Baylor in the News – Jan. 2-8, 2022

January 9, 2022

Media Contact: Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-710-1961
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WACO, Texas (Jan. 9, 2022) – Baylor University researchers and faculty experts were featured in national and local media stories as they shared their thoughts and expertise on the health impacts of kindness, how politics can affect church diversity and the importance of vocal health.

Jan. 3, 20221

The Christian Century: Marcus Rashford is keeping Christianity in the British limelight
Philip Jenkins, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of History and Co-Director for the program on historical studies of religion, writes about the rise in religiosity among younger athletes in England.

The Dallas Morning News: Texas gains seven Tier One universities in a decade
Baylor University is one of only two private universities in Texas that has achieved Tier One status, a designation that signals an elite academic reputation and high research activity.

University of Toronto News: How far does a little kindness go? U of T researcher examines how doing good improves mental health
Laura Upenieks, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology, is quoted in this article about new research that links kindness and well-being.

KCEN-TV: Baylor could see admissions boost after successful sports year
VIDEO: An admissions boost could be evident next fall semester after Baylor’s 12-month span where the school won two national championships, four Big 12 championships and now a Sugar Bowl.

Jan. 4, 2022

Medical Xpress: Opioid use disorder treatment access increases in areas with large Medicaid population
Michael Richards, M.D., Ph.D., an associate professor of economics, is quoted on a new study which reports that in communities where Medicaid is a more common source of insurance, providers of buprenorphine, an effective treatment for opioid use disorder, are much less likely to discriminate between Medicaid and privately insured prospective patients. However, some barriers remain.

Newsweek: Why Do I Wake Up At 3 A.M. Worrying? Sleep Experts Explain
Michael Scullin, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology and neuroscience and director of Baylor’s Sleep Neuroscience and Cognition Lab, is quoted in this article explaining why the early hours of the morning put our minds into overdrive.

Baptist News Global: The ‘MAGA faction’ could be a hindrance for multiracial congregations
Kevin Dougherty, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology, is quoted in this article on the impact of politics on the diversity of church congregations.

KPFA.org: John C. Calhoun: Defender of Racial Slavery & White Democracy
AUDIO: Robert Elder, Ph.D., associate professor of history, discusses his book on John C. Calhoun, an enigmatic figure in American history for his role in southern succession.

Jan. 5, 2022

Baptist News Global: Baylor preparing to launch master’s degree in theology, ecology and food justice
Jennifer Howell, Ph.D., director of the Theology, Ecology and Food Justice Program, and Samuel Moore, a third-year student at Truett Seminary, are featured in this article on Baylor’s new master’s degree program blending environmental and theological studies.

Jan. 6, 2022

Good News: Dr. Kevin Watson to Lead Wesley House of Studies
Kevin Watson, Ph.D., affiliate research professor at Truett Seminary, has been named as Acting Director of the Wesley House of Studies.

ThomasNet: Why Most of Us Never Complete Our New Year’s Resolutions [Thoughts After Dark]
Sara L. Dolan, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology and neuroscience, is quoted in this article on New Year’s resolutions and why they are difficult to accomplish.

Newsweek: Poorer Mental Health Linked to Religious Uncertainty, National Study Says
A recently published study, which relies on a national survey's worth of data from the 2010 Baylor Religion Survey, suggests that people who possess anxiety or a lack of certainty about their relationship with the divine, such as a god, could find their psychological well-being is at risk.

Jan. 7, 2022

Baylor Connections: Kimberly Monzon and Lauren Weber
AUDIO: How can vocal athletes perform at their best, and with optimum health? Kimberly Monzon and Lauren Weber are teachers and performers who seek to help people who use their voices on stage and in other settings. In this Baylor Connections, Monzon, D.M.A., assistant professor of voice in Baylor’s School of Music, and Weber, a certified vocologist who serves as a lecturer of musical theatre at Baylor, take listeners inside their research and training to advance new understanding in vocal performance.

Jan. 8, 2022

The Dallas Morning News: Sidney Poitier rarely spoke of that dark night in Mississippi
Robert F. Darden, professor of journalism, public relations and new media, author and founder of Baylor’s Black Gospel Music Restoration Project, writes about Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte, two of the unsung heroes of the civil rights movement.

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 focusing on faculty research and expert opinions, innovative teaching, major awards and recognition, and community involvement. Through its media training workshops, the Baylor M&PR team develops faculty experts to effectively communicate the impact of their research or speak as subject-matter experts into national trends and conversations with media outlets, through 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 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 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.