As it tries to move past a crisis over how it handled allegations of sexual assault on campus, Baylor University has hired its first female president.
Linda Livingstone, a management professor and dean of George Washington University's business school, will take over the top job at the private Baptist university on June 1. She'll replace David Garland, who has been serving as interim president since his predecessor, Ken Starr, was fired last year.
Livingstone previously taught at Baylor from 1991 to 2002, and served as associate dean of graduate programs at Baylor's business school for her last four years in Waco. She has also worked as an administrator at Pepperdine University.
In a press release, she said she was excited to be returning to Texas.
"Baylor’s unique culture of care and compassion – that I experienced personally from my colleagues and that I saw demonstrated among faculty, staff and students – continues to inspire and influence me as an administrator," she said. "Continuing to strengthen Baylor’s culture where faculty, staff and students are encouraged, inspired and cared for by one another is a priority."
School officials said they reviewed more than 400 possible candidates and interviewed 61 candidates.
"In the end, Dr. Livingstone’s experience uniquely fit the profile of the dynamic faith and transformational leader which Baylor needs at this point in time in our history," said Bob Brewton, chairman of the school's search committee.