51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ

President

Dr. Donna Hedgepath

Dr. Hedgepath became the first female president in 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ Baptist University history on July 1, 2024, after being unanimously elected by the university's Board of Trustees.

Her background spans classroom teaching, higher education faculty service, academic administration and executive leadership. She holds a Ph.D. with a specialization in teacher quality and has served in roles including department dean, vice president for academic affairs and provost.

Before coming to 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ, Dr. Hedgepath helped lead the development of numerous undergraduate, graduate and certification programs and gained extensive experience overseeing multi-campus higher education operations.

She and her husband, Pete, live in Plainview.

Provost

Dr. Cindy Marlow McClenagan

As Provost at 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ Baptist University, Dr. Cindy Marlow McClenagan provides leadership for the university's academic programs and works to ensure their continued quality and relevance.

Dr. McClenagan holds a Ph.D. in English from Texas Tech University, a master's degree from The University of Iowa and a bachelor's degree from Luther College. A professor of English, her research presentations and publications include African-American literature, violent women in American literature, young adult literature and dystopian literature.

Outside of work, Dr. McClenagan enjoys working out, reading and spending time with her family. She also remains active in the local community through school booster organizations, Soroptimist International and First United Methodist Church.

Strategic Initiatives & Innovation

Dr. Joshua Switzer

Dr. Joshua Switzer serves as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Innovations, Chief of Staff and Assistant Professor of Management. He joined 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ in July 2026.

His role supports university-wide strategic planning, institutional initiatives and innovation while working closely with the Office of the President. He plays a key role in coordinating priorities connected to 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ's RISE strategic plan.

Before joining 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ, Dr. Switzer held several leadership roles at Campbellsville University, where his work included graduate business programs, strategic planning, enrollment initiatives, international partnerships and the development of new academic programs.

Finance & Administration

Paul S. Edwards

Paul Edwards serves as 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ's Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer, providing leadership for the university's financial and operational stewardship.

Edwards brings extensive experience in higher education finance, administration and strategic planning. Before joining 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ, he served as Vice President for Finance and Administration at Western Illinois University and held leadership roles at several other institutions.

His professional background includes financial operations, human resources, facilities management and institutional planning. He also has experience teaching accounting and business at the university level and previously served in the United States Navy.