Experienced Educator and Theologian to Lead Academics in Interim
With the start of the new academic year looming less than one month away, the academic affairs office of Hardin-Simmons University will be under the leadership of an experienced professor, pastor, administrator, and theologian.
With the announcement this week that long-time provost and chief academic officer Dr. Bill Ellis would be assuming the presidency of Howard Payne University in Brownwood, HSU president Dr. Lanny Hall indicated that he would appoint an interim academic officer in the next few days.
Today, Dr. Hall appointed Dr. Don Williford to that post. "I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Williford as interim vice president for academic affairs," says Hall.
"With Dr. Williford's appointment, we will experience a seamless transition. The current associate provost and professor of New Testament is intimately familiar with the operation of the office of academic affairs and is well respected by his peers." Hall continued," Williford also brings to the task a keen understanding of faculty and accreditation issues."
Williford has been at HSU since 1992 when he accepted the position of assistant professor of church ministry and director of church relations. He became associate vice president for academic affairs in July of 2002 and associate provost in 2006.
He earned his undergraduate degree in secondary education in 1970 from Howard Payne. Williford went on to receive both his Masters of Divinity and his Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Williford started his teaching career at Carter Junior High in Arlington. He has been a professor of New Testament at HSU since 1996. Williford became a pastor even before he graduated with his bachelor's degree, starting out at a small Baptist church in Hasse, Texas. He also was pastor of First Baptist Church of Brownwood for almost eleven years.
Dr. Hall says, "HSU owes a debt of gratitude to Dr. Williford for rearranging his personal life to adjust to these new interim responsibilities." Dr. Hall went on the say that he has known Williford for more than 36 years. "I know him as a fine professor, preacher, pastor, and administrator. We are fortunate that he is willing to assume this important interim post," says Hall.
Williford is married to Dr. Pam Williford, dean of the Irvin School of Education. The Willifords have one daughter, Natalie.
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