News

David M. Szymanski, Ph.D., will join Baylor University on May 27 as The William E. Crenshaw Endowed Dean of the nationally ranked Hankamer School of Business.

It seems like just yesterday we began the spring semester, yet here we are – at Commencement! Tomorrow and Saturday, we will celebrate more than 4,000 Baylor graduates, which is the largest class in University history. 

When Carolyn Price’s mother told her, “There isn’t anything you can’t do,” she couldn’t have imagined the far-reaching those words would have on her daughter’s life — including becoming the oldest known doctoral recipient in Baylor history, at age 83.

Every spring, the Baylor Family bids happy retirement to professors and staff who have dedicated their professional lives to the university and its students. This spring, we say a special farewell to two prominent university leaders, Vice President for Student Life Kevin Jackson and Baylor Graduate School Dean Larry Lyon (BA ’71).

Baylor University is thrilled to welcome back rising music sensation Forrest Frank with an exclusive pop-up shop experience from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, May 12, at Hurd Welcome Center. 

Legendary comedian Jeff Dunham will bring his new North American Tour ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE to the Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion, Waco’s new premier concert venue, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3.

“Bear-ly Used” is a campuswide initiative to divert donatable items from landfills and redistribute them towards community partners and families in need. 

It is hard to believe we are nearing the end of another spring semester at Baylor. Commencement is right around the corner for thousands of Baylor students, and I know many of you are working diligently on projects, papers and preparing for final exams.

One of the first stops for Baylor campus visitors is the Williams Bear Habitat, home of bear mascots Indy and Belle. The La Vega High School students visiting campus last week for the first-ever Baylor CityLab were no different; the Bear Habitat was tops on their tour agenda — and where their interactive science journey began.

As soon as the tour was over, Baylor students involved in CityLab set up the scenario. They drank from a stray water bottle, began “acting” strange, and soon developed zombie-like symptoms. Now it was up to the high school students to use real-world scientific methods — including DNA analysis and forensics — to determine what was causing this strange behavior and what exactly was in the water bottle.

Every summer, Baylor students head out on mission trips around the world, putting what they’ve learned in the classroom to use serving others. But the experience isn’t a one-way gift; these students also come back having learned about other people, places and cultures, and ways they can use their skills to help others in the future.

In late April, Baylor sent these Bears off with a special Student Mission Trip Commissioning Ceremony. Following the disciples’ example, Baylor representatives gathered to send these short-term missionaries off with prayer and encouragement (plus some treats to sweeten the celebration).

Today is the National Day of Prayer, an annual day of observance designated by the U.S. Congress in which people are asked to “turn to God in prayer and meditation.”

Baylor and Waco are at the center of the collegiate tennis world this year.

Last fall, the Hurd Tennis Center hosted the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships. In January, men’s tennis hosted the ITA National Indoor Championship at Hawkins Indoor Tennis Center. Earlier this month, the Hurd was the home for the Big 12 Tennis Championship. And now, Baylor is preparing to host the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Championships (every round from the quarterfinals to the title match).

The run to the championship begins this weekend for both the Baylor men and women.

On Saturday, Baylor Acrobatics & Tumbling won its tenth — TENTH!!!!!!!!! — straight national title! The win extends a run that dates back to 2015 (there was no championship in 2020 due to COVID). Over those 11 seasons, head coach Felecia Mulkey’s squad has gone a mind-boggling 110-2, including a current 50-meet winning streak.

For context: The only longer NCAA D-1 championship streaks are in track and field, where the Arkansas men won 12 straight indoor titles from 1984-95, and the LSU women won 11 straight outdoor championships from 1987-97. (To be clear, Baylor’s current run is an NCATA streak, not an NCAA streak, because acrobatics and tumbling is currently classified as an NCAA Emerging Sport while it works its way toward full-fledged NCAA status.)

Each year, when we select the remarkable men and women who will be honored as Baylor Alumni Award recipients, they remind us that the mission of Baylor University – to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service – remains at the heart of who we are as a Christian research university. 

Seven Baylor residence halls are more than just residence halls — they’re Living-Learning Communities, or LLCs for short. These LLCs are organized around specific degree programs or interests, such as business, science, even outdoor adventure and wellbeing, building intentional community for BU students with similar goals and callings in life.

