Baylor Connections

When Baylor’s longstanding motto was expanded to include Pro Mundo, the University heralded its goal to have a greater global impact as a Christian research university. Every department on campus contributes in some way, but for Baylor’s Center for Global Engagement, global focus is a core characteristic. In this Baylor Connections, Eduardo Contreras, Baylor’s Vice Provost for Global Engagement, s...

This year marks Truett Seminary’s 30th anniversary and is a meaningful time to consider the institution’s impact. Todd Still serves as the Charles J. and Eleanor McLerran DeLancey Dean and holder of the William M. Hinson Chair of Christian Scriptures. In this Baylor Connections, he recalls Truett's founding and examines how the seminary has grown, and will continue to grow, in advancing its missio...

When Baylor recruited Karen Foli as the first endowed chair in the Louise Herrington School of Nursing, the University opened new possibilities to speak into mental health needs experienced in the nursing profession. Foli, a leading scholar and author on these topics, comes to Baylor from Purdue University to serve as the Louise Herrington Endowed Chair of Mental Health Nursing. In this Baylor Con...

You probably already know that Baylor hosted the nation’s first Homecoming in 1909—and remains the standard for collegiate Homecomings to this day. But there is likely much you don’t know about the roots of Homecoming, the traditions that have become Baylor icons and even the occasional shenanigans that accompany college students through the years. In this Baylor Connections, Alan Lefever—Truett p...

Nearly 16 percent of Baylor students are the first person in their family to attend a four-year college. Baylor’s First in Line program serves these students to help them maximize their success on campus. In this Baylor Connections, Michelle Gonzalez, First in Line Program Manager, highlights the ways Baylor walks alongside first-generation students as they navigate the college years, and shares w...

In today's political environment, numerous factors serve as obstacles to civil discourse and healthy approaches to political consumption. Thomas Hibbs, the J. Newton Rayzor Sr. Professor of Philosophy and Dean Emeritus in the Honors College, has long studied the intersection of politics and philosophy, and recently wrote the column “A Guide to Political Detox” in The Dallas Morning News. In this B...

Character formation is a foundational element of the Baylor student-athlete experience, and a new grant will enable Baylor to deepen work in this area through a partnership between the Faith and Sports Institute in Truett Seminary and Baylor Athletics. In this Baylor Connections, Paul Putz of the Faith and Sports Institute, along with Cori Bolts and Kenny Boyd of Baylor Athletics, takes listeners...

When military equipment breaks down, those who rely on it need it returned to operation as quickly as possible. Brian Jordon and Paul Allison are developing a technology that could do just that on the battlefield, in Space and more. Jordan and Allison came to Baylor in 2022 and brought a national reputation for elite materials science research with them. In this Baylor Connections, they share how...

Baylor in Deeds is here, a new strategic plan which charts a course for greater global impact, stewardship and service. With a focus on action and deed across every part of the University, Baylor in Deeds invigorates exciting new opportunities for the University to live out its scriptural calling and Christian mission. In this Baylor Connections, Provost Nancy Brickhouse and Chief of Staff Tiffany...

A new school year provides countless opportunities to engage and support students. Baylor Student Life offers a vast array of resources to support the total development of students. In this Baylor Connections, Vice President for Student Life Kevin Jackson takes listeners inside the moments and resources that enrich the Baylor experience for a new generation of Bears.

College athletics is in the midst of a season of change as new legislation and rule changes open new revenue streams to student-athletes. In this Baylor Connections, David Kaye gives listeners an “NIL 101” session. Kaye, who serves as Baylor’s NIL general manager, unpacks the ways Baylor University is adapting to the changing landscape to best serve student-athletes and provides insights into fact...

Laila Sanguras has plenty to share with parents and teachers as they encourage their students to succeed in school. A leading researcher into student grit and coping, Sanguras serves as Graduate Program Director of Baylor’s EdD program in Learning and Organizational Change and is a lecturer in Curriculum & Instruction in the School of Education. In this Baylor Connections, she examines questio...

