MT. VERNON, Ga. (BP)–David R. Smith, vice president for institutional advancement at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas, has been named president of Brewton-Parker College, Mt. Vernon, Ga.
The election was formalized April 25 during a meeting of the college’s board of trustees. Smith, 46, received the unanimous recommendation of the presidential search committee.
The Texan will begin his duties June 1, succeeding Y. Lynn Holmes, who resigned last November after 14 years as president. Holmes’ resignation came on the heels of a financial crisis at the college involving improper distribution of federal funds to unqualified students.
The government is requiring the school to make restitution of the misappropriated funds along with penalties. School officials have said privately a settlement agreement is close to being finalized.
Despite the cloud of financial uncertainty hanging over the school, trustees and faculty were upbeat in their optimism over Smith’s new leadership role. Search committee chairman Jean Morgan referred to the committee’s excitement and confidence over Smith and noted the search process had reaffirmed her confidence in the direction the school was heading.
When asked by reporters if he were apprehensive about coming to Brewton-Parker under the financial circumstances, Smith responded he considered fully the circumstances and had not made his decision lightly.
“But I feel comfortable with it,” Smith said. “My first priority at Brewton-Parker will be to meet as many individuals in the Brewton-Parker family as possible to assure them of a bright future, filled with promise for the college community.”
Smith’s tenure at Wayland began in 1994 and his areas of responsibility have increased to include oversight of admissions, alumni services, denominational services, development and public relations. Under his leadership as chief development officer, Wayland has added more than $2 million to its endowment fund and completed $6 million in campus improvements, capital expenditures and deferred maintenance needs.
A native of Texas, Smith is a graduate of Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, Texas; Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas; and Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., where he received his doctorate in education. He previously served on the staff of Belmont University in Nashville as dean of admissions and later director of development for denominational support and Hardin-Simmons University as director of admissions. Both are Baptist schools.
Smith also has served as pastor at First Baptist Church of Flora Vista, N.M., and Thornberry Church in Wichita Falls, Texas. Since 1981 he has served as interim pastor of 23 churches in Texas, New Mexico, Tennessee and Kentucky. He is currently a deacon and Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church, Plainview, and has written for a number of publications including Bible study literature for the Baptist Sunday School Board.
Smith’s wife, Jackie, also a graduate of Hardin-Simmons. She is an early childhood intervention specialist with the Central Plains Mental Health and Retardation Center and she has served as an elementary school teacher, a day-care center director and a church minister to children. The Smiths’ two children are Timothy, a freshman at Wayland; and Alida, a high school senior planning to attend Hardin-Simmons this fall.
W. Starr Miller has been serving as Brewton-Parker’s interim president since November. Miller is a prominent educator, now retired, who previously served as president of Brewton-Parker from 1979-83.