Dr. Karenna Malavanti (BS ’10, MA ’12), senior lecturer of psychology and neuroscience, serves as faculty-in-residence at Earle Hall, where she leads the nearly 350 students in Baylor’s Science and Health Living-Learning Community.

She shared a few of the traits that make these communities so meaningful to students on a recent Baylor Connections podcast:

Two takeaways from the Forrest Frank concert, the first public concert in Foster Pavilion:

1) If you get a chance to see Forrest Frank live, GO.
2) If you get a chance to see a concert at Foster Pavilion, GO.

Earning recognition as a Master Teacher at Baylor is a rare honor — the highest a BU professor can receive for his/her teaching. In January, President Linda Livingstone announced the lifetime designation for four Baylor professors, increasing the roll of Master Teachers to 33 since the honor was first bestowed more than 40 years ago.

Among the newest honorees is Dr. Lenore Wright (MA ’95), an award-winning philosophy professor in the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core (BIC) and director of Baylor’s Academy of Teaching and Learning from 2011-24. Wright came to Baylor in 1994 as a graduate student, joined the Baylor faculty five years later, and has been a BU fixture ever since.

He is Risen! What beautiful words for Christians.

In 2009, a group of Baylor students decided to come together in one of their living rooms to pray on a weekly basis. Soon, others joined them to study scripture and worship — and the group outgrew the living room. It moved to a park, then a parking garage, then to the Waco Hippodrome.

Today, Vertical Ministries welcomes hundreds of Baylor students each week to its meetings. As it celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, Vertical is thriving as a non-denominational, student-led ministry that seeks to challenge college students to actively pursue an authentic, “vertical” relationship with God.

“FAT” isn’t always a good thing — but in the world of artificial intelligence (AI), it’s crucial.

The acronym stands for Fairness, Accountability, Transparency — three words at the heart of Baylor’s approach to AI, as BU seeks to lead the way in addressing major ethical questions surrounding AI’s rapid growth and its impact on humanity.

In cities like Dallas, Houston and Austin, the economics of a nice night out can get overwhelming. Dinner costs, concert ticket prices, and parking fees all add up in a hurry. Waco residents (including Baylor students) then have to add over two hours of travel (and perhaps a pricey hotel stay) to the cost, making the expense of such a night on the town approach the price of a vacation.

Those days are now over.

With Foster Pavilion now serving as a live event venue, Baylor Bears (and other Central Texans) can now enjoy a proper night on the town with far fewer impediments and a much shorter time commitment.

The Stations (or Way) of the Cross offer a way for us to pray imaginatively by tracing the story of Jesus's final hours, from betrayal to burial, through word, image, and song.

Baylor University and McLennan Community College (MCC) announced they will offer two new General Assembly training programs to learners interested in launching or growing tech career skills as part of their collaboration to close the cybersecurity talent gap in Texas and across the country.

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. This is the week that matters.

We eagerly look forward to this weekend, the beginning of Holy Week for Christians (or as many Christians around the world know it, Pascha) and the beginning of Pesach, or Passover, for our brothers and sisters of the Jewish faith on Saturday evening. In both sets of high holy days, we celebrate a God of liberation. 

For almost a century now, Diadeloso has provided Baylor students with a much-needed day off just as the spring semester reaches its crescendo — a day to rest and relax, to have fun with friends, and to make memories on campus that will last a lifetime.

Yesterday was a perfect day for Dia — sunny, high of 75, just absolutely beautiful weather. Traditional Dia activities like music performances, inflatables and rides were mixed with newer favorites like goat yoga — Dia’s new top attraction.

Highlighted by Top 30 graduate programs across disciplines. Baylor University graduate and professional programs were among those nationally ranked in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings.

In the spring of 1945, a group of Baylor students prayed for spiritual renewal for 90 straight days. Their prayers led to a movement that helped inspire ministries on campus and around the world, from the Journeyman mission program to the Passion Conferences.

Last week, hundreds of Baylor students again gathered in Jesus’ name for FM72, an annual 72-hour on-campus prayer and worship event coordinated by Baylor’s Office of Spiritual Life in conjunction with local churches and campus ministries.

