By Hannah Webb | News Editor
Former Baylor provost Nancy Brickhouse has accepted an administrative position with Texas State University Systems three months after announcing her resignation as provost and her plan to stay on Baylor faculty.
Brickhouse served as Baylor’s provost, vice president and chief academic officer for seven years. On April 15, it was announced that she would leave the position July 31. At the time, she said she planned to take a yearlong sabbatical before returning to Baylor to teach and write.
Instead, Texas State University Systems announced July 28 that it had hired Brickhouse as vice chancellor for academic and health affairs.
TSUS, based out of Austin, was the first higher education system established in Texas, according to its website. It is a network of seven colleges across Texas, including Texas State University, Lamar University, Sul Ross State University and Sam Houston State University.
The announcement came less than three months after Baylor announced Brickhouse’s plans to step down.
“I’ve known since my appointment in 2019 that I would make Baylor my final stop,” Brickhouse said in Baylor’s announcement. “I also knew that I would want my final years to be engaged in the work that attracted me to the professoriate at the beginning: teaching and writing. Like my return to Baylor as an ‘alumna Provost,’ there is something beautiful and meaningful about coming full circle.”
Brickhouse also addressed her plans in an April 15 letter from the Office of the Provost titled “All good things must come to an end.” She described the previous academic year as difficult and said she needed time away from the demands of the position.
“Professionally, this year has been grueling at times,” Brickhouse wrote. “I need a respite.”
A few days later, Brickhouse told The Lariat that her decision to step down was not connected to politics or recent political developments on Baylor’s campus.
“This is not a political decision,” Brickhouse told The Lariat in April. “It’s not a factor at all.”
She also said the decision had been under consideration for a while.
“I’ve been in conversation with the president about this for several months,” Brickhouse said. “This was not a rash decision that came all of a sudden. It just seemed like it was the right time. It was the right time for me. And a good time for the institution as well.”
Less than three months later, TSUS announced Brickhouse would take on a new administrative role overseeing academic and health affairs across the system.
“Dr. Brickhouse joins the Texas State University System at a pivotal time of growth and transformation,” TSUS Chancellor Brian McCall said in the announcement. “Her exceptional experience as an academic leader, commitment to student success, and proven ability to advance academic excellence will be invaluable as TSUS continues to strengthen its institutions and serve more students across Texas.”
Neither Brickhouse nor TSUS responded to The Lariat’s requests for interviews about the appointment or the change in her plans.
Baylor began its search for Brickhouse’s successor before the TSUS announcement.
Baylor President Linda Livingstone announced she appointed a 22-member Provost Search Advisory Committee May 6, with representatives from each of Baylor’s colleges.
“The search committee will hold its first meeting [in May], and potential candidates will be assessed based on their academic credentials, demonstrated leadership and commitment to Baylor’s unwavering Christian mission,” Livingstone said in the announcement. “Additionally, candidates must be able to continue the work and momentum of Baylor in Deeds as we strive to be the premier Christian research university.”
As of now, former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Dr. Lee Nordt began serving as interim Vice President and Provost on Aug. 1, a Baylor spokesperson confirmed to The Lariat.
Brickhouse’s tenure as provost ended July 31, three days after TSUS announced her new position.
