• Thank you, Dr. Garland!

    Dr. David Garland

    If you want to get a sense of David Garland’s place in the Baylor family, just read through the comments left on Facebook earlier this month when Baylor Regents announced the establishment of a $5 million scholarship fund at Truett Seminary in his honor.

    Over and over again, you’ll see one phrase pop up: “servant leader.” And I can’t think of any better way to describe the man who has led Baylor University through the last year.

    First, consider that, when he was asked to take over as interim president last May following the release of significant failings in the university’s response to sexual violence in our community, Dr. Garland was actually on sabbatical, writing a book and recovering from the loss of his wife, Dr. Diana Garland, to cancer just a few months earlier.

    Consider also that he absolutely knew what the job would require, having already served as interim president once before — from 2008-2010, when he took the role amidst internal university struggles over academic freedom and alumni relations.

    Yet Dr. Garland still agreed to serve, out of his love for Baylor and what this university stands for. And he wasn’t content to just keep the seat warm for his eventual successor; here are just a few of the significant accomplishments we’ve seen this year under his leadership:

    Dr. Garland, words aren’t enough to sufficiently thank you for your leadership of, service to, and love for Baylor University, but they are all this humble blog has to offer. Thank you, thank you, thank you; we can’t wait to see you back on campus next spring when you return to teaching at Truett!

    Sic ’em, Dr. Garland!