Thank you
The Graduate Student Council would like to acknowledge Dr. Mary B. Gunter, Interim Chief of Staff, for the outstanding work she has performed during the expansion of the Graduate College. Prior to her presence at ATU, Dr. Gunter worked 22 years at a widerange of schools in Northwest Arkansas before assuming the role of as a graduate faculty member in 1998. In July 2009, Dr. Gunter was named the Dean of the Graduate College at Arkansas Tech University where she made a lasting impact as a hard-working, dedicated Dean until December 2017 when she took on a new role as Interim Chief of Staff. Under Dr. Gunter’s leadership, enrollment for the Graduate College climbed from 535 students in the Fall of 2009 to 1,049 students in the Fall of 2017. When asked what her favorite experience was as Dean, she described her love of working with graduate students who were trying to determine the career path they should take, working with the Graduate Council to develop new graduate programs to expand Tech’s graduate college and meet the desired needs of the mired of students and employers that crossed her path. Under Dr. Gunter’s leadership, the Graduate College has grown to include forty-two degrees including the first two doctoral programs (School Leadership and Educational Leadership) offered at ATU. On a final note, the Graduate Student Council would like to thank Dr. Gunter for the impact she has had on the Graduate College. Her guidance and rapport with the people of ATU has created a wonderful community and allowed the university to grow and reach new heights.