Baylor undergraduate STEM researchers have kicked off the spring major fellowships and awards season by earning a record four Goldwater Scholarships, the preeminent undergraduate award that supports outstanding undergraduates interested in pursuing STEM research careers.

Lauren Daigle, multi-award-winning country music singer, is set to perform in concert at Baylor University’s Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12.

I truly enjoy this time of year at Baylor. Two of my favorite spring traditions are Steppin’ Out and Diadeloso (affectionately known as Dia), and they are both great – yet different – examples of how Baylor strives to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service.

Baylor’s long history of military education dates back at least to 1888, just a couple of years after BU settled in Waco. Over the years, Baylor has prepared a long line of future military officers through the Air Force ROTC and Army ROTC programs; today, these programs offer students the option to earn their degrees while preparing for careers as officers in the U.S. military.

Baylor’s Air Force and Space Force Reserve Officer Training Corp (AFROTC) recently added another milestone to its distinguished history. Earlier this year, Detachment 810 was named the No. 1 Medium Detachment in the country, outperforming 49 other detachments nationwide to claim the top honor.

Baylor students today have dozens of options to choose from when it comes to Chapel. Some prefer a large-group worship setting (similar to traditional Chapel services); others, a small group setting — perhaps one with friends from their residence hall, or one focused on how faith plays out in their field of study, or one connected to a campus ministry.

One of the more unique options available this semester: Chapel with the First Gent.

March is Women’s History Month, so all month long we’ve been celebrating the history of Baylor women — notable individuals such as Dr. Diana Garland, Angela Kinsey, Ann Miller and Leah Moncure, plus the long lists of Baylor women who have left their marks in fields like science and engineering, law and politics, the arts, and education.

To cap the month, two Baylor experts on women’s history — Dr. Andrea Turpin, an associate professor and director of the Baylor history graduate program, and Amy Achenbach, a doctoral candidate and Baylor history teacher — sat down to answer the big questions, like: Why study women’s history? What kinds of unique sources are used in researching women’s history? And how did higher ed change as more women enrolled?

Next Wednesday the entire Baylor Family is invited to join in Giving Day. One day each year – on April 2 for 2025 – we focus our collective attention on giving to support students, programs, schools and colleges and many other areas. Gifts big and small combine to make a significant difference for our University.

On April 22, Baylor’s Foster Pavilion will host its first public concert event, featuring GRAMMY-nominated Baylor alum Forrest Frank (BBA ’17) — but Frank technically won’t be the first artist on the Foster stage that night.

That honor will go to Claire Leslie, a 23-year-old performer from San Antonio, who will perform as the concert’s opening act. In her day job, Leslie leads worship at Max Lucado’s Oak Hills Church, as she finds her way as an up-and-coming Christian singer-songwriter.

Earning recognition as a Master Teacher at Baylor is a rare honor — the highest a BU professor can receive for his/her teaching. In January, President Linda Livingstone announced the lifetime designation for four Baylor professors, increasing the roll of Master Teachers to 33 since the honor was first bestowed more than 40 years ago.

Among the newest honorees is Wiff Rudd (BME ’77), a Baylor graduate and distinguished member of Baylor’s School of Music since 2002. As Professor of Trumpet and Brass Area Coordinator, Rudd’s students have achieved notable success — especially the Baylor Trumpet Studio, which has won six first-place titles at the National Trumpet Competition since 2009.

Baylor basketball’s losses Sunday — both the men and women fell in the NCAA second round — still sting. But if you listened to the student-athletes talk after the game about their Baylor experience, you’ll understand what makes BU special, and what “Preparing Champions for Life” really means.

In their own words:

Baylor University is once again joining universities and communities around the country to increase public awareness and prevention education about sexual assault and interpersonal violence during Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM).

Believe it or not, it was 20 years ago today — March 24, 2005 — that America first visited the offices of the Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company. To put that in context, current Baylor freshmen had not yet been born. Yet here in 2025, thanks to reruns and online streaming, today’s college students (and millions upon millions of other people) have visited those offices again and again, to laugh (or cringe) at the antics of Michael Scott, Dwight Schrute, Jim and Pam, and of course, Angela Martin, played by cherished Baylor alumna Angela Kinsey, BA ’93.

