ABILENE, Texas (ABP) — Hardin-Simmons University trustees elected as their school's president Lanny Hall, president of Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, and a past president and chancellor at Hardin-Simmons.
Hall will be the 15th president in Hardin-Simmons' 118-year history, returning to the university where he started as a student more than 40 years ago and where he served a decade as president.
"Dr. Hall knows and loves the school and has an exciting vision for enhancing its academic excellence and facilities," Trustee Chairman Hilton Hemphill said. "He has extensive experience in fundraising and in the financial management of a university."
Hall began his administrative career in higher education in 1986 as executive vice president and chief academic officer at Howard Payne, leaving there to take over the reins as president of Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas.
Hall served as president at Hardin Simmons 10 years before being named chancellor in 2001. As chancellor, he held the Haggerton Chair of political science and served as executive director of the HSU Institute for Leadership.
During his administration, Hardin-Simmons more than doubled in enrollment and experienced growth in endowment, academic programs and campus facilities.
Under his leadership, the university added numerous new campus buildings, including the Skiles Social Sciences Building and the Connally Missions Center.
"Carol and I love the work in which we have been engaged over the last 20 years," Hall said. "We welcome the opportunity to put all of our experience, ability, talent and energy to work again for Hardin-Simmons University."
The presidential search committee and the search advisory committee jointly evaluated numerous candidates who were identified from across the country. The committees included trustees, faculty, staff, members from various HSU boards and the HSU student body president.
"Personal interviews were conducted with the top 10 candidates with more in-depth visits with the four finalists," Hemphill said.
Hall was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1979 to 1984 and served in key government leadership positions at the national level.
Hall earned his Ph.D. in educational administration from the University of Texas in Austin in 1985.
He and his wife, Carol, have two children — Lana McCutchen and Chad Hall — and three grandchildren.
"With an understanding of HSU's history and heritage, and with abiding respect for the solid fiscal foundation that the University enjoys today, I look forward to the high privilege of leading HSU," Hall said.
Hardin-Simmons began looking for a new president shortly after Craig Turner left last summer to accept the presidency at Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C.
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