Good and Faithful Servants
Highlighting Retired Faculty and Staff
Within Baylor’s Truett Seminary exists a love and admiration for those who have devoted their lives and careers to theological education. As Truett Seminary remembers faculty and staff members from across the decades, the Seminary pays tribute to a few of the many who have impacted the hearts and minds of Truett’s student body. Truett Seminary is grateful for their steadfast dedication to the formation of each student and the significant contributions they, like so many of the faculty and staff, have made to the Seminary’s community.
Jan Cason
Positions held at Truett
Financial Manager (2007-2021)
Adjunct Professor (2010-Present)
Jan Cason is passionate about church financial matters. Following a career in the business world as an accountant, Cason began a second career in ministry and received the MDiv/MBA dual degree offered between Truett Seminary and Baylor, Hankamer School of Business. She served as the minister of administration at Meadowbrook Baptist Church in Waco before accepting the position of financial manager at Truett. She recently retired from her position at Truett but continues to teach a course at the Seminary called The Business of Ministry. Cason is a widow with two children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandsons.
“God blessed me with a remarkable opportunity to work and serve alongside awesome and inspiring Christ-followers both co-workers and students at Truett Seminary.”
Ronald L. Cook, PhD
Positions held at Truett
Associate Professor of Christian Scriptures (2001-2019)
Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program (2001-2014)
Director of the W. Winfred Moore Center for Ministry Effectiveness (2014-2019)
Ronald L. Cook is a native Texan and grew up in New Mexico and California. He is a graduate of Baylor University (BA) and Southern Seminary (MDiv and PhD) and has served for 53 years in pastoral ministry in Indiana, Kentucky, Georgia, and Texas. He joined the faculty of Truett Seminary in 2001, serving faithfully until he retired in 2019. Cook, his wife Sara, and their three children hold seven Baylor degrees, and both sons are graduates of Truett Seminary.
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of a wonderful faculty and staff at Truett Seminary in educating, training, and forming women and men called to serve as congregational leaders, missionaries, and ministers. During my time on faculty our major accrediting agency called Truett Seminary ‘a miracle of God,’ and the experience was indeed that for me.”
W. Hulitt Gloer, PhD
Positions held at Truett
Professor of Preaching and Christian Scriptures (2000–2018)
Director of the Kyle Lake Center for Effective Preaching (2003–2018)
David E. Garland Chair of Preaching and Christian Scriptures (2005-2018)
W. Hulitt Gloer faithfully served Truett Seminary for 18 years as the David E. Garland Professor of Preaching and Christian Scriptures and Director of The Kyle Lake Center for Effective Preaching. In these roles, he was able to share his life-long passion for teaching and preaching the New Testament. He also found joy in introducing two new courses: Imaginative Reading for Creative Preaching and Wilderness Spirituality. His extensive academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Greek/Religion from Baylor University, a Master of Arts, Cum Laude from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament Studies from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
“My years at Truett were characterized by wonderful students and inspiring colleagues. In this setting, we were challenged on a daily basis to ‘fix our eyes’ on Jesus, the ‘pioneer and perfector’ of our faith. Like all of you, I’m still pressing ‘toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.’ For those years at Truett and for all of you, I say, ‘Thanks,’ and for all that’s yet to be, I say, ‘Yes!’”
Grear Howard, DMin
Positions held at Truett
Director of Student Services (2001-2015)
Assistant Dean of Student Services (2015-2023)
Grear Howard’s call to ministry began in his undergrad days at Texas Tech University. After graduation, he pursued his Master of Divinity at Southwestern, graduating in 1979. In 1999, he received his Doctor of Ministry degree from what was then Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. In the in-between times of seminary degrees, Howard served as Baptist Student Ministry (BSM) director at McLennan Community College/Texas State Technical College, and as assistant director at Baylor University’s BSM. He went on to serve as the BSM director at East Texas State (now Texas A&M Commerce) and Texas Tech University before coming to Truett Seminary where he remained until retirement.
“I have a deep and abiding call to student ministry. The Lord has never wavered in his direction in my life. My experience at Truett only strengthened that call. As I look back, I realize I had the utmost honor of walking, sometimes literally, down the halls of Truett with significant saints, be they students, faculty, or staff. I am eternally grateful for my years at Truett.”
Roger E. Olson, PhD
Positions held at Truett
Professor of Christian Theology (1999-2021)
Foy Valentine Professor of Christian Theology and Ethics (2012-2021)
Roger E. Olson taught Christian theology for 40 years in three Christian universities including Truett Seminary where he retired from in 2021. He is the author of over twenty books of theology including The Story of Christian Theology and The Journey of Modern Theology. Olson has been married to his wife Becky for almost fifty years and spends his time now playing with his four grandchildren.
“I thoroughly enjoyed teaching at TruettTheological Seminary where I had great students and colleagues.”
Levi W. Price, Jr., DMin
Positions held at Truett
Professor of Christian Leadership (2002-2009)
Director of the Mentoring Program (2002-2005)
Levi Price began his time at Baylor as a student where he received his undergraduate degree. He then went on to Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in California where he gained his Masters of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry. After completing school, Price became a pastor and then worked for the Foreign Mission Board. As a missionary, Price was appointed to administrate and teach at the Mexican Baptist Seminary in Lomas Verdes, a suburb of Mexico City. He then went back to serve the Church in California and Texas before ultimately settling as a professor and program director at Truett Seminary. Before joining the Truett faculty, Price was a key part of Truett’s Advisory Board and served as the second chair of that board.
“Working at Truett Seminary was the greatest work experience of my life. The community atmosphere among the faculty and the students was amazing. We were a family, and we were able to see and have a part in seeing our dreams come true. I am very thankful for the opportunity to be involved with the Seminary in those early years.”