Bailey holds a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from the University of Alabama and a doctorate in English linguistics from the University of Tennessee. He did postdoctoral studies at Emory University and Stanford University. He is the author of about 100 books and articles
He was the president of the University of Alabama, his baccalaureate alma mater. He was previously the president of Texas Technical University and held earlier positions at Emory University, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University, and Oklahoma State University, prior to serving as dean of liberal arts at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. From there he became provost of the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Before assuming the role at Texas Technical, he was the chancellor of the University of Missouri–Kansas City.
University of Texas at San Antonio Before accepting the position of chancellor at the University of Missouri–Kansas City, Bailey served as the provost at the University of Texas at San Antonio. University of Missouri–Kansas City Bailey"s term as chancellor of the University of Missouri–Kansas City began on January 1, 2006.
Texas Technical University On July 2, 2008, Bailey was selected to succeed Jon Whitmore as the president of Texas Technical University. He assumed the position on August 1, 2008.
Bailey"s wife, January Tillery, is a Texas Technical graduate who was raised in the Lubbock area.
University of Alabama On July 11, 2012, Bailey was named the incoming president of the University of Alabama. His appointment began in early September 2012. On October 31, 2012, Bailey announced his stepping down as president of the University, to focus on his wife"s healthcare needs.
University of Texas–Rio Grande Valley In 2014, Bailey was revealed to be a shortlisted candidate for the position of inaugural president of The University of Texas–Rio Grande Valley.
He was announced as the sole finalist, and de facto incoming president, on 28 April 2014. One of his most notable projects is a long-term sociolinguistic study, in collaboration with Patricia Cukor-Avila, of an African-American town nicknamed "Springville" in the Brazos Valley of Texas.
