President Lilley Announces Administrative Appointments

by Lori Fogleman (254) 710-6275

Baylor University President John M. Lilley today announced the appointments of Dr. Reagan M. Ramsower as vice president for finance and administration and Charles D. Beckenhauer as general counsel, effective immediately. Both had been holding the positions as interim appointments.
"It has been a joy to work with Reagan and Charlie over the last few weeks," Lilley said. "They have a thorough understanding of the university's financial and legal issues, as well as a strong commitment to Baylor's mission. I have confidence in their abilities to provide leadership in these important areas of the university's operations."
Ramsower had been serving as acting vice president for finance and administration since August 2004, when former vice president David Brooks returned to private business. Ramsower manages 10 offices in the finance and administration division, including the department of public safety, budget and human resources, design and construction services, enrollment management, facilities management, financial services, information technology services, institutional research, investments, and university host and operations.
Ramsower earned two degrees from Baylor - a bachelor's degree in business in 1974 and a master's degree in economics in 1976. He joined the Baylor faculty in 1983 after completing his doctorate in management information systems and industrial psychology from the University of Minnesota. In 1986, he was appointed chair of the newly formed department of information systems in the Hankamer School of Business and established both a master's and a doctoral program in the department, while managing the rapid growth in the undergraduate programs.
In 1991, Ramsower became associate dean for teaching and administrative systems in the business school, where he developed administrative systems for improved management control and enhanced teaching processes using technology. Since 2000, Ramsower has managed Baylor's information assets as associate vice president and chief information officer. In 2001, upon recommendation of the library faculty, Ramsower was named dean of Baylor Libraries.
Ramsower is internationally recognized for his pioneering work in 1984 on telecommuting, and has published several books and numerous articles in the journals of information systems. He was named an Outstanding Baylor Professor in 1988, an Outstanding Baylor Alumnus in 1991, and Most Popular Business Professor in 1999.
Ramsower and his wife, Glenda, have two sons, Jason and Ryan. The Ramsowers are members of Lake Shore Baptist Church in Waco.
Beckenhauer had served as interim general counsel since Sept. 1, 2005, succeeding Noley Bice, who retired after seven years of service. Beckenhauer earned his bachelor's degree magna cum laude from Kansas State University in 1971 and his law degree with honors from the University of Texas at Austin in 1979. He also earned a master of laws degree in labor and employment law with highest honors from George Washington University in 1983.
Beckenhauer served for 22 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a colonel. He served as a meteorologist and judge advocate general, specializing in labor and employment litigation in matters involving non-military employees. His cases involved union representation, unfair labor practices, grievance arbitration, labor standards, discipline cases and employment discrimination throughout the nation. He handled approximately 200 cases and ultimately supervised 11 attorneys with more than 300 employment cases in federal courts pending at any one time. He also spent an additional six years as a criminal prosecutor or supervising prosecutor, disposing of about 300 cases per year with about 30 going to jury trial per year.
Before joining Baylor's general counsel's office in 1993, Beckenhauer served as deputy director of legislative and legal policy within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where he worked on legislative, legal and policy matters relating to civilian and military personnel during the H.W. Bush and Clinton administrations.
At Baylor, Beckenhauer has served as assistant and associate general counsel, and has concentrated on employment matters involving immigration law, affirmative action and employment discrimination, labor standards, Title IX compliance, litigation support and oversight, construction contracts and disputes, and study abroad programs. He also serves as an instructor in employment relations at Baylor Law School.