 "Photo: Coleman Morefield")
With warm greetings and enthusiasm about Texas Tech, the university's new President, Guy Bailey, may have won the Tech community over.
Bailey was officially introduced to the public for the first time Monday morning at the Frazier Alumni Pavilion.
During the introduction, Bailey, Tech's 15th president, made his future plans for the university clear while expressing his excitement for the upcoming school year.
With the opportunity to speak in front of the public, Bailey said he believes opportunities lie ahead for the university that have the potential to help Tech become one of the best universities in the country.
"I think (the opportunities are) huge," he said. "I think, as Tech moves to tier 1 status, you'll find all of its supporters very excited. People support things that they have a passion for. They'll support programs that we grow and develop as their passions as well."
Bailey's fundraising background includes a $200 million capital campaign and $10 million in administrative savings when he was chancellor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. During his tenure at UMKC, enrollment also increased by 40 percent. Approximately $175 million in construction also was approved with public and private funding partnerships during his term there.
Bailey said Tech is in a prime position to accomplish many goals, which is why he wanted to become its president.
During his speech, Bailey expressed the potential Tech has by stating it is the "greatest opportunity in America for higher education."
Tech already has many of the tools it needs, he said, to take the next step as one of the nation's top universities.
"It has well-established doctoral programs in research," Bailey said. "It has a great name recognition. Those are the key things. You have to have a state-wide scope (for recruiting students). You have to have well-defined, well-developed research in doctoral programs and then you need a lot of recognition. This is a highly visible institution."
Bob Stafford, head of the search committee that chose Bailey and a member of the Board of Regents, said he thinks Bailey and his wife, Tech alumna Jan Tillery Bailey, will fit in well with the culture of Tech and Lubbock.
"I think he understands Texas," Stafford said. "His wife understands Lubbock. She grew up here. So I think he can start with a running start with all those things because I know his credentials are very good."
Since he officially took the position Friday, Bailey has wasted no time in establishing a connection with students.
Throughout his career, Bailey said he always has strived for a connection with students. He said he and his wife will aim for that same connection by being in the classroom.
"You'll find that I spend a lot of times with students," he said. "You'll see me around on campus. My wife and I will eventually teach classes. I think the key thing is students want to have access to you. You'll find that you a great deal of access to me."
Over the years, Bailey has authored approximately 100 books and articles. Along with his background in education and teaching, Bailey attained his bachelor's and master's degrees in English from the University of Alabama and a doctorate in English linguistics from the University of Tennessee.
Although he aims to build relationships with students, Bailey has already made good impressions with some students since his arrival on campus.
"The feedback that I've gotten back from our Student Government President, Lee Bobbitt, and our Student Regent, Kelli Stumbo, has been very, very positive," said Michael Shonrock, vice president of students affairs. "The feedback I get back from my colleagues and other places - like UMKC, UT at San Antonio - is he's very thoughtful about students. He's already asked about helping out moving people into the residence halls and attending a lot of student functions already. That's the great deal about that."
As president, Bailey said his first priorities are to fill vacant faculty and staff positions, such as the provost, which William Marcy soon will leave vacant.
Bailey was recommended by Chancellor Kent Hance to the search committee and named sole finalist on July 2. Friday marked the end of the state-mandated, 21-day waiting period after a new president or chancellor of a university is named.
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