Update on Dean Searches

One of the pillars of Baylor’s success over the years has been the excellence of its academic leadership. The University currently is conducting national searches for deans in three of its academic areas to continue that legacy.
Dr. Jon Engelhardt, dean of the School of Education since 2007, will retire at the conclusion of the 2014-15 academic year, completing a 43-year career teaching and leading the training of educational professionals.
The search committee charged with finding Engelhardt’s successor is chaired by Dr. Michael Matier, vice provost for institutional effectiveness.
“The School of Education Dean Search Committee has completed drafting the position announcement and has begun to identify individuals who can serve as sources of nominations,” he said.
Matier noted that the position announcement can be found on the website of the Executive Vice President and Provost, and he said nominations and suggestions of sources for additional nominations can be sent to EdDeanSearch@baylor.edu.
“Our aim is to identify a set of finalists to bring to campus before spring break,” Matier said.
The other two academic units seeking new leaders are George W. Truett Theological Seminary and the School of Music. Dr. David Garland stepped down as dean of Truett Seminary this summer shortly after being named Baylor’s interim provost, and the effort to identify the seminary’s next leader is being chaired by Dr. Larry Lyons, vice provost and dean of the Graduate School.
In early September, the search committee issued a call for nominations and posted the position announcement and job description on the Executive Vice President and Provost’s website. In making the call for nominations, Lyons noted that the search committee’s task is not to select a new dean but rather to present to President and Chancellor Ken Starr “a limited number of finalists for on-campus interviews.” He encouraged nominations of candidates for the position to be sent to TruettDeanSearch@baylor.edu.
When Dr. Will May completed his 14-year tenure as dean of the School of Music in May 2014, his successor had not been named. Dr. Jim Bennighof, vice provost for academic affairs and policy, is chairing the search for the music school’s next leader.
“We are extending the search begun last year in order to find the best possible candidate for the position,” Bennighof said. He added that the search committee is continuing to receive nominations this semester and hopes to interview candidates during the spring 2015 semester.