By Kate McGuire
Staff Writer
Baylor regents announced Thursday two new members to serve on the board for one-year terms.
Dr. Todd Still, professor of Christian Scriptures and holder of the William M. Hinson Chair of Christian Scriptures, and Chicago junior Taylor Hoogendoorn will serve as non-voting regents who contribute new perspectives and represent the students and faculty, said Lori Fogleman, director of media communications at Baylor.
Hoogendoorn is in the Business Fellows Program, majoring in economics, finance, math and philosophy. Hoogendoorn said he was trying to find a community service outlet and once the opportunity to become a student regent became available, he decided to apply.
“I’ve been looking for a way to serve in the communty,” he said. “I had been praying about it for a long time and once this opportunity came, God called me to do it.”
Hoogendoorn said he is looking forward to the collaborative aspect of being in the Board of Regents as his opinion will add value.
“We expect Taylor to bring a broad student perspective as well as the Baylor student energy and enthusiasm this next year,” said Dr. Kevin Jackson, vice president for student life.
The application process began in fall 2012 when a university-wide email was sent out to students. Student Body President Kelly Rapp and Jackson put together a committee to set up interviews with the applicants.
Twenty students applied and six students were chosen to interview with the Bureau of Administrative Affairs Committee.
The committee narrowed the pool to three possible regents and after all information was reviewed the board chose Hoogendoorn.
Still attended Baylor for his undergraduate, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Greek and sociology in 1988.
He then went on to receive his Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1991 and finally received his Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Glasgow in Scotland in 1996. This is the second year Still will serve as faculty regent on the board.
“With a strong recommendation he was picked as the faculty regent,” Fogleman said. “He is well respected and his perspective was very accepted among all regents. We’re glad to have him back for another year.”
“We are honored that Dr. Still will continue his service as faculty regent, and we welcome to the board as our student regent Taylor Hoogendoorn,” said the board’s chairman Richard Willis in a press release.
Still said he plans on offering a perspective from the Baylor faculty side.
“I love the university,” Still said. “It is an absolute honor to be selected to serve in this capacity. I am grateful for and humbled by the opportunity and will seek to do the very best job that I can as a regent.”
This year’s student regent was chosen from a long list of applicants to fill the student regent position that is currently occupied by Student Body President Kelly Rapp.
“We had tremendous applicants this year from our applicant pool, we are very pleased because this is a reflection of the entire student body,” Jackson said.
