By Hannah Neumann
Staff writer
By Hannah Neumann
Staff writer
Baylor began the search to find a vice president for university development this week.
This position leads the university’s fundraising and capital initiatives.
Dr. Kenneth L. Hall, who formerly filled the position, left the university in November.
Tommye Lou Davis, vice president for constituent engagement, will chair the search with assistance from Heidi Boyd, senior talent acquisition specialist in the human resources department.
“This is a very important position that is vital for students,” Davis said. “We want to raise money for the endowment so we can offer more scholarships to make Baylor more affordable for students who wish to come to Baylor.”
Storbeck/Pimentel, a search firm that was also involved in Baylor’s search for executive vice president and provost Dr. Ed Trevathan, will also help with the search, according to the Office of the president and chancellor.
The search committee will look for qualified candidates with leadership experience, both within the university and nationally. Those considered will be invited to campus for a series of interviews, and a vice president is expected to be named from this group.
Davis said the vice president for university development should have a proven track record when it comes to fundraising, and a background in academia would be advantageous.
“I think it needs to be someone who is very relational and someone with organizational skills,” she said. “Because they will be in charge of the division of development, they need to be able to have a good grasp of the organizational structure that can be successful when it comes to fundraising.”
Suggestions of both potential sources for nominations, as well as faculty and staff nominations for the position, are encouraged.
Davis said they hope to have the position filled by June 1, the beginning of the fiscal year for the university. However, in order to perform a thorough search, the team will not be constrained to a timeline.