Anticipation abounds at the start of a new school year, and the Baylor Family has much to celebrate. In this Baylor Connections, President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph. D., takes listeners inside the Fall Semester at Baylor. From the launch of a new strategic plan to a focus on Baylor’s global impact as a Christian university, President Livingstone highlights a number of themes key to the year ahead a...

A contentious election season highlights the need for citizens who can engage with respect and understanding amidst disagreement. As a Christian university, Baylor seeks to both model civil discourse and train students to do the same. Leslie Hahner, Professor of Communication, and Kevin Villegas, Dean of Intercultural Engagement, work with students as they navigate these complexities. In this Bayl...

David Wills has a passion for generosity and helping others live generously. The two-time Baylor graduate was named the 2024 Baylor Alumnus of the Year. In this Baylor Connections, Wills lists the questions that everyone should ask to consider generosity in their own lives, explains why generous people are happy and shares the impact of his Baylor experience on the path his life has taken.

New additions to the Baylor campus, national rankings, Big 12 expansion and more highlight the conversation with Jason Cook in this week’s Baylor Connections. Cook, who serves as Baylor’s Vice President for Marketing and Communications and Chief Marketing Officer, takes listeners inside Baylor’s national reputation, examines the impact of new facilities in the last year and looks ahead to the comi...

Legendary organizations Mission Waco-Mission World and Church Under the Bridge are known for their commitment to serve others and efforts to overcome injustice in Waco and beyond. Their work has blessed thousands of individuals and inspired generations of Baylor students to pursue their own calls to serve. In this Baylor Connections, co-founders Jimmy and Janet Dorrell, recipients of Baylor’s 2024...

For incoming students and families, Orientation and Line Camp are core moments in the final weeks before they officially become Baylor students. In this Baylor Connections, experience these events through the eyes of their participants. Nathan Shelburne, director of New Student Programs, and Kaleigh Wiffler, a rising senior and team captain on the Student Leadership Team, share favorite activities...

After 22 years in corporate America, Gabe Madison wasn’t expecting the call to lead an urban farm addressing food insecurity and community wellbeing in South Dallas. In this Baylor Connections, Madison, the 2024 recipient of Baylor’s Pro Texana Medal of Service, shares her journey to Bonton Farms and examines needs in the community that this farm continually grows to meet.

In this Baylor Connections, a Baylor history professor transports listeners to Revolutionary times. Julie Anne Sweet, Professor of History and Director of Military Studies has been featured on C-SPAN as she lectures in full Revolutionary War-period military gear. As we approach Independence Day, she shares why that period is so meaningful to her, gives insights on making history come alive, and re...

Candi Cann spent last year in South Korea after earning a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award. An assistant professor of religion in the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core, Cann is a noted researcher on death and dying around the world. In this Baylor Connections, Cann takes listeners to South Korea and shares experiences from her time there, while further delving into her research and why she hop...

Before he even knew his last name carried a legal connotation, Jeremy Counseller showed signs of pursuing a career in law as a child. Today, he serves as the Abner V. McCall Chair of Evidence Law and will take over as Dean of the Baylor Law School in July. In this Baylor Connections, get to know Baylor’s newest dean.  Counseller shares his experience as both a Baylor law student and faculty member...

Baylor's McNair Scholars program serves undergraduates from low-income, first-generation and other underrepresented backgrounds through mentorship, research opportunities and other scholarly activities. Steven Fernandez serves as director of Student Opportunity and Achievement Resources at Baylor. In this Baylor Connections, he shares how the program fosters relationships and opportunities that ha...

The Mayborn Museum celebrates 20 years of serving Central Texas in 2024. This Spring, they unveiled signature bronze mammoth sculptures to welcome visitors. Rebecca Nall serves as Assistant Director of Exhibits, Communication, and Visitor Services. In this Baylor Connections, she shares more about the sculptures, takes listeners on a tour of the museum and highlights new summer exhibits.

Getting product to people—the fundamentals of the supply chain, and a baseline for Hannah Stolze’s nationally recognized work. Stolze came to Baylor last year as the inaugural William E. Crenshaw Endowed Chair in Supply Chain Management. She focuses on transformative supply chain management, informed by her Christian faith. In this Baylor Connections, Stolze takes listeners inside important supply...