Samford Names New President To Replace Retiring Westmoreland
Samford University’s board of trustees named a new president Wednesday. Beck A. Taylor, now president of Whitworth University, will succeed Andrew Westmoreland effective July 1.
Moreland is retiring as president, a post he has held since 2006. Taylor will be the university’s 19th president.
William J. Stevens, chair of the Samford board of trustees, said in a statement that Taylor “brings an exceptional record of academic leadership, demonstrated success in fundraising, and a personal commitment to Samford.”
“We unanimously and confidently agree that President-elect Taylor possesses the experience, strategic vision, and alignment with our values to continue building Samford’s reputation as a leading Christian university,” Stevens said.
Taylor, 51, was recommended to the board by a 23-member presidential search committee following a 6-month national search involving more than 80 nominations and applicants.
This won’t be his first experience with Samford. Taylor was dean and professor of economics for Samford’s Brock School of Business from 2005 to 2010.
“I am profoundly honored and excited to return to Samford University and to follow my good friend, Andy Westmoreland,” Taylor said in the statement. “Samford is a crown jewel in Christian higher education, and it is committed to pursuing excellence at the intersection of faith and learning. My wife, Julie, and I already love this place and its people, and we look forward to the journey ahead.”
While a dean at Samford, Taylor established eight academic programs, an honors program, the Samford Business Network, and the school’s entrepreneurship program, which at the time was recognized as the nation’s top emerging program by the U.S. Association for Small Business & Entrepreneurship.
According to the statement, Taylor during his tenure at Whitworth led the school’s largest comprehensive fundraising campaign, as well as emphasizing community involvement, enhanced academic programs and new endowed faculty positions and centers.
He received his bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and his master’s and Ph.D. in economics from Purdue University.
U.S. completes strikes on Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
The U.S. has completed attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran, President Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday.
At least three people dead from a tornado in North Dakota
At least three residents were killed in the Enderlin area by a tornado on Friday night after storms hit North Dakota and Minnesota.
One daughter’s search for a father detained by ICE
Francisco Urizar, 64, was detained by ICE while on his work route delivering tortillas. His daughter Nancy is trying to find out what happened to him.
Star bassist Carol Kaye rejects Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honor
One of the most in-demand session players of the 1960s, Kaye was listed alongside the late record producer Thom Bell and the late pianist Nicky Hopkins as inductees in the Musical Excellence category.
Pilot who died in N.C. plane crash tried to avoid a turtle on airport runway
The pilot of a small plane that crashed near an airport tried to avoid hitting a turtle on the runway, according to a National Transportation Safety Board report. The pilot and a passenger were killed.
Day after day, Palestinians in Gaza risk harrowing journey in desperate search for food
Israel has begun allowing food into Gaza. Most of the supplies go to GHF, which operates food distribution points. A trickle of aid goes to the U.N. and humanitarian groups. Both systems are mired in chaos.
