seasons

SAMFORD REPORT
Hall Named Samford Arts and Sciences Dean
Timothy D. Hall has been named dean of Samford University’s
Howard College of Arts and Sciences, effective July 11. The
appointment was announced in May by Samford Provost J. Michael
Hardin.
Hall currently is associate dean of the College of Humanities
and Social and Behavioral Sciences at Central Michigan University,
Mount Pleasant. His appointment follows a national search to
replace David W. Chapman, who is retiring as dean at the end of
the current academic year.
Hall also will hold the title professor of history in Howard
College, which is Samford’s largest undergraduate academic unit
and the historic foundation for Samford’s liberal arts and core
curriculum. The college has 111 faculty and about 900 undergraduate
and graduate majors in its 16 academic departments.
At CMU, Hall led a 250-member faculty, coordinated 3,100
academic programs and managed an $80 million budget. He also
was involved in strategic plan development and coordinated
inter national exchanges with 15 universities.
“Dr. Hall’s long record as an inter nationally renowned scholar
and exemplary higher education leader made him the solid choice
for this key position,” Hardin said. “His academic credentials are
extraordinary, and his record of leadership and growth at CMU
make him uniquely qualified as a visionary dean at this pivotal time
in Samford’s history.”
Hardin noted that during the search process, he and committee
members heard Hall described by his current and former colleagues
as a “fantastic collaborator,”
“attuned to higher education’s
complexity” and “experienced
at shepherding faculty
through change.”
Hall has served at CMU
since 1993, including
full-time faculty positions in
history and several administrative
roles in the College of
Humanities. He served as
interim dean during the
2012–13 academic year. In
addition to his current role as
associate dean, he has been
Hall
interim director of CMU’s
School of Public Service and
Global Citizenship since October 2013. In 2011, he was a visiting
professor in American studies and American history at the
University of Groningen, the Netherlands.
Hall earned his doctorate in American history from
Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, in 1991. He also has a
master’s degree in British history from the University of Chicago
and a master’s degree in theology from Dallas Theological Seminary.
He is the author or coauthor of several books on Colonial American
history and has been widely published in professional journals. ◗
What is your favorite thing about Samford University?
Many will select one of the major university traditions, such
as Step Sing or Convocation. For others, it may be something
more casual, such as lounging in a hammock or throwing
Frisbees on the quad. Some might say football games or
Dinner on the Dirt, while others would
mention a favorite faculty member or class. It
might be a distant memory, such as sitting
under the Sherman Oak on the East Lake
campus, or a recent memory, such as food
trucks on Ben Brown Plaza. For some, it may
be a very personal memory, such as getting
engaged on one of the benches on campus.
Throughout Samford’s 175th anniversary year, Seasons
magazine will feature “Our 175 Favorite Things” about
Samford as submitted by alumni, parents, students,
employees and friends of the university.
You can share your favorite thing via
email to 175things@samford.edu. Describe
your favorite thing and briefly explain why it
is your favorite. Then, watch each issue
during the 2016–17 academic year to see
what makes the final list.
Complete details about the 175th
anniversary, including a schedule of special
EST. 1841 events, can be found at samford.edu/175. ◗
samford.edu • 3