Baylor University Appoints New Director for Baylor's Institute for Faith and Learning

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Dr. Darin Davis has been named director of Baylor University's Institute for Faith and Learning, which supports Baylor's commitment to its Baptist and Christian heritage as well as academic excellence.

Davis assumed his new role on June 1. He previously served as the Institute's interim director and associate director. In the fall, he will join Baylor's faculty as assistant professor of philosophy.

Founded in 1997, the Institute for Faith and Learning serves a vital role in promoting the Christian intellectual life both at Baylor and beyond through a wide range of programs and initiatives that encourage the integration of academic excellence and Christian commitment.
As director, Davis will oversee the planning and implementation of the Institute's activities, including the Baylor Symposium on Faith and Culture, the William Carey Crane Scholars Program and numerous faculty and staff development initiatives.

"I am humbled by the opportunity to lead the Institute for Faith and Learning and grateful for the chance to serve," Davis said. "The Institute bears a special responsibility to help Baylor fulfill its promise as a Christian university in the Baptist tradition, and I look forward to contributing to that most significant work in every way that I can. I am also well aware of Baylor's leadership among church-related colleges and universities and the stewardship that implies."

Davis has served as interim director "in a marvelous fashion," said Dr. Elizabeth Davis, interim provost and professor of accounting. "He has continued the important work of the Institute, reaching folks within Baylor and beyond our walls. I have been impressed with his leadership skills and style, his love for Baylor and his strong conviction and vision for the Institute.

"When I met with the Institute's Advisory Committee to discuss our plans for naming the director, we were unanimous in our praise for Darin's work and our firm belief that he is the right person to take the lead in the next phase of the Institute's life."

Previous director of the Institute was Dr. Douglas Henry, who stepped down in September 2008.

Davis came to Baylor in August 2006 after serving as assistant professor of philosophy at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wis. He earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Mo., and his master's degree in philosophy from Baylor. He earned his bachelor's degree in English and philosophy with special honors from the University of Texas at Austin.

A specialist in philosophical ethics, Davis is the author or co-author of scholarly articles in journals such as the Southern Journal of Philosophy and the American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly.