McLendon Named Interim Provost
Dean of Baylor University’s
School of Education since 2015 and
holder of the Fred and Edith Hale
Endowed Professorship in Higher
Education Leadership and Policy,
Dr. Michael K. McLendon, will
serve as Baylor University’s interim
provost, effective July 1.
“We are blessed to have such a noted higher education scholar on the Baylor campus who can immediately step in and serve the University as interim provost during this important time of transition,” said President Linda A. Livingstone. “Dr. McLendon fully understands the role of the provost, as his scholarly work has focused extensively on postsecondary governance, finance and policy. His knowledge of and familiarity with Baylor, as an undergraduate and dean, are certainly an added benefit.”
Before coming to Baylor in 2015, McLendon held the Harold and Annette Simmons Endowed Centennial Chair and served as the academic associate dean at Southern Methodist University’s Simmons School of Education and Human Development. Previously, he was the executive associate dean, undergraduate dean and chief of staff at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development, where he served for 13 years as a professor of public policy and higher education.
McLendon earned his PhD in higher education policy from the University of Michigan, an MS in higher education from Florida State University and a BA in political science from Baylor. Having named Dr. Terrill Saxon interim dean for the School of Education, McLendon looks forward to applying his experience in building on Baylor’s academic reputation, positioning the University for a bright future.