Four Women Faculty Conferred Emerita Status at Arkansas Tech University

Paula Pendergrass has been named a professor emerita of biology. She first joined the Arkansas Tech University faculty in 1992 as an associate professor. In 1994, she was promoted to professor and was named head of the department of biological sciences, a position she held for four years. She received tenure in 1997 and retired from the university in August 2007.

Dr. Pendergrass holds a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree both from Southwest Missouri State University, and a Ph.D. from Washington State University.

Patricia Roach has been name a professor emerita of education. She first joined the Arkansas Tech University faculty in 1988 as an associate professor. She was promoted to professor and granted tenure in 1993. She initially retired in May 2000, but returned to the university as a visiting professor from 2001 to 2010. Earlier in her career she held faculty positions at the University of Central Arkansas, Arkansas College, and Southern Arkansas University.

Dr. Roach holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in teaching both from Middle Tennessee State University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri.

Elizabeth Salmeri has been named a professor emerita of education. She first joined the Arkansas Tech University in 1985 as an assistant professor. In 1988, she was appointed interim head for the department of secondary education. In 1990, she was named head of the department, promoted to associate professor, and granted tenure. In 1991, she stepped down as department head, but later served on an interim basis on two separate occasions. She was promoted to professor in 1995 and retired in December 2000. She returned to the university in January 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 to teach part-time in the master of education degree program. Earlier in her career she taught in various public schools and briefly at the University of Wyoming.

Dr. Salmeri is a graduate of what is now Misericordia University in Dallas, Pennsylvania. She holds a master’s degree in education and a Ph.D. both from the University of Wyoming.

Rebecca Shopfner has been named a professor emerita of teaching, learning, and leadership. After teaching in the Fort Smith School District for 27 years, she joined the Arkansas Tech University faculty in 2000 as a visiting assistant professor. She was hired as a full-time assistant professor in 2001. In 2006, she was promoted to associate professor and granted tenure. She retired from the university in June 2017.

Dr. Shopfner holds three degrees in education; a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas, a master’s degree from Arkansas Tech University, and a doctorate from the University of Arkansas.