In the two decades since the premiere of NBC’s The Office, the show and its characters have become American pop culture touchstones. But don’t get the impression that Angela Martin and Angela Kinsey are the same person.

NCAA March Madness is here, and for the 10th time in the past 11 postseasons, both the Baylor men’s and women’s basketball teams are going dancing! 

Baylor University’s 2025 senior class has selected Don Carpenter, clinical associate professor of accounting and business law in the Hankamer School of Business, as the 2025 Collins Outstanding Professor.

Before he was topping the charts as a GRAMMY-nominee, winning two Dove Awards, and achieving massive success for his 2024 national tour, Forrest Frank (BBA ’17) was a typical student leaning into his Baylor experience.

From participating in All University Sing to donning a suit and tie for the professional sales program in Hankamer School of Business, Frank embraced his experience and thrived at Baylor.

Eleven Baylor University professors have been honored with Outstanding Faculty Awards for teaching, scholarship and contributions to the academic community for the 2024-2025 academic year.

For the 10th time in the last 11 postseasons, both the Baylor men’s and women’s basketball teams are going dancing!

The Baylor women will begin NCAA tournament play on Friday (2:30 p.m., ESPNU) — their 21st straight appearance! — and for the first time, will get to do so at Foster Pavilion! The Baylor men will start their NCAA tournament run Friday in Raleigh, N.C. (11:15 a.m., CBS) as a No. 9 seed against No. 8 seed Mississippi State.

Baylor University will host the 31st annual Beall Poetry Festival, a three-day event March 19-21, 2025, that features poetry readings, a panel discussion and the Virginia Beall Ball Lecture on Contemporary Poetry.

In 2019, Baylor set a school-record with seven Fulbright scholarship recipients — part of the nation’s most prestigious international education exchange program. Just three years later, Baylor doubled that total, with 14 Fulbrights. And in 2024, Baylor jumped to 18 Fulbright student honorees.

Such success now ranks Baylor among the top 20 colleges and universities nationally, earning BU recognition this spring as a Fulbright Top Producing Institution for the third straight year. In the latest totals, Baylor ranks No. 1 in both Texas and the Big 12 for most Fulbright student awards.

Baylor University bear mascot Judge Sue Sloan, known as “Lady,” beloved sister of the late Judge “Joy” Reynolds and cherished member of the Baylor Family, passed away peacefully today surrounded by her loving and dedicated caregivers, staff and veterinary team. Lady was 23.

It’s hard to believe it’s already March and Spring Break is next week. I know many of you are looking forward to time away with family and friends and for rest and renewal during this busy time of year.

Earning recognition as a Master Teacher at Baylor is a rare honor — the highest a BU professor can receive for his/her teaching. In January, President Linda Livingstone announced the lifetime designation for four Baylor professors, increasing the roll of Master Teachers to 33 since the honor was first bestowed more than 40 years ago.

Among the newest honorees is Dr. Andrew Hogue (MA ’05, PhD ’09), a two-time Baylor graduate who returned to join the faculty of his alma mater in 2011. Over the last 15 years, he has taught various political science courses, led what is now Baylor’s Philanthropy & Public Service Program, served as associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and led Baylor’s Office of Engaged Learning.

Higher education isn’t cheap — but it’s not as astronomical as many people believe. Recent studies show that even as sticker prices have gone up nationwide, the price most families actually pay has been dropping for years.

Since 2019, Baylor’s median out-of-pocket cost has decreased or remained constant for students and families with household incomes of $300,000 or less. Nine out of 10 Baylor students receive some form of financial aid, and for families with demonstrated need and an adjusted household income below $50,000, tuition is covered by the university, thanks to the Baylor Benefit Scholarship.

Now, a new effort is in the works to even better support students. Late last month, the university launched the “Extend the Line” Scholarship Initiative, aiming to raise $250 million for student scholarships. The goal: ensuring a Baylor education remains accessible and affordable for both current and future Bears.

More than 100 Baylor students and faculty and staff leaders will serve with Baylor Missions over spring break March 9-16, combining faith, service and learning in Texas and in four international locations with the University’s global partners.

After countless hours of planning, practicing and performing, All University Sing 2025 is in the books. Over the last two weeks, hundreds of Baylor students put their hard work on display performing for thousands of Baylor students, alumni and friends in Waco Hall (plus a streaming audience online for Saturday’s finale).

