ETBU taps Oliver

East Texas Baptist University named Dr. Samuel W. "Dub" Oliver, Baylor’s vice president for student life, as its president, effective June 1. Oliver graduated from Baylor with a bachelor's degree in education in 1987 and then earned master’s and doctoral degrees in educational administration from Texas A&M in 1991 and 2001, respectively.

He became Baylor's director of student activities in 1992 and later became dean for student development and assistant vice president before being named vice president in 2006.

"Dr. Dub Oliver has done an outstanding job serving the student community at Baylor," said interim Baylor president David Garland. "A powerful example of his commitment to our student body is his decision to remain at Baylor until we've concluded spring commencement exercises. Dub has always put students first."

Oliver has also served as a visiting and adjunct professor and was honored as the Mortar Board Outstanding Professor in 1995 and 2001. In 2004, the Baylor Alumni Association named him an Outstanding Young Alumnus.

BU ROTC tops in nation

In November, Baylor's Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Detachment 810 was named the number-one large detachment in the nation, out of 145 detachments nationwide. A panel of judges looked at seven criteria, including education, recruiting and retention, university and public relations, cadet activities, and Arnold Air Society activities. Baylor’s ROTC was formed in 1948 only ten months after the creation of the Air Force.