Scott Moore, Ph.D., Appointed Honors College Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives

March 1, 2024
Scott Moore

The Honors College has appointed Scott Moore, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Philosophy and Great Texts, as Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives. In addition to his administrative role, Moore will continue his teaching responsibilities within the Great Texts Program. His appointment is effective March 1. 

“In three decades of service to Baylor, Scott has brought timely, missional ideas from nascency to fulfillment,” Honors College Dean Douglas Henry, Ph.D. said. “Among them are included his role in proposing the Institute for Faith and Learning and his leadership in launching and leading the Great Texts Program. Indeed, Scott played a key part in envisioning and establishing the Honors College itself. We will benefit tremendously from his penchant for asking good questions, seeking good answers, and doing good things with humility and generosity.”

In this role, Moore will be responsible for supporting new curricular initiatives, developing international education opportunities, facilitating public humanities outreach, organizing summer seminars, and exploring high school dual-credit curriculum partnerships. 

“I’ve been fortunate to be involved in all four Honors College programs,” Moore said. “I was the first Assistant Director of the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core and the first Director of the Great Texts program, and I’ve also worked extensively with the Honors Program and University Scholars. I think I have a good understanding of all four programs, and I’m excited to help propel the College forward in new and unique ways."

With the filling of this position, the Dean's Office returns to pre-pandemic form with three associate deans at the helm. 

“At full strength, three associate deans have served the Honors College,” Henry said. “However, the combination of retirements, transitions, and the pandemic at one point reduced us to only one associate dean. With open positions, of course, come opportunities to address new needs and clarify responsibilities. This redefined leadership role will ensure that we move creatively and wisely in service to our vision. Indeed, guiding our every decision is commitment to that vision: loving truth, kindling faith, and cultivating virtue in friendship, study, and service to Christ and neighbor.”

A Waco native, Moore holds a B.A. in History and English Language and Literature from Baylor University, an M.Div. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in Philosophical Theology from Baylor University. He held a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Notre Dame’s Center for Philosophy of Religion before returning to Baylor as a tenure-track professor in the philosophy department. In addition to authoring numerous peer-reviewed articles and reviews, he has two single-authored books to his credit: How to Burn a Goat: Farming with the Philosophers (Baylor University Press, 2019) and The Limits of Liberal Democracy: Religion and Politics at the End of Modernity (IVP Academic, 2009). Last year, Baylor University Press published his edited volume of Francesco Petrarca’s Life of Solitude (BUP, 2023).

Dean Henry gratefully acknowledges the support of Provost Nancy Brickhouse. He would also like to thank the search committee for their valuable time and service: Darin Davis, Ph.D., Chuck McDaniel, Ph.D., and Erin Stamile, MS Ed.