Congratulations to Chi Omega, which won first place this year for their act, “Back on Track” (pictured above). Alpha Tau Omega took second for their act, “Underneath the Tree,” followed by Delta Delta Delta in third for “When Pigs Fly.”

Baylor students will compete this weekend in the first officially sanctioned Big 12 Conference esports tournament.

Teams from six other conference schools will join Oso Esports for the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (SSBU) tournament, which will take place virtually March 1, and serve as the conference qualifier for the prestigious Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup (CECC), to be held this May in Arlington.

Baylor has long taken pride in how it supports student veterans on campus, and it shows. BU annually ranks among the nation’s best colleges for veterans; this year, Baylor is ranked No. 1 in the Big 12 and No. 3 in Texas.

Further evidence: Veterans of Baylor (VoB), a student organization that supports student veterans on campus and in their community, has been named the 2024 Student Veterans of America Chapter of the Year from among nearly 1,600 SVA chapters nationwide.

On Tuesday, March 11, Baylor’s OSOFast InterLibrary Loan platform will be offline for scheduled maintenance. While the outage is planned for one day, the vendor warns the maintenance window could extend if they encounter unforeseen issues.

As a Christian research university, Baylor takes great pride in celebrating holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. There is something special about expressing gratitude for our many blessings and for preparing our hearts for Advent. 

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has recognized Baylor as one of only 56 doctoral universities with the highest number of students selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

Low vaccination rates and delayed recognition contribute to rapid spread of disease once though eradicated in the U.S.

Oligarchy is being thrown around a lot these days. But what does the term mean? Is America an oligarchy? And how does oligarchy help explain American democracy today?

For the 21st year in a row, a Baylor University debate team has qualified to compete in the nation’s top debate tournament, while another Baylor debate team won a recent national competition.

In the early 1990s, a Baylor student pitched the idea of a coffee shop just off campus as a class project. Fast forward three decades, and that classroom pitch is now a campus community staple.

Happy 30th birthday, Common Grounds!

Following the massive success of his 2024 national tour, GRAMMY-nominee and double Dove Award-winning artist Forrest Frank will bring his 2025 Child Of God Tour Part 2 to Baylor University’s Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 22. 

During its regular February meeting, the Baylor University Board of Regents took several actions that will provide the foundation for an aggressive implementation of the University’s new strategic plan – Baylor in Deeds. 

Baylor University today officially launched the Extend the Line Scholarship Initiative, which aims to raise $250 million by 2030 for student scholarships to help ensure a Baylor education remains accessible and affordable for both current and prospective students.

I have said many times before that I believe our ability to fulfill our mission – to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community – is only possible when we value and embrace our differences. 

College traditions are beloved on college campuses across the country. At Baylor, traditions are rooted in connection and community, giving students a lifelong tie to the University.

In 2023, Baylor introduced a new high honor for faculty — the title of “University Distinguished Professor,” an accolade to be given out only once or twice every two years, and even then only after an extensive review process. The honor recognizes faculty members for outstanding achievement in scholarship and/or creative activity, national and international recognition in their discipline, and mentorship of colleagues and students.

Earlier this month, Dr. John L. Wood, Baylor’s Robert A. Welch Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, became the second BU professor to receive this high honor. Wood joined Dr. Mikeal Parsons as Baylor’s second University Distinguished Professor, recognized for his groundbreaking research using natural products.

Zero to 60? That’s kids’ stuff. Try 0 to 632 mph in five seconds — then decelerating back to zero in another 1.4 seconds. Such a ride puts the body through 40+ G’s of force. “My eyeballs pushed against the upper lids, pulling at their attachments with a searing pain like a dental extraction without anesthetic,” recalled the test pilot.

That was the last of 29 rocket sleds Dr. John Paul Stapp (BA ’31, MA ’32) would ride in the mid 1950s, part of U.S. Air Force safety testing that would lead to improved pilot helmets, better seatbelts and shoulder harnesses, improved escape mechanisms, and stronger cockpit frames.

I am thrilled to report we have been notified by the American Council on Education (ACE) that as expected, Baylor University has been reaffirmed as a R1 research university in the 2025 Carnegie Classifications. 

