TCU Appoints Floyd L. Wormley Jr. As New Provost

After a highly competitive national search, TCU has chosen Floyd L. Wormley Jr. as its next provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. His first day in the position will be Jan. 1, 2025.

Wormley's research acumen, mission-driven leadership and student-centered commitment to academic excellence made him the right choice, said leadership, as the provost will play a pivotal role as TCU embarks on its new strategic plan, LEAD ON: Values in Action. The goal of the strategic plan is to strengthen TCU's position among leading national universities as well as its research profile.

"Dr. Wormley's commitment to service leadership, collaboration and integrity has effectively driven TCU's research, scholarship and creative activities across all disciplines," TCU President Daniel W. Pullin said. "This is a time of incredible opportunity for TCU, and we are thrilled to have Dr. Wormley in a key leadership position as we continue to invest in scholarship and student-centered growth."

Since coming to TCU in 2019 as the associate provost for research and dean of Graduate Studies, Wormley has overseen the doubling of external research expenditures and the expansion of the offices of Sponsored Programs and Research Compliance. For the past year, he also has served as the interim provost.

"Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr., and President Pullin are building a team in support of TCU's new strategic plan, Lead On: Values in Action, that was recently approved by the board," TCU Board of Trustees Chair Kit T. Moncrief said. "With research, scholarship and creative activity as one of the four pillars of the strategic plan, Dr. Wormley has helped to build the plan and is now poised to move quickly and enact mission-based progress."

As provost, Wormley will continue to apply his scholarly expertise to advise and mentor faculty, staff and students in research and creative endeavors. He also will continue his research and work with students through his National Institutes of Health-funded laboratory.

"I am grateful to our TCU community, including the search committee, the chancellor and president for their faith in my ability to lead the many faculty and staff who make a positive difference for TCU students," Wormley said. "TCU has been my home for nearly six years, and I am thrilled to be able to build upon the academic excellence, important scholarship and creative activity already in progress. It is an honor to work closely with our esteemed faculty, our dedicated staff, our students, our Board of Trustees and my colleagues as we embark on this next chapter for our incredible university."

Wormley's experience is comprehensive and impressive. The search committee - led by co-chairs Kathy Cavins-Tull, vice chancellor for Student Affairs, and Omar Harvey, department chair and professor of geology - heard consistent feedback about Wormley's dedicated leadership.

"The candidate roster was impressive, but what became apparent during this process was Dr. Wormley's ability to inspire students and colleagues with his intelligence and his energetic and approachable demeanor," Cavins-Tull said. "As a respected TCU leader, the decisions he makes are done collaboratively and with his colleagues and our students in mind."

Wormley is a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Tulane University, a Master of Science and Ph.D. from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. He completed postdoctoral training at Duke University Medical Center. Before TCU, Wormley served as an academic leader, professor and researcher at the University of Texas at San Antonio.