 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

• M.S., Arkansas Tech University, pending.
• B.S., Arkansas Tech University, 2018.
• 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.

 lcooper7@atu.edu

Larryn Cooper
Administrative Specialist III

• M.S., Arkansas Tech University, pending.
• B.A., Arkansas Tech University, 2018.
• A.S., Arkansas Tech University, 2018.

Larryn started her career at Arkansas Tech University as a student in 2013.  She has recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Psychology and Sociology, and joined the Office of Admissions in May 2018.  She currently resides in Russellville and during her free time enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, reading, and traveling. 

   @atu.edu

Administrative Specialist II

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!

tcannon2@atu.edu

TYLER CANNON-GARRETT
Administrative Specialist I

Tyler joined the Office of Admissions in November of 2018. She comes from several years of experience in banking, where she held the role of Teller Supervisor. She is very dedicated and takes most pride in being a mother to her daughter Parker Alivia. Tyler and her husband Braden, who is an officer with local Law Enforcement, are both lifelong residents of the River Valley. During her free time she enjoys traveling, and spending time with family.

  #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.