Baylor in the News – Dec. 20, 2020-Jan. 9, 2021

January 10, 2021

Media Contact: Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-710-1961
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WACO, Texas (Jan. 10, 2021) – Baylor University researchers and faculty experts were featured in national and local media stories as they shared their thoughts and expertise on gratitude, hypnotherapy, New Year's resolutions, COVID-19 vaccines and global health.

Dec. 22, 2020

Baptist News Global: To the shepherds: Reframing Christmas in a pandemic
Emily Smith, Ph.D., assistant professor of epidemiology at Baylor, writes in the midst of COVID-19 about reframing this 2020 Christmas according to the first Christmas: quiet, simple, not many people, calm.

Copperas Cove Leader Press: Local H-E-B Pharmacies Among Those Receiving First Doses Of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines This Week
Emily Smith, Ph.D., assistant professor of epidemiology, weighs in about the two new COVID-19 vaccines. Smith's website and Facebook page called "Friendly Neighbor Epidemiologist" provide a wealth of information in layperson’s terms on the virus, its transmission and implications, along with the treatments.

Dec. 23, 2020

Parade Magazine: Hypnotherapy Benefits Are Real—but What Is This Ancient Technique, Exactly, and Should You Try It?
This article about hypnotherapy cites Baylor research, which found that one hour of hypnotherapy, once a week for eight weeks, reduced people’s stress levels by 40 percent.

Dec. 26, 2020

Medium: Why You Should Practice Gratitude
Baylor psychology and neuroscience research is cited in this article about how gratitude may help individuals sleep better, reduce inflammation, have a healthier heart, reduce stress and more.

Dec. 29, 2020

The New York Times: This Year, Try Downsizing Your Resolutions
Sara L. Dolan, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology and neuroscience, is among the experts interviewed for this article about how to make goals for 2021 that feel both satisfying and doable.

Jan. 1, 2021

Baylor Connections: Benjamin Ryan, Ph.D.
AUDIO: An expert in environmental health and disease, Benjamin Ryan, Ph.D., clinical associate professor of environmental science, has been called on by organizations like the United Nations, World Health Organization and more to address disasters and disease. In this Baylor Connections, he shares what it means for communities to be resilient in the face of such challenges and explains a program he and other colleagues developed which has helped over 4,000 communities around the world equip and prepare.

Subaru Drive: Preserving the Golden Age of Gospel
This article written by Kevin Tankersley, senior lecturer of journalism, writes about fellow journalism professor Robert Darden's mission to find and digitize every song recorded during the heyday of gospel music. Darden is founder and director of Baylor's Black Gospel Music Restoration Project.

Jan. 6, 2021

KWKT-TV: Local representatives react to Capitol Hill riots
VIDEO: Patrick J. Flavin, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, is interviewed for this story about reaction to the Capitol Hill riots.

Jan. 8, 2021

Baylor Connections: Emily Smith, Ph.D.
AUDIO: To over 50,000 Facebook followers, she’s known as “Your Friendly Neighbor Epidemiologist,” sharing accessible and actionable insights into the COVID-19 pandemic. Those followers, however, may not know that the Baylor professor behind that account is a leader in global health and an advocate for surgical care for children around the world. In this Baylor Connections, Emily Smith, Ph.D., assistant professor of epidemiology, shares the story behind her highly-regarded social media outreach and takes listeners into the halls of the United Nations to understand the need for increased access to surgical care for children and their families.

Jan. 9, 2021

Waco Tribune-Herald: Flu calls in sick amid Waco area's preventive measures
This article about the reduction in the flu amid COVID-19 quotes Emily Smith, Ph.D., assistant professor of epidemiology, whose blog and Facebook page "Friendly Neighbor Epidemiologist" started as a platform for Smith to break down the science behind COVID-19 for friends and neighbors who began coming to her for guidance when the pandemic began.

ABOUT BAYLOR MEDIA & PUBLIC RELATIONS

Baylor's Office of Media and Public Relations (M&PR) supports the University's Illuminate strategic plan as a top Christian research university by proactively placing high-profile stories about faculty research and expert opinions, innovative teaching, major awards and recognition, and community involvement. The Baylor M&PR team develops faculty experts to effectively communicate the impact of their research or, as subject-matter experts, speak into national trends and conversations with media outlets, Hot Topics and on the Baylor Connections podcast. Our faculty expert directory is available on the M&PR website at www.baylor.edu/news/experts.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 19,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.