Jacobs named chancellor of ATU-Ozark campus

Dr. Sheila Jacobs was named the chancellor of Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus on Wednesday (April 24), almost a year after being named interim chancellor of the affiliate campus. She succeeds Bruce Sikes, who was the ATU-Ozark chancellor for 10 years.

Jacobs took office as chief academic officer at the ATU-Ozarkcampus in 2019 and helped lead the accreditation of the registered nursing program and the re-accreditation of the collision repair technology, automotive service technology, human services, cardiac sonography and emergency medical technician/paramedic programs.

Jacobs also managed the Ready for Life K-12 career coaching pilot program overseen by ATU-Ozark and was the principal investigator and supervisor for a career coaching grant through the Arkansas Division of Career and Technical Education. Through those two initiatives, 12 career coaches are serving multiple K-12 school districts as part of an ATU outreach to seven Arkansas counties.

Jacobs also led the formation of the Ozark area 360 Educators and Industry Partnership, is a member of the Higher Learning Commission Reassurance Committee, served on the ATU 2025 strategic planning committee, is a member of the Leadership Tech coordinating council and introduced the ATU-Ozark Leaders in the Industry speaker series.

“Dr. Jacobs has an investment in and knowledge of Arkansas Tech University that is rare and special,” Dr. Russell Jones, interim ATU president, said in a statement. “Dating back to her involvement in the leadership programs implemented by Jimmy Ferguson during her time as an undergraduate student at Arkansas Tech and continuing through her most recent service as ATU-Ozark interim chancellor, she has distinguished herself as a lifelong leader.”

Jacobs holds five degrees from Arkansas Tech. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English education and was named the Margaret Young Award winner as ATU’s most outstanding graduating female in 1988. Shortly after her ATU graduation, Jacobs began her career in education as an English teacher at Russellville High School.

She has worked as a K-12 curriculum director, director of secondary education, federal programs coordinator and high school principal in the Russellville School District. She also served as an adjunct English and education instructor at ATU’s Russellville campus.

She obtained two master’s degrees in education and an educational specialist degree before completing her terminal degree, the ATU Doctor of Education in School Leadership, in 2020. Jacobs was named the 2021 Jim Ed McGee Award winner as the most outstanding graduate student at ATU, and she is a graduate of Leadership Tech.

“Being named chancellor of ATU-Ozark Campus is an absolute honor,” said Jacobs. “The professionals of ATU-Ozark are committed to advancing excellence in workforce education, which is a cornerstone of the Ozark campus. Our dedication to forging and sustaining strong partnerships with K-12 districts and industry and community leaders reflects our unwavering commitment to the workforce and economic development of our region and state. Above all, our students remain at the heart of our mission. We are steadfast in our commitment to providing them with a quality, caring education that equips them for success in and beyond the classroom.”