(August 20, 2008)--Baylor University Regents Wednesday named Truett Theological Seminary Dean Dr. David E. Garland as interim president as they launch a national search for a permanent successor to ousted president Dr. John Lilley.

Garland replaces Harold Cunningham, who was named acting president after regents voted to fire Lilley in July.

Garland has been dean of the seminary since June 1, 2007.

He joined the seminary’s faculty in 1997.

“We sought broad participation in this decision and consulted with members of the executive council, deans, executive committee members of the Faculty Senate, alumni, luminaries in Texas Baptist life and members of Baylor’s Board of Regents,” said Dr. Howard K. Batson, chairman of the Baylor University Board of Regents.

“David was a consensus choice who was recognized as an outstanding scholar and able administrator.

“Dr. Garland has many years of experience as a faculty member, both as a dedicated teacher and a respected scholar,” said Dr. Georgia Green, associate dean of the Baylor School of Music and chair of the Faculty Senate.

“These faculty credentials combined with his experience as an academic administrator make him an excellent choice for this appointment.”

Regents voted last month in Grapevine to oust Lilley and begin a search for a new president.

“The decision was necessary in order to unite Baylor’s many constituencies and move the University forward in its next period of growth and renewal,” Batson said in a statement issued by the university after the vote.

“The Board had hoped to transition to a new president gradually, officially beginning the presidential search in January 2009 and eventually replacing Baylor President John M. Lilley during the final portion of his five-year contract. Because plans for a gradual transition were rejected by Dr. Lilley, the Board will immediately seek a new president,” the university said.

Lilley was inaugurated as the university’s 13th president in April 2006, almost exactly 45 years after he earned the first of his three degrees from the university.

Regents elected him to succeed former President Dr. Robert Sloan on Nov. 4, 2005.

He took over from acting president William Underwood on Jan. 1, 2006.

Underwood meanwhile moved to Macon, Ga. where he is now president of Mercer University.

Underwood was considered the frontrunner in the search for a replacement for Sloan, but withdrew his name from consideration.

Lilley came to Waco from the University of Nevada Reno where, he had had served as president since July 2001.

The hope then was that his arrival at Baylor would signal the start of a calmer period after a decade of increasing turmoil on and off campus during Sloan’s tenure.

Saying he had become a lightning rod for controversy, Sloan and university regents agreed in January 2005 that Sloan would step down to become chancellor.

The announcement was the last chapter in a festering controversy that pitted faculty against faculty and graduate against graduate in a debate over everything from hiring practices to indebtedness and tuition rates.

Sloan was the founding dean of Truett Theological Seminary from 1993 to 1995.

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