Jax State Announces President’s Faculty Academic Roundtable

10/20/2026

Campus drone shot

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. — Jacksonville State University has established the President’s Faculty Academic Roundtable (PFAR), a new forum designed to provide direct communication and consultation between faculty representatives and university leadership.

The Jacksonville State University Board of Trustees approved the new structure during its quarterly meeting Tuesday, Oct. 20. President Dr. Don C. Killingsworth, Jr., presented the PFAR to the Board.

“Our faculty have always played an important role in shaping the direction of Jacksonville State University, and that will continue,” Dr. Killingsworth said. “We made a commitment that faculty would continue to have a meaningful voice in university decisions, and the President’s Faculty Academic Roundtable is an important part of fulfilling that commitment. I look forward to working directly with these representatives, hearing their perspectives and ensuring that faculty input remains an important part of our decision-making process.”

The PFAR was developed in response to requirements established by Ala. Act 2026-432 regarding faculty governance structures at Alabama public universities. President Killingsworth and Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Christie Shelton worked with faculty leadership to develop a structure that meets those requirements while maintaining opportunities for faculty input on academic and institutional matters.

“The creation of the PFAR reflects our continued commitment to ensuring that faculty have a meaningful voice in conversations that affect our academic mission,” Dr. Shelton said. “These representatives will serve an important role in bringing forward the perspectives of their colleagues and helping us strengthen communication between faculty and university leadership.”

The 13-member roundtable includes both elected and presidentially appointed full-time faculty representatives from each of Jax State’s five academic colleges, along with a representative from Houston Cole Library.

Members of the President’s Faculty Academic Roundtable are:

College of Arts, Humanities, and Sciences

  • Dr. Marija Reiff
  • Dr. Gaus Alam
  • Dr. David Dempsey
  • Dr. Peter Bryant 

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

  • Dr. Leah Simmons
  • Dr. Shannon Robertson 

College of Business and Industry

  • Dr. Ben Boozer
  • Dr. Carol Lucy 

College of Education and Professional Studies

  • Dr. Ashley Turner
  • Dr. Diane Best 

College of Health Professions and Wellness

  • Dr. Allen Gilbert
  • Jamie Hudgins 

Houston Cole Library

  • Allison Boswell

The PFAR will serve as an active communication and consultation network, allowing representatives to share ideas, concerns and recommendations from their faculty colleagues while also providing a direct channel for university leadership to communicate with faculty.

Killingsworth and Shelton will participate in PFAR meetings, with other members of the University's leadership team joining discussions as appropriate based on the topics being considered.

The roundtable will hold its first meeting on Wednesday, October 21.