Published on June 18, 2014 by Philip Poole  

Samford University has announced three academic administrative appointments, effective immediately.

baldwinMary Sue Baldwin will assume a new title of chief institutional effectiveness officer in the office of the president. Baldwin had been serving as associate provost, and she will continue many of the responsibilities she has had with assessment and accreditation, according to Samford President Andrew Westmoreland. Baldwin will have administrative oversight for the Office of Institutional Effectiveness to support Samford's assessment and compliance work. Westmoreland said Baldwin would help the university "navigate many of the state and federal compliance regulations, and her academic and administrative experience will be serve the her and the university well."

biggioNancy Biggio will become associate provost for administration. She has been serving as assistant provost since 2009 and will continue to have administrative oversight for the Academic Success Center, disability resources and the Career Development Center.  She will also have additional administrative involvement with the Office of the Registrar and student records, the Office of Academic Grants, and financial management within academic affairs. "Dr. Biggio is a capable administrator and strong advocate for student success, will bring student-centered leadership and administrative experience to these new responsibilities," said Samford Provost and Executive Vice President J. Bradley Creed.

metressChris Metress will have an expanded role as associate provost for academics. He will continue with the special projects he has undertaken as University Professor to increase faculty and student opportunities for academic excellence. He will also have administrative involvement with University Fellows, the Office of Global Engagement, Air Force ROTC, General Education, and other academic programs. Creed said Metress brings "a strong combination of teaching and academic administrative experience to this role."

"Samford is very fortunate to have three outstanding, well-qualified individuals already in our administrative structure who can take these roles," Creed added. "They know Samford well and have served the university with distinction in their current assignments, which provides a strong foundation for these transitions."

The appointments come at the same time the university is welcoming three previously announced new deans on July 1, Creed noted. Michael Crouch is dean of McWhorter School of Pharmacy, coming to from East Tennessee State University. Eleanor Howell comes from Creighton University to be the dean of the Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing. Henry (Corky) Strickland, who has been a Samford faculty member since 1988, is the new dean of Cumberland School of Law.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.