President Lilley Appoints Interim Dean Of Libraries, Interim CIO
Baylor University President John M. Lilley has announced the appointments of Professor William B. Hair III, associate dean and director of the University Libraries, as interim dean of libraries, and Rebecca (Becky) L. King, director of information systems and services, as interim chief information officer. Both appointments are effective immediately. Hair and King will assume the responsibilities previously held by Dr. Reagan M. Ramsower, who had served as dean of libraries and CIO while also serving as vice president for finance and administration.
As interim dean, Hair will assume responsibility for all university libraries, including Baylor's special collections (Armstrong Browning Library, The Texas Collection and Baylor Collections of Political Materials), as well as the electronic libraries division. He will report to Dr. Randall O'Brien, provost and vice president for academic affairs.
As interim CIO, King will assume responsibility for the Information Technology Services division, including Information Systems and Services, Internet Systems and Services, Client Services, and Servers and Networks. She will report to Ramsower.
"As we prepare to begin a national search for a combined chief information officer/dean of libraries, I am delighted that such outstanding colleagues as Bill Hair and Becky King have agreed to assume interim leadership responsibilities in the libraries and the university's information technology division," Ramsower said. "Finding the right person qualified to be both chief information officer and dean of libraries is important to continue the effective integration of Baylor's libraries, information resources and investments in technology to enhance teaching, learning, scholarship and decision-making."
Hair joined the Baylor faculty from Golden Gate Theological Seminary in 1994 to serve as theology and philosophy librarian. He earned his bachelor's degree in education from the University of Tennessee in 1976, a master of divinity degree from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in 1980, and his master of library science from Vanderbilt University in 1982. He also has pursued additional study at Princeton Theological Seminary, the University of San Francisco and Harvard Graduate School of Education.
During his time at Baylor, Hair has held numerous positions within the libraries, including acting head of the social science and humanities reference department, and acting dean. In 2002, he was appointed associate dean and director of central university libraries. Hair is the book review editor for the Journal of Religious and Theological Information published by Haworth Press.
Hair also was one of 23 Baylor professors who traveled to northern Iraq in December 2003 to Dohuk University. While there, the group conducted seminars and workshops for Dohuk faculty, with Hair focusing on "The Academic Library of the 21st Century." Hair returned to Iraq last December with three other Baylor professors to assist in the establishment and dedication of Dohuk's Center for Democracy and Diplomacy.
Hair and his wife, Beth, have three daughters, Melissa, Laura and Megan; and one granddaughter, Mallory Holland Cockerham.
King earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1976 from Baylor, where she was a National Merit Scholar and a cum laude graduate. She received her MBA with an emphasis in accounting in 1980 from the University of Houston. In addition, she has done graduate work in the psychology statistics program at Baylor.
King joined Baylor in 1981 as an analyst/programmer and a year later became manager of database systems development. In 1990, she was named associate director for information systems and services and was promoted to director in 2001. She directs a 26-member staff in the review, implementation and management of university administrative information systems and database management systems. She also is responsible for Web access to administrative information resources and training of campus clients in the use of administrative systems.
During her career, King has served in several leadership roles for professional organizations in higher education information technology. She currently serves on the board of directors for EDUCAUSE, the premier professional organization for information technology in higher education. She also served from 1993-1998 as vice president, vice chair, president and board chair for CUMREC, The Higher Education Administrative Technology Conference, and from 1993-95 as a board member, vice president and president of IAs of Texas, now SETA Central - Regional SCT Users Group.
King has been honored with several awards, including the Outstanding Staff Award from Baylor in 1993, the CUMREC Frank Martin Service Award in 1999, and CUMREC Best Paper and Best Presentation awards.
King and her husband, Jimmy, also a Baylor graduate, have two children, Clay, a junior at Austin College, and Jenny, a senior at Midway High School and an incoming Baylor freshman. The Kings are members of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church.