New Provost has been Announced

Dr. Christopher McNair has been selected as Hardin-Simmons University’s next Provost.

As Provost, McNair will serve as the University’s chief academic officer, directing and collaborating with deans from each of HSU’s nine schools and colleges, and helping lead academic innovation into HSU’s 128^th year.

“Dr. McNair is a unique and gifted leader, educator, and scientist,” said HSU President Eric Bruntmyer, “While we had a large pool of quality external candidates, Chris is an outstanding example of the academic depth present in our existing faculty.”

After graduating from HSU in 1984 with a bachelor of science in Biology, McNair earned his master of science in Neurophysiology at the University of Texas at San Antonio in 1986, and his Ph.D. in Neurophysiology from the University of Kentucky in 1993.

A faculty member at HSU since 1992, McNair was named department chair of the Department of Biology in 1995 and received tenure in 1996. In 1999, he was named the first Dean of the Holland School of Sciences and Mathematics. Concurrent with his leadership as dean, McNair has served as HSU’s interim Provost since the retirement of Dr. Tommy Brisco as provost in December 2017.

“I am honored and privileged to take on this new challenge as provost at Hardin-Simmons,” said McNair. “As an alumnus, my heart is with HSU and the Christian mission to provide an ‘Education Enlightened by Faith.’”

Chris and his wife Sandy have been married nearly 30 years, and are looking forward to their twin sons, Jordan and Zachary, starting their freshman year at HSU in the fall. Their family are active members at Abilene’s First Central Presbyterian Church where Chris has served as a deacon, usher, and reader. He is also heavily involved in community service, currently providing leadership as the vice-president of the Abilene Zoological Society.

Two search advisory committees made up of faculty, staff, and administrators provided leadership and collaborative input to the nation-wide search to find HSU’s next Provost.

McNair will oversee an exciting time at Hardin-Simmons as the university works to add numerous graduate and undergraduate programs as well as options for high-demand online and interdisciplinary programs.

“I look forward to working with Dr. McNair on many of the opportunities that face HSU as we move into a new period of academic innovation, expansion, and growth,” said Bruntmyer.