Dr. C. Pat Taylor, SBU President
On October 20, 2006, Southwest Baptist University celebrated a “Decade of Distinction” in honor of the 10th Anniversary of Dr. C. Pat Taylor, President, and Judy Taylor, First Lady.
Dr. Taylor was selected as the 24th president of Southwest Baptist University by the board of trustees on Aug. 20, 1996, after a seven-month nationwide search. He assumed his duties as president on Oct. 21, 1996.
Since his arrival in 1996, Dr. Taylor has been instrumental in the success of the Partners in Excellence campaign, which has surpassed its $50 million goal. More than $62.5 million has been raised for the campaign, which ended in December 2005. Also, under Dr. Taylor’s leadership, the endowment funds have increased from $4.6 million to more than $16.2 million.
Prior to becoming president of SBU, Dr. Taylor served as chief academic officer at Oklahoma Baptist University for 10 years. As senior vice president and provost, Dr. Taylor had responsibility for OBU’s five colleges and schools as well as student development, admissions, religious life, library services and athletics.
Dr. Taylor previously served as associate vice president for academic affairs at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., from 1979-86. From 1975-79, he was an assistant professor of education at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. While at Belmont, he served as head resident of Pembroke Hall, a men’s dormitory housing 150 men. His experiences also have included community college and high school teaching and coaching.
A native of Salem, Ky., Dr. Taylor received his doctor of education degree with emphasis in history and philosophy of education from Memphis State University. He received a master’s degree in history from Western Kentucky University and a bachelor’s degree in history and secondary education from the University of Tennessee-Martin.
Dr. Taylor and his wife, Judy, have been married since 1968 and have two children. Marijo is a 1994 OBU graduate and in 2000 received an Executive MBA from the University of Missouri. She is a criminal investigator for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement of Homeland Security. Charla, also an OBU graduate, and her husband, Adam Austermann, an SBU graduate, earned masters degrees in physical therapy from SBU in 2001. Charla is a student in the physical therapy doctoral program at SBU and Adam will complete the Doctor of Physical Therapy in December. The couple has one son, Drew Charles Austermann.