Arkansas Tech University announced that Adolfo Santos will take office as executive vice president for academic affairs and provost on March 5.
Santos joins Arkansas Tech from Texas A&M University, where has been an assistant provost and professor of political science since 2018. Past roles include dean of the Georgia Gwinnett College School of Liberal Arts in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and special assistant to the president and chief liaison officer at the University of Houston-Downtown.
“Dr. Santos has a talent for building partnerships across academic units in support of student recruitment and retention,” Russell Jones, ATU’s interim president, said in a statement. “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 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 bachelor’s in political science from the University of Houston-Downtown and a doctorate in political science from the University of Houston.
“My wife, Betin, and I are very excited about this new chapter in our lives and about joining the Arkansas Tech family,” Santos said. “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.”
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