Terrill Saxon, Ph.D.

Interim Dean of School of Education, 2017-2020

Terrill Saxon, Ph.D., has served as interim dean of the School of Education since July 10, 2017. 

Saxon is professor of educational psychology and associate dean for research and graduate education and the director of the master's programs in educational psychology. 

Saxon also teaches courses in statistical methods, history and systems, research methods, research in education, cultural issues, psychology of learning, and cultural issues with children and families in the Department of Educational Psychology. His research interests include cross-cultural studies of youth, schooling, teachers and a variety of other education-related factors.

Saxon has served in several administrative roles in the School of Education, including stints as department chair in educational psychology from 2001 to 2008 and from 2015 to 2017 and as interim associate dean for academic affairs and faculty development from 2005 to 2006. 

“I am honored to serve Baylor’s School of Education and our students in the role of interim dean,” Saxon said. “The School of Education’s faculty are among the University’s most productive researchers and effective teachers; they and our dedicated staff represent the best of Baylor.”

Saxon’s research interests include cross-cultural studies of youth, schooling, teachers and a variety of other education-related factors. He has published numerous articles in the area of child language development and the role played by parent-child interaction behaviors and other environmental influences in top journals, such as Child Development, Educational Psychology Review, Comparative Education Review and the Journal of School Psychology.

Saxon is co-principal investigator with Tamara Hodges, Ed.D., senior lecturer of educational psychology, for the EnAbled for College program, funded by a grant from the AT&T Foundation. The program provides one-on-one mentoring to disabled and at-risk high school students to encourage and enable them to pursue post-secondary education.

Saxon earned his B.A. in psychology and M.S. in educational psychology from Baylor and his Ph.D. in educational psychology at the University of Kansas. He completed post-doctoral work in KU’s Infant Cognition Center before joining the Baylor School of Education faculty in 1995.