Home > Presidential Announcement >

Q&A with Bill Robinson on the Appointment of Beck Taylor
as Whitworth's Next President

A. (Robinson) First, his initial attraction to Whitworth was our mission. Having been at Baylor as both a student and a professor, he understands how a university can be faithful to its Christian calling and committed to academic excellence in exploring a wide range of ideas. He had heard of Whitworth's simultaneous dedication to these two values. Second, he lives his life in overdrive, and he is driven by all the right motives in all the right directions. I love that. Third, he strikes me as honest, which usually means humble. Such humility invites expertise from every direction. He'll be great!

Q. Why should Whitworth's campus community and alumni and friends be confident about Whitworth's faithfulness to its mission and identity (committed to Christ and to open intellectual inquiry) under Taylor's leadership?

A. At the beginning of the search, I think the search committee members looked each other in the eye and said, "Whatever grade we might get on everything else, let's make sure we get an A+ on mission." They did.

Q. What do you think the Spokane community might expect from Taylor?

A. Business is his field. Greater Spokane, Inc., has identified higher education as one of its most important assets. In Beck, they will have a business expert leading an institution in a sweet-spot industry. It's a perfect combination. But the business community won't be the only beneficiary. Taylor has applied his business savvy in researching economic strategies to alleviate poverty. He will be a gift to Spokane. Downtown Spokane Partnership President Marty Dickenson was the community representative on the search committee. She flat out loves this hire.

Q. What do you think students might expect from Beck Taylor?

A. Nobody goes into higher education to run a business. We go into teaching because we love students. When we slide into administration, our natural opportunities for student contact recede. Many presidents get diverted to such an extent they are unable to find their way back into the lives of students. That can't happen at Whitworth. The students won't let it happen. I've spoiled them. And that's my gift to Beck. These students know how to throw their arms around a president, and he will be the kind of president who loves that.