David Garland Named Truett Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Baylor University President Robert B. Sloan Jr. announced Jan. 26 the appointment of Dr. David E. Garland as associate dean for academic affairs at George W. Truett Theological Seminary. Garland's appointment is effective on Feb. 26, also the date on which Paul Powell will begin his tenure as the seminary's dean.
"I am delighted that David Garland has agreed to serve as the associate dean for the seminary," said Dr. Donald D. Schmeltekopf, Baylor's provost and vice president for academic affairs. "He combines excellence in the classroom with excellence as a highly published scholar. Moreover, he fully embraces the mission of Truett, as a seminary committed to historic Baptist principles, to provide a solid theological foundation by which ministers can serve the church in all of its diversity."
Garland joined Truett's faculty in 1997 as professor of Christian scriptures. He came to Baylor after 21 years at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., where he was The Ernest and Mildred Hogan Professor of New Testament and chair of the Biblical Division from 1992-97. A graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University, Garland received his master of divinity and doctoral degrees from Southern Seminary and also spent a year of post-graduate work at Eberhardt-Karls University in T%uuml;bingen, Germany, as well as a year at Macquarrie University in Sydney, Australia.
Garland is the author of 10 books and more than 50 articles and has lectured at universities and colleges in Australia and the United States. He also has remained closely connected to the local church, serving as interim pastor at 14 churches in Kentucky and Indiana.
"This is an important moment in the history of Truett Seminary," Garland said. "I have the greatest respect for the gifts that Paul Powell brings for the task before us and am honored to be chosen to serve in this capacity. We have an extraordinary, dedicated faculty, staff and student body, and I am even more honored to be numbered among them and to share with them the exciting mission of preparing ministers for God's service."
"I couldn't be more pleased to have David Garland as associate dean for academic affairs," Powell said. "After visiting with him, I found that he has such a humble spirit and a dedication and commitment to teaching, to Truett and to the work God has called us to do. Everyone I've talked to highly recommended him, and I'm excited and grateful that he has accepted this position."
Dr. Diana Garland, Garland's wife, also joined the Baylor faculty in 1997. She is professor and director of graduate programs in the School of Social Work and director of Center for Family and Community Ministries.