President Starr Expands Responsibilities, Adds VP Title to Chief of Staff
Karla Leeper, Ph.D., is Chief of Staff to President Ken Starr and assumes additional responsibilities as Vice President for Executive Affairs. (Baylor Marketing Communications)
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WACO, Texas (March 4, 2013) - Baylor University President Ken Starr has expanded the role of his Chief of Staff Karla Leeper, Ph.D., to include an additional title and new responsibilities as Vice President for Executive Affairs.
While continuing to manage the Office of the President, Leeper will assume responsibility for the Office of Governmental Relations and Baylor Event Services, which previously had reported to the Division of Constituent Engagement and Division of Finance and Administration respectively.
"This appointment recognizes Dr. Leeper's exceptional tenure managing the essential and strategic responsibilities of the President's Office," President Starr said. "We have expanded her role to include a vice presidential position that will lead a set of emerging areas of critical importance as our office moves boldly forward under the strategic vision of Pro Futuris."
"This is a structure that is common at many other universities," Leeper said. "It is done in recognition that the University must speak with one voice in terms of its relations with state and federal legislators, and particularly with someone with Judge Starr's history and stature, it makes sense that government relations would be operated out of the President's Office. Given our current focus on development and our efforts to make sure that our event strategies align with our communications strategies, it also made sense to move events from operations into the President's Office.
"Our government relations and events programs have prospered under the outstanding leadership of Ms. Tommye Lou Davis and Dr. Reagan Ramsower. I am grateful for the work they have both done creating excellent teams that are well equipped to help these areas prosper in this new organizational model," Leeper said.
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Baylor University is a private Christian university and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having "high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The university provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 15,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating university in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 11 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.