By Caitlyn Meisner | Staff Writer
Baylor has begun searching for a new vice provost for global engagement, as Dr. Jeff Hamilton will be stepping down from the position in August 2023.
Hamilton said he has worked at Baylor since 1995, starting off as a professor in the history department. Now, after nine years as vice provost for global engagement, he will be stepping into a new role as the resident faculty director for the St. Andrews fall semester study abroad program. After he completes the St. Andrews program, Hamilton said he will be going on research leave to work on a book about Henry de Lacy — the Earl of Lincoln who died in 1311.
Hamilton said he had mixed feelings about stepping down from his role as vice provost for global engagement.
“I’ve enjoyed doing it,” Hamilton said. “I think [the Center for Global Engagement] has made a lot of progress in recent years despite COVID-19. But I do think it’s time for someone else to bring in fresh ideas and perspectives and help Baylor move forward as an R1 international university.”
As someone who rose from faculty to an administrative role, Hamilton said he is ready to return to the classroom and looks forward to teaching students in St. Andrews and continuing his academic research.
According to Hamilton and Provost Nancy Brickhouse’s August newsletter, there is a search committee conducting an international search for Hamilton’s replacement. The search committee is being chaired by Dr. Sandeep Mazumder, the dean of the Hankamer School of Business; Mazumder said 15 other faculty members are helping, with support from an external search firm, Gateway International.
“We want the best candidate, truly the best person who is going to be the best vice provost for global engagement,” Mazumder said. “Regardless of where they come from, what they look like, what their background is, we want the best.”
According to Mazumder, the internal Baylor-nominated candidates have come from a wide range of disciplines and schools.
“That makes it interesting, but that also makes it challenging,” Mazumder said. “I’m thankful for the search firm and the search committee [because] we have a wide range of different people to look at.”
Hamilton said he believes there will likely be a strong pool of candidates, but he has no involvement in the search for his replacement.
Mazumder said he could not disclose names of the nominees, but he said there have already been eight to 10 nominations from Baylor. He also said students are free to nominate someone for the position.
Mazumder said there are two main qualities the committee is looking for in a new vice provost for global engagement. One of the qualities is strengthening the internal culture for international education at Baylor; the other is working with foreign countries at institutions and recruiting faculty, graduate students and undergraduate students for Baylor. Mazumder said he hopes to have someone new for the position by the end of March 2023.
“This person needs to be very good at working with students and with other faculty and staff members,” Mazumder said. “We need this person to be able to step out of their comfort zone and work cross-collaboratively with others [from different areas of expertise].”
Brickhouse said she is hoping to find someone who is committed to elevating the importance of global engagement across campus. She also said she commends Hamilton’s work in professionalizing the Center for Global Engagement, especially after the challenges presented by the pandemic.
Brickhouse said she is not worried about not finding a replacement for Hamilton.
“There are people [at Baylor] that can probably service in the meantime,” Brickhouse said. “I’m not too worried about it, but I always have a plan B and a plan C.”
Brickhouse said she thinks whoever takes on the new role will have a direct impact on the student body due to the position’s focus on study abroad programs and international research.
“There’s a lot of opportunity to do some really good work, and I think the students will see it,” Brickhouse said.
