Registrar David Dawson Assumes New ISIS Role

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David Dawson

FAYETTEVILLE – David Dawson, the registrar for the University of Arkansas, has assumed responsibilities for directing the Integrated Student Information Systems team, becoming the associate vice provost for enrollment management as well as registrar, effective Sept. 1, 2011. Dawson will work with University Information Technology Services on all projects involving ISIS.

Randy Apon, who previously served as the director of ISIS, recently accepted a position at Clemson University this fall.

“I am very pleased that Dave Dawson has accepted this leadership role with ISIS,” said Don Pederson, vice chancellor for finance and administration. “This appointment is a critical one as we continue to work to bridge the academic purposes and the technical aspects of ISIS. He will work collaboratively with Bob Zimmerman and Ron Neyman in UITS to serve the campus community as effectively as possible.”

As registrar, Dawson has overseen a variety of new initiatives to serve faculty and students more effectively, including new online processes for changing grades, applying for graduation, requesting transcripts and reviewing remaining degree requirements. He managed the 9.0 ISIS upgrades for the registrar’s office, which has the campus’s greatest number of active operations in ISIS.

“Dave Dawson has been an incredibly effective registrar. He understands the systems, and he works well with people. His academic background allows him to understand fully the issues that faculty and staff have with the user side of ISIS,” said Suzanne McCray, vice provost for enrollment. “That tied to his experience with the recent ISIS upgrade and with the administrative side of ISIS as registrar makes him the perfect person for this added responsibility.”

Before becoming the registrar, Dawson served as director of the advising center in the J. William Fulbright of Arts and Sciences. He has served on various campuswide committees. In 2008, he received the National Academic Advising Association’s Outstanding Advising Award. He also received the association’s Gail Rola Memorial Award, recognizing his exceptional leadership.

“I look forward to being part of the ISIS team and being involved in efforts to make our student information system be as functional and effective as possible for our campus community,” said Dawson. “As our enrollment continues to grow, we will need to continually look for ways to use ISIS to meet our technological needs. I hope that my experience as an adviser and as registrar will give me a good perspective on what these needs are for our students, faculty and staff. It should be a challenging and exciting next few years.”

Dawson holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Centenary College of Louisiana and a master’s degree in journalism and history from the University of Arkansas. He has made numerous presentations and has published repeatedly in the Arkansas Historical Quarterly and The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture.