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Baylor names Garland interim president
Baylor University has appointed David E. Garland, dean of the George W. Truett Theological Seminary, as interim president of the school.
Howard K. Batson, chairman of the Baylor University board of regents, announced the appointment. Garland succeeds Harold R. Cunningham, who has been acting president since July 2008 when John Lilley was terminated by the regents.
Batson expressed confidence that Garland will be able to unify some of the splintered groups at Baylor.
“It’s very important to (the regents) that he can be accepted by a broad consensus of the various Baylor constituents and it’s very clear that, whatever part of the Baylor family one might talk with, they’re pretty unanimous about one thing and that’s that David Garland’s a fine fellow that can lead Baylor during a time of transition.”
Batson added that Garland’s success guiding Truett Seminary “has given us a lot of confidence in David’s ability to lead.”
Read below for more background on Garland from Baylor’s news release.
Garland is dean of Baylor’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary, a position he has held since June 1, 2007. He joined the seminary faculty in 1997 as professor of Christian scriptures. He was appointed Truett’s associate dean for academic affairs in 2001, and was named The William M. Hinson Professor of Christian Scriptures in 2005. Garland, who will assume the duties of Baylor’s interim president immediately, will serve until a permanent president is named. He also will continue in his role as dean of the seminary.
The appointment comes after consultations with various university groups that focused on the characteristics desired in the individual selected and possible candidates to fill the position of interim president.
“We sought broad participation in this decision and consulted with members of the executive council, deans, executive committee members of the Faculty Senate, alumni, luminaries in Texas Baptist life and members of Baylor’s Board of Regents,” Batson said. “David was a consensus choice who was recognized as an outstanding scholar and able administrator.
“During his tenure as dean, Truett Seminary has recruited remarkably talented faculty and seen its enrollment grow to record levels. With a profound commitment to the integration of both the faith and scholarship elements of Baylor’s mission, Dean Garland embodies the best of vision 2012. He is not seeking this position on a permanent basis but has expressed a willingness to serve Baylor as interim while we move forward with a national search to fill the presidency,” Batson said.
“I am grateful for and humbled by this demonstration of trust by so many within the Baylor family. Our goals are significant and it will take all of us working together to continue our forward momentum. I ask your prayers, encourage your patience, and invite your active participation as we lead Baylor during the months ahead,” Garland said.
Before joining the Truett Seminary faculty in 1997, David Garland served as The Ernest and Mildred Hogan Professor of New Testament and chair of the Biblical Division at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he taught for 21 years.
A magna cum laude graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University and U.S. Navy veteran, Garland received his master of divinity and doctoral degrees from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and also completed postgraduate work at Eberhardt-Karls Universität in Tübingen, Germany, and Macquarrie University in Sydney, Australia. He is an elected member of the prestigious Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas.
Garland is the author of 13 books (including commentaries on Matthew, Mark, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Philippians, and Colossians and Philemon) and more than 50 academic journal articles. His most recent commentary on 1 Corinthians was given an Award of Merit by Christianity Today and was a finalist for the Gold Medallion presented by the Christian Booksellers Association. Two of his other books were awarded a Silver and Gold Medallion respectively. He has also edited four books and currently is the New Testament editor for the revision of the Expositor’s Bible Commentary.
Garland and his wife, Diana, dean of Baylor’s School of Social Work, published Flawed Families of the Bible: How God’s Grace Works through Imperfect Relationships, which was recently translated into Korean. Garland also is working on a commentary on the Gospel of Luke for the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary series for which he is a consulting editor.
In addition to his research, teaching and administrative duties, Garland directed both of Truett Seminary’s self-studies for accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools, from 2000-02 and 2005-07.
“Dr. Garland has many years of experience as a faculty member, both as a dedicated teacher and a respected scholar,” said Dr. Georgia Green, associate dean of the Baylor School of Music and chair of the Faculty Senate. “These faculty credentials combined with his experience as an academic administrator make him an excellent choice for this appointment.”
“I have every confidence David Garland will do an excellent job as interim president,” said Dr. Donald D. Schmeltekopf, Provost Emeritus at Baylor. “At one level, he embodies the very best of Baylor’s tradition of the scholar-teacher. At another level, David understands fully Baylor’s unique challenge to be the top Protestant research university in the country. I know those who care about Baylor will rally to his support.”
“It is encouraging that we have such a fine person in David Garland to serve in this role,’ said Jeff Kilgore, executive vice president and CEO of the Baylor Alumni Association. “As he has done at Truett, I think David should do a fine job continuing to build consensus through a process of inclusion on campus. I look forward to working with him and hope that this appointment is indicative of what’s more to come for the Baylor family.”
In the coming months, Baylor regents will study best practices in presidential searches in anticipation of a national effort to identify Baylor’s next permanent president. The interim president will not be considered a candidate in a broader search for a permanent president.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: Baylor University, Education
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By Mister Mojo
August 20, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
Can he play football?
By Tier One Research in Theology?
August 20, 2008 7:45 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
“Garland, contacted by the Tribune-Herald on Tuesday night, denied he had been interviewed for the post and said Baylor regents had not voted to make him interim president… �Nobody�s talked to me about it,� he (Garland) said.”
1) Nice to know he can lie and keep a straight face with the best of ‘em. He’s off to a great start.
2) Too bad no one from the science department can measure up, so somebody in this “top Protestant research university” can explain to us the origin of that 15 foot turtle shell in the Mayborn.
3) Haven’t we seen these quackademics before? Oh yeah, what was that guys name? Started with an “S”….
4) Next, after a sham “nation-wide” search, those who want a creationist science department Bible college (and control of a billion dollar endowment) will announce, “After an extensive national search, we found just the man we were looking for right here at Baylor”. You watch…..
5) Who created the Creator? Are dinosaur bones God’s booby-trap to ensnare the weak-minded?
5) The Emperor still has no clothes.
By bear78
August 20, 2008 10:35 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
Here we go again-another preacher at the helm. How IS it possible that “Nobody’s talked to me about it” and it’s announced the next day.
Not a good start.
By Stereotyping? Original...
August 20, 2008 10:38 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
Way to stereotype all Christians. Very original. Very mature. Very sophisticated. You obviously don’t know David Garland. And only a fool would think they know a whole story well enough to call someone a liar just from reading a post on a blog.
You know, a Tier One education might do you some good. Good luck getting into Baylor, though.
By JPF
August 20, 2008 11:22 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
Congratulations to Dr. Garland. It is unfortunate for him that he keeps being tapped for these leadership posts; what he really enjoys is teaching. As a former student of his at Truett, I can attest to his great intellect, learning, open-mindedness, compassion, and integrity, as well as his strong work ethic. Moreover, simply because David Garland has chosen Scriptural analysis and interpretation as his vocation does not mean that he thinks any less of science. He is by no means a fundamentalist or a closed-minded creationist. Baylor University is fortunate to have him.
By Tier One Research in Theology?
August 21, 2008 1:13 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
You call it “stereotyping” “all Christians”. I call it identifying a 13-year track record of Baylor Regents and Administration. To each his own. And, I already have graduated from several tier one research universities, (which certainly doesn’t include Baylor). But thanks for the offer. ROFL. As for “reading a post on a blog”, it was a statement he made, and was quoted by the paper. (Unless you’re accusing the paper of dishonesty). Glad to know he’s not a “fundamentalist or a closed-minded creationist”. But, time will tell… Sloan started out by dancing the first dance… talk about a fake-out.
By GrantTaffey
August 22, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
Dear Tier One Research in Theology:
You don’t bring much to the party do you? Perhaps it’s not necessary since you aren’t accountable to anyone for anything. You must EVOLVE faster!
Oh, BTW - 6 comes after 5…
By Pharmc837
November 7, 2009 2:55 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
Very nice site!