Kenneth Hall named to Baylor development post

WACO – Kenneth L. Hall, President Emeritus of Buckner International, will join Baylor University as senior vice president for university development and strategic initiatives, effective Jan. 1, 2013.

Hall served as president and CEO of Buckner International from 1994-2010 and as CEO there from 2010 until his retirement in April 2012. He currently is a principal with Long View Equity Partners LLC.

Kenneth Hall is joining Baylor University as senior vice president for university development and strategic initiatives.

Since June, Hall has served as a BGCT appointee to the Baylor University Board of Regents, and as chair of the Development, Marketing and Communications Committee of the board. In 2009, Hall was appointed chair of the 10-member Presidential Search Advisory Committee that assisted with the successful selection in 2010 of Judge Ken Starr as Baylor's 14th president. Hall has also participated in a presidential task force to examine the advancement of the University's institutional interests and as a member of the Honors College Advisory Council.

Prior to his appointment to President Starr's Executive Council, Hall resigned his position on Baylor's Board of Regents. He will begin his new duties with the university on Jan. 1, 2013.

 During his 19-year tenure, Hall led Buckner to become one of the nation's showcase social service non-governmental organizations, annually serving more than 450,000 people through an array of diverse services for orphans, vulnerable children and families, and elder adults. Hall oversaw the expansion of Buckner to include more than $200 million in capital improvements in the past 15 years and the growth of the Buckner endowment to $200 million. Today, Buckner lists total assets nearing $400 million.

Along with the capital growth and improvements, Hall guided Buckner to expand its service offerings beyond the borders of Texas and the United States by launching the organization's international programs in 1996.

"I had a profound sense of calling to Buckner International, an organization I have loved and served for many years, and I would not have agreed to join Baylor in this new position unless I felt the same powerful call to serve," Hall said. "I am honored and humbled to have been offered the opportunity to serve Baylor as we stand at the threshold of a new period in the University's 167-year history. It will be a distinct privilege to work alongside President Starr, Executive Council colleagues and our dedicated development staff as we continue to move Baylor forward as a university with a steadfast dedication to academic excellence and Christian faith."

A Louisiana native, Hall earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas at Tyler and Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He also is an honorary alumnus of Baylor's George W. Truett Theological Seminary and received an honorary doctor of divinity degree from Dallas Baptist University.

Hall and his wife, Linda, have two grown children, Kevin and Kayce, and four grandchildren.