WACO, Texas (ABP) — The Baylor University board of regents has named David Garland as interim president. Garland has been dean of the Texas Baptist school's George W. Truett Theological Seminary since June 2007.
He will continue as dean of the seminary, and serve as president until the board names a permanent president.
Garland joined the seminary faculty in 1997 as professor of Christian scriptures. He was appointed Truett’s associate dean for academic affairs in 2001, and was named Truett's Hinson Professor of Christian Scriptures in 2005.
Garland succeeds Harold Cunningham, who has been acting president since July, when John Lilley was terminated by the regents.
Howard Batson, chairman Baylor's board of regents, told the Waco Tribune-Herald that Garland will be able to bring unity to the "Baylor family."
“It’s very important to [the regents] that he can be accepted by a broad consensus of the various Baylor constituents. And it’s very clear that, whatever part of the Baylor family one might talk with, they’re pretty unanimous about one thing — and that’s that David Garland’s a fine fellow that can lead Baylor during a time of transition,” Batson said.
Garland's wife, Diana, is dean of Baylor’s School of Social Work.
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