Kephart Tapped as Program Development Director of the Baylor Advanced Research Institute
Dr. Truell W. Hyde, vice provost for research at Baylor University, has announced the appointment of Jim Kephart as director of program development for the newly created Baylor Advanced Research Institute, or BARI.
"Jim's leadership, proven experience and the contacts he has made around the world will only help ensure the success of BARI," Hyde said. "Any time you have multiple entities involved in research and development, knowing how to overcome all the hurdles is a very valuable skill set. Jim has that skill set."
"I am honored and excited to have been chosen," Kephart said. "Enhancing the research capability and academic standing of the university is our highest priority. It is my hope that BARI will be a win-win for Baylor and the central Texas economy."
The BARI aims to further strengthen the research environment at Baylor by providing faculty with new research opportunities, student internships and graduate faculty funding to meet the scientific challenges of the future. Its goal is to narrow the gap between discoveries in Baylor's research laboratories and their practical application in industry.
Kephart will augment that goal by working to bring new research opportunities with industry and government to Baylor faculty and students. In addition, he will lead the effort to provide both established and start-up companies with the personnel, training and infrastructure necessary for creating new financially stable high growth enterprises.
Prior to Baylor, Kephart worked for Universities Space Research Association, managing NASA's $600 million Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy development program, a joint U.S.-German effort. Kephart has served as the U.S. Air Force Doctrine and Operations Chair, German General Staff Officer College in Hamburg, Germany, managed several large scale Department of Defense programs and served as a flight examiner on the NATO Airborne Early Warning aircraft. He received his master's in business administration from Webster University and holds bachelor's degrees in business and foreign language from Central Washington State University in Ellensburg.
For more information, contact Dr. Hyde at (254) 710-3763.