New executive vice president, provost to join Baylor in June

Dr. Edwin Trevathan
Dr. Edwin Trevathan
Dr. Edwin Trevathan

By Rider Farris
Staff Writer

Dr. Edwin Trevathan will join Baylor as executive vice president and provost beginning June 1, 2015. Trevathan was selected from 20 potential applicants by a 14-person search committee comprised of faculty and staff. President and Chancellor Ken Starr announced the appointment today.

“Dr. Trevathan brings outstanding credentials and genuine enthusiasm for Baylor’s unique mission and the community vision of Pro Futuris,” Starr said in a press release. “As chief academic officer, he will be charged with advancing the University’s academic programs and providing oversight on vitally important matters of academic affairs. In his own collaborative way, Dr. Trevathan will provide leadership to the academic enterprise while vigorously supporting the bedrock principles of shared governance and academic freedom. We know he will make a powerful impact on our future progress, and we are delighted to welcome him to the Baylor family.”

Trevathan earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Lipscomb University and went on to obtain his master’s degree in public health and his medical degree from Emory University. Trevathan completed post-doctoral fellowships and residencies at Yale University, Harvard University, Yale-New Haven Medical Center, Boston Children’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital.

“I am deeply impressed with Professor Trevathan’s robust scholarly profile, his successful record as an academic leader and his enthusiasm for Baylor’s Christian mission,” said Dr. Thomas S. Kidd, appointed provost search committee member and associate director of Baylor’s Institute for Studies of Religion. “I’m delighted to have him join us.”

He has served as Dean of the college for Public Health and Social Justice at Saint Louis University, as well as professor of epidemiology within the school. In addition, Trevathan served as professor of Neurology and pediatrics at SLU’s school of Medicine. He held faculty positions at Emory University, University of Kentucky and Washington University in St. Louis.

Working at the Center of disease Control, Trevathan served as the leader on the pediatric response to the H1N1 flu epidemic in 2009. Furthermore, he has participated in public health projects within China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Honduras and Uganda.

Trevathan served as director of the Pediatric Epilepsy Center and the Division of Pediatric and Developmental Neurology at Washington University in St. Louis and was named Neurologist-in-Chief at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

Trevathan will succeed Dr. David E. Garland, interim provost, who has served since July 1.