David Cimbora, who served as a dean at George Fox University and holds a doctorate in child clinical psychology, assumed the role of provost and vice president for academic affairs July 1. While new to Samford, he hopes to serve and listen to the campus community.
Cimbora discussed what the role of provost entails.
“My job is to serve academics, and that means students, faculty, staff and then the things of academics, curriculum, accreditation, scheduling, registrar — all of those things that go into the academic life of a university,” said Cimbora.
Practically, this looks like addressing issues that need attention in Samford’s academics, such as maintaining a consistent student to faculty ratio and hiring new leadership.
“A normal thing in my day-to-day job would be to help channel and allocate resources that would then trickle down and ultimately show up in the classroom,” Cimbora said.
Cimbora continually emphasized service while discussing the role he’s been called to.
“Service to me is the hallmark of leadership,” said Cimbora.
Cimbora previously served as a dean of the Wellness Enterprise at George Fox University when a search firm reached out with this new opportunity. He wasn’t searching for a new job and was content with where he was, but said he felt a calling to come and serve Samford.
“I feel called by the Lord to be here,” Cimbora said.
President Beck Taylor spoke to the qualifications he was seeking in the candidates for provost.
“At Samford, we want an academic leader who believes in what we’re trying to do here as we invite students into the space that intersects Christian faith and learning, and Dr. Cimbora has demonstrated not only an ability to do that, but an excitement to do that,” said Taylor.
As a trained clinical psychologist, Cimbora also hopes to bring the skill of listening into his interactions with faculty and students.
“If I’m not spending a huge amount of my time listening, then whatever leadership moves I make have a very high percentage chance of failing because they will miss the audience, they will miss the stakeholders, they will miss the students — and to me that would be a big failure,” said Cimbora.
Cimbora expressed a commitment to work with the University’s other vice presidents, integrating academics with everything else happening on campus, from athletics to student life.
“Dr. Cimbora has big shoes to fill. […] He follows in the footsteps of some really impactful people at Samford. And I’m convinced and I’m confident that he’ll be able to live up to that task,” said Taylor.
