Dr. J. Bradley Creed, Associate Provost at Samford University for the past year and a former Baylor University professor and dean, has been named Provost at Samford.
He assumed duties as Samford's chief academic officer June 1, succeeding Acting Provost Joe O. Lewis, who retired at the end of May.
Samford President Thomas E. Corts described Dr. Creed as "among the best and brightest of a new generation of Baptist educational leaders" when Creed joined Samford last June.
"He has served admirably this year, assisting Dr. Lewis and me and learning Samford distinctives," Corts said in announcing Creed's appointment as Provost.
"We all join in expressing heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Lewis, who has served so well for many years in the Provost's Office, and particularly in these last two years as Acting Provost," added Dr. Corts.
Lewis, former Associate Provost, became Acting Provost during the spring of 2000 when former Provost James Netherton was named President of Carson-Newman College. Lewis joined Samford in 1992 as Associate Provost for Academic Administration from Georgetown (Ky.) College, where he had been Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Creed served eight years as Associate Dean, Dean and Professor of Christian History at Baylor's George W. Truett Theological Seminary. During his tenure as Associate Dean (1993-96) and Dean (1996-2000), enrollment increased at the newly-opened seminary from 48 to 247.
"These times challenge institutions that seek to be strong academically and to be just as strong in their moral and spiritual emphasis," said Corts. "Dr. Creed can provide effective leadership for Samford."
From Jacksonville, Texas, Creed earned a bachelor's degree with honors at Baylor and M.Div. and Ph.D. degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas. He has also studied in Harvard University's Management Development Program and in language studies at Academia Hispano Americano in Mexico.
A church historian, Creed has contributed to such publications as "Holman Bible Dictionary" and "The Baptist Program" and has written chapters in several books on Baptist history and life.
He was pastor of First Baptist Church of Natchitoches, La., during 1988-93 and served as an adjunct professor at Northwestern (La.) State University. He was also a teaching fellow at Southwestern Seminary.