WACO, Texas (June 9, 2016) — Robyn L. Driskell, Ph.D., Divisional Dean for Humanities and Social Sciences in the College of Arts & Sciences, has been named Executive Director and President’s Chief of Staff by Baylor University Interim President David Garland, Ph.D.

“Robyn has had lengthy experience with issues important to faculty and in meeting educational goals from her work as Divisional Dean in Arts & Sciences,” Garland said. “She has demonstrated strong leadership, is an excellent administrator and has good relationships with the Regents. She has so many gifts, and I am most grateful that she was willing to accept this new assignment.”

“I am so excited and honored to be a part of the President’s office during this time in Baylor’s history,” Driskell said. “I am privileged to work with Dr. David Garland and look forward to working with all groups across campus and beyond. My experience at Baylor has provided a great foundation as I move into this new role. We have some important steps to take in order to move us forward and continue fulfilling Baylor’s mission. I know that Baylor’s future is bright.”

Driskell, a professor of sociology, has served in various capacities at Baylor, including as the Executive Associate Dean, Graduate Program Director, Interim Director of the Institute for Church State Studies and the Coordinator of Academic Assessment for SACS Accreditation.

As Divisional Dean, she oversaw 14 departments in the College of Arts & Sciences: art; classics; communication; English; history; journalism, public relations and new media; modern foreign languages; museum studies; philosophy; political science; religion; sociology; film and digital media; and theatre arts.

Her responsibilities included faculty issues, faculty interviews and hiring, tenure reviews, annual performance reviews, annual faculty raises and the college budget. Additionally, she has worked closely with departmental chairs, overseen departmental matters, departmental budgets and difficult personnel issues and conducted chair annual evaluations and raises. Her main goal was to support and advise faculty for their advancement and success.

Her scholarly research interests include community, demography and Latino studies. She has written several peer-reviewed journal articles on these topics.

Driskell is co-author of “The Community in Urban Society” (2012) and “The Discourse on Applied Sociology” (2007). She was awarded the Outstanding Professor Teaching Award (2002) and the Outstanding Graduate Program Director Award (2008) at Baylor, plus several competitive summer sabbaticals and research leaves. She has served her sociology professional society in a variety of roles and was President of the Southwestern Sociological Association in 2008.

Driskell received her Ph.D. in sociology from Texas A&M University in 1997 and her B.A. (1991) and M.A. (1993) from Baylor University.

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By Terry Goodrich, Baylor University Media Communications