Dr. Trevathan will join the University on June 1, 2015.
“Dr. Trevathan brings outstanding credentials and genuine enthusiasm for Baylor’s unique mission and the community vision of Pro Futuris,” Starr said. “As chief academic officer, he will be charged with advancing the University’s academic programs and providing oversight on vitally important matters of academic affairs. In his own collaborative way, Dr. Trevathan will provide leadership to the academic enterprise while vigorously supporting the bedrock principles of shared governance and academic freedom. We know he will make a powerful impact on our future progress, and we are delighted to welcome him to the Baylor family.”
“I am thrilled to have this opportunity to serve one of the world’s outstanding Christian universities and to assist the faculty in fulfilling the great promise of Pro Futuris,” Dr. Trevathan said. “Baylor maintains a deep and abiding commitment to scholarship and discovery across all disciplines, which it exercises powerfully in the context of Christian community, and a dedication to preparing women and men for lives of service. With this unique focus, Baylor University has meaningful impact in higher education and in the world. It is a profound honor that Judge Starr has invited me to join this remarkable and important institution at this time.”
Dr. Trevathan earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1977 from Lipscomb University, where he was salutatorian and president of student government. In 1982, he received his master’s degree in public health from Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University and his medical degree from the Emory University School of Medicine. He completed residencies and post-doctoral fellowships at Yale-New Haven Medical Center, Yale University School of Medicine; and Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School.
After serving as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Trevathan held faculty appointments at Emory University, University of Kentucky, and then at Washington University in St. Louis, where he was associate professor and then professor of neurology and pediatrics in the School of Medicine.
A practicing pediatric neurologist, Dr. Trevathan has provided academic leadership as director of the Pediatric Epilepsy Center and director of the Division of Pediatric and Developmental Neurology at Washington University in St. Louis, which has been among the nation’s top universities in extramural research funding. He also was Neurologist-in-Chief at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, where he oversaw a large division of academic pediatric neurologists and Ph.D. researchers.
From 2007-2010, Dr. Trevathan was director of the CDC’S National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. As a member of the senior leadership team, Dr. Trevathan was responsible for many of the CDC’s activities in areas of child development, maternal and child health, genetics, blood disorders, birth defects and developmental disabilities. At SLU, Dr. Trevathan has led a college that includes five departments that cover the range of public health sciences, health management and policy, as well as the School of Social Work and programs in criminology, biosecurity and global health. SLU’s College of Public Health and Social Justice offers graduate and professional degrees, as well as five undergraduate majors.
Dr. Trevathan has served on a variety of committees at the National Institutes of Health, CDC, the Institute of Medicine and the World Health Organization that impact child health, maternal health and neurological disorders. While at CDC, he also served as the strategic lead for the pediatric response to the 2009 H1N1 flu epidemic. His global health experience includes public health, research, education and development projects in Honduras, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and China. He has published widely in child neurology and neuroscience, epidemiology and public health.
“If you were to ask the executive vice president/provost search committee and its chair what they might want for Christmas this year, here is what you would likely hear – a person of Dr. Edwin Trevathan’s caliber, character and commitment to lead the academic enterprise of our beloved University at the dawn of the 21st century,” said Todd D. Still, Ph.D., The William M. Hinson Professor of Christian Scriptures at Baylor’s Truett Seminary and Faculty Regent, who chaired the 14-person provost search committee. “I am thrilled that Ed and his wife, Linda, will be joining the Baylor family. We are blessed beyond measure to have found a person of Ed’s expertise and experience, not to mention his Christian wisdom and devotion, to serve as our chief academic officer.”
In March, President Starr announced the appointment of the provost search committee, which was charged with seeking out highly qualified candidates and thoroughly assessing their academic credentials, leadership potential and commitment to Baylor’s unwavering Christian mission.
“Judge Starr exemplified best practices for collaborative governance by not only including all of Baylor’s constituent groups in the selection process but by listening well and honoring the wise assessments,” said search committee member Lori Baker, Ph.D., associate professor of anthropology and chair of the Baylor Faculty Senate. “Dr. Trevathan embodies Baylor’s mission and also our strategic vision, Pro Futuris. He is uniquely qualified to help us exceed our current aspirations and is a clear message that we are moving forward.”
“I am deeply impressed with Professor Trevathan’s robust scholarly profile, his successful record as an academic leader and his enthusiasm for Baylor’s Christian mission. I’m delighted to have him join us,” said search committee member Thomas S. Kidd, Ph.D., professor of history and associate director of Baylor’s Institute for Studies of Religion. “Dr. Ed Trevathan is a brilliant scientist, experienced editorial board member, compassionate clinician and accomplished academic leader,” said Jim H. Patton, Ph.D., professor of neuroscience, psychology and biomedical studies and past chair of the Baylor Faculty Senate. “At Baylor his leadership will help ensure our continued success as we strive to elevate our academic stature among peer universities while at the same time providing the finest possible education for students, as is our cherished tradition.” Other members of the search committee were:• Elizabeth Corey, Ph.D., associate professor of political science in the Honors Program, representing Baylor faculty• Jeremy Counseller, J.D., professor of law, representing Baylor faculty• Jaime Diaz-Granados, Ph.D., chair and professor of psychology, neuroscience and biomedical studies, representing Baylor faculty• Heidi J. Hornik, Ph.D., professor of art history, representing Baylor faculty• Terry Maness, D.B.A., dean of the Hankamer School of Business, representing the Council of Deans• Dennis L. O’Neal, Ph.D., dean of the School of Engineering and Computer Science, representing the Council of Deans• Kevin P. Jackson, Ph.D., vice president for student life, representing the administration• Marjorie Ellis, executive director of the Office of Career and Professional Development, representing the staff• Hannah Adams, University Scholar, representing students• Virginia DuPuy, executive director of the Greater Waco Educational Alliance, Ex-Officio, representing Baylor alumni and the Waco community• David H. Harper, J.D., partner, Haynes and Boone LLP, Ex-Officio, representing the Board of Regents
Jordan Hannah, deputy chief of staff in the Office of the President, assisted the Committee as search manager. The leading executive search firm, Storbeck/Pimintel and Associates, assisted with the search.
When he assumes his position in June, Dr. Trevathan will succeed Interim Provost David E. Garland, Ph.D., professor of Christian Scriptures at George W. Truett Theological Seminary. Garland has served as interim provost since July 1, when Elizabeth Davis, Ph.D., became president of Furman University.
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 16,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.
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