Naymond Keathley Appointed Senior Vice Provost

Baylor University Executive Vice President and Provost Randall O'Brien has announced the appointment of Dr. Naymond Keathley, professor and interim chair of the religion department, as senior vice provost, effective immediately. Keathley succeeds Dr. Larry Lyon, professor and dean of the Graduate School, who will become vice provost for institutional effectiveness, while remaining dean of the Graduate School.
"I am extremely pleased that Dr. Lyon has accepted the huge responsibility of heading our division of institutional effectiveness. He will continue to lead our SACS accreditation initiatives, give guidance to our ongoing institutional assessment, and work closely with the President and me in strategic planning for the university. Dr. Lyon's skill set and leadership is invaluable to our office. I greatly appreciate his service to our University.
"Dr. Keathley and I have worked closely together in administration for many years. His considerable people skills, combined with his exemplary organizational and administrative ability, finely honed through years of experience as associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, director of the undergraduate program of the university's largest department according to student credit hours, and acting chair of that department make him an outstanding choice to serve as senior vice provost of the university. I am deeply appreciative of Dr. Keathley's willingness to serve Baylor in this capacity, and very much look forward to working with him in serving our colleagues and larger university community."
"As a Baylor alumnus and a faculty member for the last 25 years, I feel privileged and honored--and a bit overwhelmed--to be given this wonderful opportunity to serve Baylor in this new capacity," Keathley said. "And I am particularly pleased to be able to work closely with Dr. O'Brien in this new setting just as I have served with him for quite a few years in Tidwell. He is a gifted individual who has already made a significant impact as interim provost; thus, I consider it an honor to work on his team as he moves into the position permanently."
As senior vice provost, Keathley will be in charge of various Baylor centers and institutes, including the Center for Christian Ethics, Center for International Education, Center for Jewish Studies, Center for Ministry Effectiveness and Educational Leadership, Center for Religious Inquiry Across the Disciplines, Institute for Faith and Learning, Institute for Oral History, Mayborn Museum Complex and Baylor University Press. He also will oversee new faculty orientation, give guidance to new summer school initiatives, supervise the office of the provost, and act in the absence of the provost.
A Baylor alumnus, Keathley received his bachelor's degree in history with minors in English, German and religion. After earning his bachelor of divinity degree and doctorate from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Keathley served on the faculty at Palm Beach Atlantic College and Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. He has taught at Baylor since 1981.
An expert in New Testament studies, Keathley is the author of "The Church's Mission to the Gentiles: Acts of the Apostles, Epistles of Paul." He also has written for the "Holman Bible Dictionary," "The Mercer Dictionary of the Bible" and the "Journal of Church and State," among other publications.
His service at Baylor has included associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, director of undergraduate studies for the religion department, liaison between the religion department and George W. Truett Theological Seminary and member of the Faculty Senate.
He also has served as interim pastor for churches in California, as messenger for the Baptist General Convention of Texas and as a participant for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
He and his wife, Carolyn, whom he met while both were students at Baylor, are members of Seventh and James Baptist Church. They have three children, all Baylor graduates.
Lyon's position is newly created. He will provide leadership on the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accreditation review and also work with Institutional Research and Testing and with the office of assessment. As previously noted, Lyon also will continue to serve as Dean of the Graduate School.
For more information, contact O'Brien at (254) 710-3504 or Keathley at (254) 710-3737.