Baylor University has again been recognized as a Research 1 (“R1”) university, a prestigious designation awarded to the nation’s top research universities by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

Raise your hand if this has happened to you: You’re walking through the grocery store (or the airport, or Disney World, or the Great Wall of China…), and you spot that unmistakable Baylor green and gold on a shirt or cap. Then comes the universal nod of acknowledgement, if not the all-out “SIC ‘EM!” and “You went to Baylor too?!”

Those don’t have to be the only times you meet fellow Bears. Baylor Alumni hosts hundreds of events across the country each year, where alumni (and others) meet old and new friends, network, discuss Baylor news, and of course, cheer on the Bears. Naturally, the more Baylor people live in an area, the more events like these that city is likely to host — and not surprisingly, the top five metropolitan areas for Baylor alumni are all in Texas:

Country music stars Cross Canadian Ragweed and Turnpike Troubadours will co-headline a live show at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas, on Saturday, Aug. 23.

A new study reveals a sobering paradox for the very platform designed to bring us together – the more time we spend interacting online, the lonelier we may feel.

I talk often about the fact that the Baylor Family is made up of many members with different backgrounds and experiences that enable a wide range of contributions to the world. I believe our ability to fulfill our mission – to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community – is only possible when we embrace those contributions. 

Baylor’s mission has long been to “educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service” — and for the second straight year, a survey by TIME magazine confirms Baylor’s doing exactly that.

Baylor once again ranks among TIME‘s 2025 list of the 100 Best Colleges for Future Leaders, coming in at No. 61 nationally (No. 3 in Texas, No. 4 in the Big 12). The publication studied the resumes of 4,000 U.S. leaders — pulling from business, government, sports and more — to find where today’s leaders got their start, with Baylor standing out among the nation’s best.

When Baylor Softball last took the field in the 2024 Super Regional, they were pushing the nation’s No. 4 seed, the Florida Gators, to the brink despite entering the postseason dramatically shorthanded due to injuries. Those challenges failed to break the 2024 Bears, and the program enters 2025 poised to build on that experience in the new season.

With a roster featuring two preseason All-Big 12 selections, lauded newcomers and a number of stars returning from that 2024 campaign, head coach Glenn Moore’s squad begins his 25th season at Baylor nationally ranked: No. 19 in the ESPN/USA Softball poll and No. 21 in the D1Softball preseason poll. In a stacked Big 12 Conference, they’re picked 4th in the preseason poll. Such recognition is a sign of what experts believe Baylor can do when healthy.

John L. Wood, Ph.D., has been designated as University Distinguished Professor, the highest honor bestowed on Baylor faculty. 

Heidi J. Hornik, Ph.D., has been selected as the 2025 Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of the Year for her superlative contribution to the learning environment at Baylor.

This Saturday Baylor University turns 180 – the oldest continuously operating university in the state after being chartered by the Republic of Texas in 1845. Baylor offers a distinct experience with deep, historic Christian roots, a tradition of innovation and firsts, and a tremendous track record of producing leaders who change the course of our state, country and the world. 

A passionate advocate for classical music "hidden figure" Florence Price, Baylor University pianist Michael Clark's new book is giving the world an opportunity to discover 20 of Price's previously unpublished piano pieces.

Baylor Professors Kevin D. Dougherty, Andrew P. Hogue, Wiff Rudd and  J. Lenore Wright receive the lifetime designation of Master Teacher, the highest honor granted to Baylor faculty for sustained excellence in teaching.

Celebrating a tradition of community impact and service

Despite frigid weather in Waco again this week, it’s been a great start to the spring semester. Seeing students on campus reconnecting with friends and faculty is always joyful, and I am so thankful for their safe return – never taking it for granted. 

The Buffalo Bills are playing this weekend for a spot in the Super Bowl — their first since 1994 — thanks in large part to a Baylor Bear.

Barely three years removed from winning Sugar Bowl MVP after Baylor beat Ole Miss, two-time Baylor graduate Terrel Bernard (BSED ’20, MSED ’21) is now the Bills’ starting middle linebacker. Before this season began, Bernard’s teammates voted him one of two team captains (alongside All-Pro quarterback Josh Allen) — a huge sign of respect for a young player.

