Taking the Lead

Four Baylor alumni were named presidents of American universities during a five-week stretch this spring.

In March, Diana Lovell, B.S.Ed. ’89, Ph.D., was named president at Southwestern Oklahoma State University; Beck Taylor, B.B.A. ’92, Ph.D., a former Baylor business professor, was named president of Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama; and D. Michael Lindsay, B.A. ’94, Ph.D., was named president of Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. Lastly, Brad Carson, B.A. ’89, was named president of the University of Tulsa in early April.

This quartet joins a long list of Baylor alumni who currently serve as top executives at U.S. and international colleges and universities:

• J. Blair Blackburn, Ed.D. ’00, East Texas Baptist University
• Eric Bruntmyer, J.D. ’94, Hardin-Simmons University (Abilene, Texas)
• Scott Bullard, Ph.D. ’09, Pfeiffer University (Misenheimer, North Carolina)
• Brad Carson, B.A. ’89, University of Tulsa
• Gary Cook, B.A. ’72, D.Min., Dallas Baptist University
• Debbie Cottrell, B.S.Ed ’79, Ph.D., Texas Lutheran University
• Barry Creamer, B.A. ’85, Ph.D., Criswell College (Dallas)
• J. Bradley Creed, B.A. ’79, Ph.D., Campbell University (Buies Creek, North Carolina)
• Steve Currall, B.A. ’82, Ph.D., University of South Florida
• Elizabeth Davis, B.B.A. ’84, Ph.D., Furman University (Greenville, South Carolina)
• Harry Davros, J.D. ’94, Wade College (Dallas)
• Donald Dowless, Ph.D. ’89, Shorter University (Rome, Georgia)
• Pamela Durso, B.A. ’83, Ph.D. ’92, Central Baptist Theological Seminary (Shawnee, Kansas)
• Ronald Ellis, M.S.Ed. ’81, Ph.D., California Baptist University
• Jaffus Hardrick, Ed.D. ’02, Florida Memorial University
• Mary Hensley, Ed.D. ’89, Blinn College District (Brenham, Texas)
• Kao Kim Hourn, B.A. ’89, Ph.D., University of Cambodia
• Amanda Lee, B.A. ’88, M.A. ’90, Ph.D., Bladen Community College (Dublin, North Carolina)
• D. Michael Lindsay, B.A. ’94, Ph.D., Taylor University (Upland, Indiana)
• *Linda Livingstone, Ph.D., Baylor University
• Diana Lovell, B.S.Ed. ’89, Ph.D., Southwestern Oklahoma State University
• Steven Mason, B.B.A. ’98, Ph.D., LeTourneau University (Longview, Texas)
• Brian McCall, B.A. ’81, Ph.D., Texas State University System
• Harold Nolte, B.S. ’77, M.S.Ed. ’80, Ed.D., Dodge City [Kansas] Community College
• *Joseph Nyre, Ph.D., Seton Hall University (South Orange, New Jersey)
• Dub Oliver, B.S.Ed. ’87, Ph.D., Union University (Jackson, Tennessee)
• Randy O’Rear, Ed.D. ’04, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Belton, Texas)
• Linda Schott, B.A. ’79, Ph.D., Southern Oregon University
• Myles Shelton, B.A. ’75, M.S. ’76, Ed.D. ’94, Galveston [Texas] College
• Robert Sloan, B.A. ’70, Th.D., Houston Baptist University
• *Beck Taylor, B.B.A. ’92, Ph.D., Samford University (Birmingham, Ala.)
• Gregory Williams, Ed.D. ’96, Odessa [Texas] College

* designates former Baylor faculty member