Michael Beaty Named Vice Provost For Faculty Development

Dr. Michael Beaty, professor of philosophy and director of the Institute for Faith and Learning at Baylor University, has been appointed vice provost for faculty development by Provost Donald D. Schmeltekopf, effective June 1.
In the newly created position, Beaty will work with Schmeltekopf on various faculty development initiatives, including a mentoring program that is designed to help new faculty with building research agendas; summer teaching and scholars institutes, which will focus on effective teaching practices or promote scholarly work from multidisciplinary perspectives; programs to acclimate junior faculty and newly hired senior faculty to the culture at Baylor and to the tenure process; and a Center for Teaching and Learning, which will introduce faculty to new resources to aid them in the classroom.
Beaty also will host seminars throughout the year that will address faculty development issues and will oversee new faculty orientation.
"I am honored to be asked to serve Baylor University as vice provost for faculty development, and I appreciate President Sloan and Provost Schmeltekopf's confidence in me," Beaty said. "My initial aspirations include advancing the excellent work that Dr. Dianna Vitanza has done in faculty development. Working with Dr. Schmeltekopf, the deans, and departmental chairs to develop a highly valuable faculty development program is an exciting new opportunity for me.
"As Baylor makes the transition from a primarily college culture to a research culture, having additional resources for faculty development is imperative, and Dr. Schmeltekopf has assured me that new resources will be available for faculty development in both teaching and research."
A member of the Baylor faculty since 1988, Beaty received his bachelor's degree from Ouachita Baptist University, his master's degree from Baylor and his doctorate from the University of Notre Dame. Before coming to Baylor, he served as instructor of philosophy from 1976-1981 and as assistant professor of philosophy from 1985-1988 at Ouachita Baptist University.
Beaty served as principal investigator of "Religion and Higher Education: The Baylor Case Study," "Study of Southern Baptist Colleges and Universities," and the ongoing "The Theological Exploration for a Life of Service," all funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. He is the author of Christian Theism and Moral Philosophy and the editor of Christian Theism and the Problems of Philosophy.
Also an award-winning teacher, Beaty was named Outstanding Tenured Faculty Member in 1993-1994 for Baylor's College of Arts and Sciences and received Mortar Board's Circle of Achievement Award for 1993 and 1996.