Baylor’s Moody and Jones libraries are among the university’s busiest buildings, with more than 3,500 students, faculty, staff and other visitors inside on any given day. That’s a lot of traffic, so Baylor Libraries sought out CPR training for staff in case there might one day be a need for such immediate life-saving measures.

Dozens of staff members took a basic CPR course, while 25 more — including John Lowe, associate director of learning systems — got fully certified through the American Heart Association’s Basic Life Support CPR class, hosted by American Medical Response (AMR).

What John didn’t know was that he would employ those newly learned skills only a few months later — to help save his wife, Angie (BSED ’00).

As we return for the start of another semester, I would like to share with you the news that Kevin Jackson, Ph.D., our Vice President for Student Life, has informed me of his decision to retire from Baylor University, effective June 30. 

National Weather Service forecasts that Waco, McLennan County and Central Texas will experience freezing temperatures Monday night, Jan. 20 through Wednesday, Jan. 22.

Long-running jokes about college life center around living off ramen noodles and cheap food, and never passing up a free meal. Unfortunately, such jokes mask a hard truth — that college students are two to four times as likely as the average American to experience food insecurity. Students at universities nationwide — yes, even at Baylor — are experiencing these issues.

In response, Baylor Student Success Initiatives has taken steps to alleviate this stress for BU students. Here are 5 ways Baylor works to help students access nourishing food:

For Black gospel artists recording after 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s “I Have a Dream” speech was more than a defining moment of the Civil Rights Movement. It became fertile ground for their creative expression.

It’s become so commonplace that it must be a Baylor tradition – very cold weather to welcome students back to Waco for the spring semester! I’m a frequent checker of several apps on my iPhone, and the forecast for next Monday and Tuesday calls for freezing temperatures and another possible wintry mix of precipitation.

Baylor's AFROTC, Detachment 810 has been ranked as the No. 1 Medium Detachment in the country, outperforming 49 other detachments nationwide to claim the top honor. 

Each year on Dr. Martin Luther King Day of Service, the Baylor University and Waco communities join others across the nation to participate in multiple events honoring Dr. King's life and legacy.

Baylor students living on campus have a wide variety of options. Some choose to live with other students their age; others, with students who have similar academic or extracurricular interests; still others, in faculty-led residential colleges.

Baylor takes these opportunities seriously, and it shows. Baylor’s learning communities once again rank among U.S. News‘ top 10 nationally — just behind schools like Yale and Vanderbilt, and ahead of, well, just about everyone else. (The honor ranked Baylor No. 1 in the Big 12, No. 1 in Texas, and No. 1 among large private universities.)

Baylor University has engaged Nashville-based entertainment and digital marketing agency Noise New Media LLC to elevate the University’s concert programming and live event experiences at the Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion and other campus venues. 

If last year made clear that this is a golden era for NBA Bears, this season just runs up the score — with Baylor moving into the top 10 among universities with players currently in the NBA, right there with schools like Kansas and Texas.

No fewer than 11 Bears are currently on league rosters; a school-record 10 Baylor alumni have played this year, and one more just signed a contract that should allow him to soon make his debut. (Consider that from 1949 to 2010, a total of 10 Baylor alumni played in the NBA. In 2024-25, we’ve seen that many in just three months!)

Happy New Year, Baylor Family! I hope you had a wonderful (and restful) Christmas break and are ready for all 2025 has in store for Baylor University. 

Veterans of Baylor (VoB) has been honored among the 1,600 Student Veterans of America (SVA) chapters as the 2024 SVA Chapter of the Year for its “remarkable contributions in enhancing their campus community.” 

Many student-athletes spend four (or more) years at Baylor; others are here for a shorter time — just a year, or occasionally even less.

Baylor Athletics wants to make sure that, while each student-athlete is at BU, they hear the Gospel and have the opportunity to grow in their faith. It’s a central part of Athletics’ goal and motto of “preparing champions for life.”

Here are just a few of the ways Baylor Athletics works to ensure every student-athlete’s time on campus is a time of spiritual growth:

Another year has flown by… As the calendar turns, let’s take one last look back at 2024, through the lens of our favorite photos from Baylor’s official Instagram account.

Here are our top 10 Baylor Instagram photos of 2024: