Baylor Extends Contract of Provost Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D.

Dear Faculty and Staff:

I am pleased to announce today a five-year contract extension through 2027 for Provost Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D., whose strong and collaborative leadership as our chief academic officer has been instrumental in elevating Baylor to join the nation’s top-tier research institutions as a preeminent Christian Research 1 university. She maintains her rank of Professor with tenure in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the School of Education.

Since joining Baylor on May 1, 2019, from Saint Louis University, Dr. Brickhouse has been a valuable member of the President’s Council responsible for the University’s entire academic enterprise. She guided the successful implementation of our initial Illuminate strategic plan, which provided the framework to build upon Baylor’s historic strengths and strategically invest in new areas of research and service. Because of these collaborative efforts, the University earned R1 designation – three years earlier than expected – from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Although Baylor is one of two private R1 universities in Texas, along with Rice, and among an elite list of 39 private U.S. universities designated as R1, we are only one of a handful that remain centered on a historic Christian mission.

Under Dr. Brickhouse, we recently welcomed one of the largest and most diverse cohorts of new faculty, who were drawn to Baylor because of our Christian mission and the opportunity to teach and engage in top-tier research and scholarship with fellow faculty and students at an R1 university. This includes six Foster Academic Challenge endowed chairs who recently have joined Baylor with national searches underway for eight additional endowed chairs. Under the Provost, faculty endowment remains a priority through the Illuminate Chair Matching Program within the Give Light philanthropic campaign.

As a Baylor chemistry graduate who deeply valued her undergraduate experience, Dr. Brickhouse has demonstrated her commitment to the University’s transformational education, one in which our faculty distinctively integrate faith and the intellectual life within and outside of the classroom. She has developed vital partnerships across Student Life, Advancement through our Give Light philanthropic campaign, and many other areas spanning the University that have deepened Baylor’s undergraduate academic programs and experiences. These programs – linked to student success and positive learning outcomes – were highly regarded in the latest U.S. News rankings. Baylor has also experienced significant growth in enrollment and program development in our graduate and professional programs under her leadership.

Please join me in extending congratulations to Dr. Brickhouse for her faithful leadership of our academic enterprise and distinct mission, as well as the bright future ahead for Baylor as a preeminent Christian Research 1 university.

Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
President