by Billy Findley, copy editor
In the wake of former Academic Vice President Cal White’s departure, Bryan College President Stephen Livesay has announced that a new academic vice president, Dr. Bradford Sample, has been selected to take office as soon as possible.
According to Bryan faculty members, Sample is an experienced candidate with a formidable resume and promises to be an asset to the Bryan College administration.
Sample’s resume was one of almost 60 that were scrutinized by the official search committee assembled for the selection process. The committee spoke to six candidates over the phone and eventually invited three of those candidates to the campus where other faculty and staff were able to give their impressions. After considering the impressions of the faculty and staff, President Livesay was able to come to a decision.
“We look forward to Dr. Sample’s outstanding leadership and enthusiasm for Bryan’s academic programs and our faculty,” Livesay said.
Sample is a graduate of Indiana University (Bloomington, Ind.) and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and History in 1991. In 1998 he received a Master of the Arts degree in American History at Indiana University-Purdue University (Indianapolis, Ind.) and, in 2006, a Doctorate in Philosophy at Purdue University (West Lafayette, Ind.).
For the last six years, Sample has served at Indiana Wesleyan University as director of Liberal Arts and Electives (2003-2007), dean (2007-2009) and finally associate professor of history and associate dean (July 2009-present).
“Dr. Sample is very relational, very competent and experienced in dealing with both administration and faculty,” said Dr. Paul Boling, professor of Bible and philosophy. Boling was also one of the members on the selection committee.
As academic vice president, Sample will be head of all traditional and nontraditional academic programs. According to Boling, Sample is interested in expanding programs and faculty to minority groups.
“It is a very big job and a huge responsibility; I think Dr. Sample will do a very good job for all of us at Bryan,” Boling said.
According to Boling, one interesting quality Sample brings to the table is familial and cultural diversity. His wife, Michelle, is of Cuban descent. He also has two adopted Korean children: his son, Caleb, 7, and his daughter, Grace, 5.
“I am convinced that the Lord has sent Dr. Sample to our campus,” Assistant Professor of English William Harle said. “Dr. Sample displays the leadership and program development experience that any institution of higher learning would be fortunate to realize.”
While it is clear Sample possesses ample qualifications for the position according to search committee members, Livesay says Sample’s full transition to Bryan from Indiana Wesleyan is still being finalized.