JBU announces new business college leadership

John Brown University in Siloam Springs has named Brad Gatlin dean of the Soderquist College of Business, and Eva Fast associate dean, according to a Wednesday (April 26) news release. The appointments are effective June 1.

Gatlin replaces Ryan Ladner, who’s moving from the role to become vice president of enrollment at JBU. Gatlin has been the associate dean since 2019 and the department head for undergraduate business since 2017. He joined the private Christian university in 2016 as an assistant professor of management and teaches courses including strategic management and production and operations management.

“Dr. Brad Gatlin is uniquely qualified for this position based on his many years of service as the associate dean as well as decades of work in Christian higher education,” said Ed Ericson, vice president for academic affairs. “We are fortunate to have Dr. Gatlin as our next dean of the Soderquist College of Business.”

As dean, Gatlin will supervise all academic programs within the college and will continue to teach classes. He will work closely with Fast and Melanie Peddicord, director of graduate business programs.

Fast joined JBU in 2011 as a professor in the College of Business and became an assistant professor of marketing and entrepreneurship and innovation in 2016. Fast will also continue to teach classes as associate dean.

“I am grateful that I’ll get to work closely with Eva Fast and Melanie Peddicord next year as we lead the College of Business together,” Gatlin said. “They are wonderful colleagues who are driven by our mission and dedicated to our students.”

Gatlin earned a bachelor’s degree and MBA from Bryan College and a doctorate of business administration from Anderson University. He has received certifications from the Project Management Institute and is on the board of the Christian Business Faculty Association, which awarded him the 2021 Teaching Award.

“I am excited to lead a talented and caring group of colleagues as we design and deliver high quality, relevant curriculum with the goal of empowering students to honor God, serve others and impact the world through the business disciplines,” Gatlin said.

The Soderquist College of Business has 349 undergraduate students, 19 online undergraduate students and 130 graduate students.