O'Brien Named Executive Assistant to the President
Dr. Randall O'Brien, acting chair of Baylor's Department of Religion, has been named executive assistant to President Robert B. Sloan Jr. He will begin transitioning to his new responsibilities immediately.
O'Brien, who has served on the Baylor religion faculty since 1991, will represent the president, when requested, at internal and external functions, will coordinate various projects and assignments on behalf of the president, and will be responsible for day-to-day management of the President's Office.
Until a new religion chair is announced and in place, Dr. Naymond H. Keathley and Dr. William H. Bellinger Jr., both professors of religion, will serve as co-conveners of the department.
"I am very pleased that Dr. O'Brien will be moving into this new position to assist me in ensuring that the Office of the President continues to operate effectively and efficiently," said President Robert B. Sloan Jr. "His considerable knowledge of Baylor and his administrative expertise will allow me to focus more of my energy and time on relating to Baylor faculty, students, alumni, donors and other constituents."
O'Brien earned his bachelor's degree from Mississippi College and his master's in sacred theology from Yale Divinity School. He also holds master of divinity and doctor of theology degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. A decorated Vietnam War veteran, O'Brien has served as pastor of churches in Arkansas and Louisiana. He has written two books and numerous articles for professional and scholarly journals. Prior to joining the Baylor faculty he taught at Ouachita Baptist University and was pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark.
O'Brien and his wife, Kay, a member of Baylor's social work faculty, have three children, Alyson, Shannon and Christopher.