type here...
Breaking News

Arkansas Tech President Robin Bowen Was Fired While She Was on Medical Leave

The board of trustees of Arkansas Tech University voted unanimously during a recent special meeting to terminate the employment of Robin E. Bowen, president of the university. Dr. Bowen has been on medical leave since July 7 and is recovering from surgery.

“The board is grateful for the services Dr. Bowen has provided to Arkansas Tech during her tenure,” said Jim Smith of Fayetteville, chairman of the board of trustees at Atkansas Tech. “We do not take this action lightly and appreciate all she has done as president at Arkansas Tech.”

Dr. Bowen became the twelfth president of Arkansas Tech University in Russellville in July 2014. She was not only the institution’s first woman president but also was the first woman to lead any state-operated four-year university in the state of Arkansas.

Earlier in her career Dr. Bowen was appointed vice president for academic affairs at Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts in 2011. In July 2013 she was promoted to executive vice president and provost at Fitchburg State. Previously, Dr. Bowen held administrative posts at Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, and Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri.

A native of Carl Junction, Missouri, Dr. Bowen is a graduate of the University of Kansas, where she majored in occupational therapy. She earned a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from the University of Arkansas and a doctorate in higher education administration from Texas Tech University in Lubbock.

8 COMMENTS

  2. why was she terminated?she was on medical leave.the 12th president in 9 yrs,makes me thing something wrong with the board of trustees

  3. That’s what medical leave is for. Protect us from our absences. It sounds more of a bias situation in some sense. It should be further reviewed before actions are taken.

    • Has nothing to do with being a liberal or being a conservative. It’s a violation of FMLA law which is a federal law..not an Arkansas law. If she has proper documentation for being on medical leave then the college is at fault.

  6. FMLA is good for only 12 weeks per year. Businesses do not have to hold your position. They have the option of repositioning you.
    After 12 weeks they can terminate your job.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles

Latest News

Deborah Jones Named President of the MGH Institute of Health Professions

0
“I am inspired by the [MGH Institute for Health Professions'] mission to educate health professionals and researchers who will drive innovation in the delivery of equitable and interprofessional care,” said Dr. Jones. “This mission aligns deeply with my own purpose, which is to bring together people, ideas, and systems for the greater good, because the greater good is stronger than any individual part.”

Alison Carr-Chellman Appointed Provost of Pace University

0
“Pace has a unique mission rooted in access, excellence, and opportunity, and that resonates deeply with me,” said Dr. Carr-Chellman. “I’m excited to bring my experience in academic innovation, collaborative leadership, and student-centered learning to a community so clearly dedicated to helping students excel and create lives they are proud of.”

Virginia Tech’s Emily Sarver to Lead the Society of Mining Professors

0
The Society of Mining Professors is an international organization dedicated to advancing the future of mining, minerals, and energy disciplines. Emily Sarver, the Stonie Barker Professor of Mining and Minerals Engineering at Virginia Tech, will serve as the society's next president.

Jennifer Glowienka Named the First Woman President of Carroll College in Montana

0
“I have dedicated my professional career to this remarkable institution, which prepares ethical leaders who engage the world with purpose and hope,” said Dr. Glowienka. “I look forward to strengthening and expanding the ways Carroll fulfills its mission, serving learners across all stages of their educational journey.”

Susan Stuebner Elevated to President of Simpson College in Iowa

0
Dr. Stuebner has led Simpson College on an interim basis since July 28. She has nearly 30 years of professional experience, including service as president of Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire.

Latest Job Listings

Assistant Professor, Composition and Music Technology

0
The Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto invites applications for a full-time tenure-stream position in the areas of Composition and Music Technology.

Senior Research Associate, Development Innovation Lab

0
The University of Chicago’s Development Innovation Lab and the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics invites applications for a non-tenure track Senior Research Associate position, with a focus on Development Economics and Education.

Assistant Professor Tenure Track Position — Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Cardiovascular Institute

0
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania seek candidates for an Assistant Professor position in the tenure track.

Assistant Professor of Political Science, Quantitative Methods

0
The Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago invites applications for an Assistant Professor in Quantitative Methods. This position will begin on or after July 1, 2026.

Tenure Track Position in Macro-Organizational Behavior and Organizational Theory

0
The University of Pittsburgh School of Business seeks to fill a full-time, tenure-track assistant or associate professor position in the Organizations and Entrepreneurship Area, starting as early as Fall 2026. 

About WIAReport

Tracking the Progress of Women in American Higher Education

Phone: (570) 392-6797

WIA Jobs

Latest Articles

Online Articles of Interest to WIAReport Readers

0
Each week, Women in Academia Report will provide links to online articles that may be of interest to our readers. Here are this week’s selections.

Recent Books of Interest to Women Scholars

0
Women in Academia Report regularly publishes a list of new books that may be of interest to our readers. Here are the latest selections.

Simmons University Launches Graduate Degree Program Focused on Women’s Sports Management

0
“The rise of women’s sports is transforming the global sports landscape — and Simmons is proud to lead in preparing graduates to capitalize on this growth and shape the business strategies that will define the next era of the industry,” said Simmons University president Lynn Perry Wooten.

In Memoriam: Stephanie Vaughn, 1943-2025

0
Professor Vaughn taught creative writing and literature at Cornell University for 39 years. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she spent several years as director of the creative writing and co-director of a summer writing program in Rome.

Newsletter

Receive our FREE email newsletter delivered every Tuesday to your inbox

2025 © Women In Academia Report | a BRUCON Publication