Dr. Sheila Jacobs

Dr. Sheila Jacobs is a Russellville native, a 1984 graduate of Russellville High School, and a five-time graduate of Arkansas Tech University. Her most recent degree, an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, was earned in 2020. A first-generation college student, Dr. Jacobs credits her former teachers and professors for instilling in her a lifelong love of learning. She was named ATU’s Most Outstanding Female Undergraduate in 1988 and received the Jim Ed McGee Award in 2021 as the university’s Most Outstanding Graduate Student.

Dr. Jacobs has served in a wide range of educational roles, including high school English and journalism teacher, federal programs coordinator, director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment, Russellville High School principal, and adjunct instructor of English and education at ATU. She joined ATU–Ozark Campus in 2019 as Chief Academic Officer, served nearly five years in that role, and was appointed Interim Chancellor in July 2023. In April 2024, she was named Chancellor of ATU–Ozark.

Under her leadership, ATU–Ozark has secured and managed several major workforce development grants, including a $500,000 Career Coaching Grant, a $387,000 ALIGN Grant for nursing, and a $2.75 million HIRED Grant to expand training in HVAC refrigeration and welding. ATU President Dr. Russ Jones describes her as “a dynamic leader and passionate advocate for workforce development, career coaching, and student success.”

Outside of work, Dr. Jacobs enjoys reading, spending time with her granddaughter Emerson Jane, and exploring local eateries with her husband, Jon. A certified Enneagram teacher and coach, she is devoted to self-improvement and helping others grow professionally. Her greatest joy, however, comes from being the mother of Haley and Nathan. Haley is a counselor at Sequoyah Elementary, and Nathan is a software engineer in Northwest Arkansas. Sheila and Jon live in Russellville with their dogs, Shorty J. Pants and Raiden.