HOUSTON (BP)–Houston Baptist University’s trustees elected Robert B. Sloan Jr. as president of the 2,300-student university during a special meeting Aug. 8.
Sloan, who will assume the post on Sept. 1, will be the university’s third president since its founding in 1960. Sloan most recently was Baylor University’s chancellor, following his service as Baylor’s president from 1995-2005.
Sloan succeeds E.D. (Doug) Hodo, HBU’s president from 1987 until his retirement in July.
Trustee chairman Ray L. Cox said, “It has been truly amazing to witness God’s hand guiding this entire process. Dr. Robert Sloan is a renowned Christian educator, scholar and author, and he possesses the leadership skills and vision for Christian higher education that make him the perfect choice to lead HBU into the future.”
Sloan said he has been “deeply impressed by the vision of the trustees, the dedication of the faculty and staff, the energy of the students, and the remarkable level of commitment on the part of Houston Baptist University alumni. …
“In addition to its people, HBU has many remarkable assets, not the least of which is the city of Houston itself,” Sloan said. “Houston is teeming with diversity, opportunity, cultural resources, outstanding leaders, and is truly an international metropolitan area. Further, the distinctive Christian character and mission of the university are both matched and supported by the great churches of Houston and the surrounding areas. Houston Baptist University is an institution with a remarkable history and also big plans, and I am thrilled to be part of them.”
Sloan said the people that he and his wife Sue had met during the interview process “have been so welcoming and appreciative that we find ourselves humbled by their trust.”
Hodo praised the board on its decision, describing Sloan as “a man known for his integrity. His experience in Christian higher education will be a tremendous asset for HBU, its students, alumni, faculty and staff. I consider him a colleague and friend. Each chapter in the life of a University has special significance and with Robert’s leadership the opportunities are unlimited.”
Prior to Sloan’s service as Baylor chancellor and president, he served as dean of Baylor’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary from 1993-95. He joined Baylor’s religion faculty in 1983 and earlier was on the faculty of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene.
He has served as pastor and interim pastor at more than 20 churches throughout Texas and Oklahoma and has authored three books.
Sloan graduated cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree from Baylor in 1970. He earned the master of divinity degree magna cum laude from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1973 and a doctor of theology from the University of Basel in Switzerland in 1978.
Sloan was born in Coleman, Texas, and raised in Abilene. He is married to the former Sue Collier of Cisco, Texas. They have seven children.
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