Baker University names Dr. Marc Childress vice president of Academic Affairs

Baker University has named Dr. Marc Childress to the position of vice president of Academic Affairs. Childress, who has served as the dean of the Baker University School of Education since 2016, will remain in that role until a new dean is named. He assumed the responsibilities of his new role in late October.

Childress previously taught courses at Radford University, Old Dominion University, Emporia State University, and Baker. At Baker, he served as associate dean for one year before being named dean of the School of Education. As dean, he helped launch the Doctor of Education in Instructional Design and Performance Technology program, the only online program of its kind in the region.  

“I like developing new programs, being innovative, and trying new things,” he said. “Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t, but we’ve had a great record of successful programs at the School of Education.”

Vice president of Academic Affairs is a new position at Baker, replacing the role of the provost.

“We are so proud to have Dr. Childress in this key role as vice president of Academic Affairs. He is a stellar academic leader who has successfully launched programming and innovation at the School of Education,” said Baker University President Lynne Murray. “He is well respected by his peers and loved by his students. He has served Baker students well in his role as dean, and I know he will continue that high level of service in his new role.”

Childress is most excited to bring that innovation to all the schools at Baker University.

“We’ve had great success with our new programs and initiatives here at the School of Education,” said Childress. “I look forward to encouraging our faculty to do the same in other departments in other schools. There’s no better feeling than when you have a program running on all cylinders and you can see it in the success of the students and faculty.”