Baylor in the News – July 31-Aug. 6, 2022

Media Contact: Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-710-1961
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WACO, Texas (Aug. 7, 2022) – Baylor University researchers and faculty experts were featured in national and local media stories as they shared their thoughts and expertise on data from the Baylor Religion Survey that shows how childhood religiosity predicts a variety of positive outcomes, what leads to public trust in top universities and the return of the iEngage Summer Civics Institute at Baylor and a new season of Baylor Theatre.

Aug. 1, 2022

Deseret News: Perspective: Don’t believe the headlines. Few people suffer trauma from religion in childhood
The Deseret News looks at data from the Baylor Religion Survey, one of the most comprehensive national surveys that provides unique data concerning religion, health and community in America, in this article about how religious attendance at age 12 is associated with a variety of outcomes in adulthood. Survey data found that people who regularly attended religious services as children are more likely to be happy as adults.

Aug. 2, 2022

NCAA.org: Baylor President Linda Livingstone elected chair of NCAA Board of Governors
The NCAA Board of Governors met Tuesday for the first time in its new iteration, choosing Baylor President Linda Livingstone as board chair. This news also was covered by the Baptist Standard.

Morning Consult: Americans’ Most Trusted Universities, and the Need to Bridge Gaps in Public Trust
Baylor University was named among the nation’s top 10 Most Trusted Universities, according to global research firm Morning Consult. Baylor also was ranked No. 2 among Morning Consult’s Most Trusted Universities by parents. This news was covered by multiple media outlets, including KRLD News Radio in Dallas/Fort Worth.

Aug. 3, 2022

KXXV-TV: Adoption or abortion? Families, experts say it’s not that simple
VIDEO: Baylor School of Education's award-winning 'iEngage Summer Civics Institute' is taking place this week, teaching middle school students how to be active citizens.

KXAN-TV: Adoption or abortion? Families, experts say it’s not that simple
Elissa Madden, Ph.D., associate professor of social work at Baylor, is quoted about the grief and trauma that doesn’t always fade after placing a child for adoption with emotions resurfacing at times even after 10 or more years and suggests that birth mothers should have access to counseling services through adoption agencies at any time after relinquishment to help with the lasting grief.

Baptist News Global: There’s something odd about this Mary, did you know?
Mikeal Parsons, Ph.D., professor and Macon Chair in Religion at Baylor, is quoted in this article about a Duke Ph.D. student’s research, which mainly has been discussed in academic circles but has potential implications for how some key figures in the Gospel of John should be identified. Those figures are Mary and Martha, most often portrayed as sisters, and Mary Magdalene, a crucial and controversial figure in the Gospels’ narrative of the life and ministry of Jesus.

Waco Tribune-Herald: New Waco riverwalk design seeks to link Riverfront development, Foster Pavilion, Ranger museum
New designs for the riverwalk in downtown Waco would connect the Riverfront development, Baylor University’s future basketball arena and the Texas Ranger Museum, the latest in a series of development plans that will reshape portions of downtown Waco near the river into a “mixed use entertainment district,” with new restaurants, hotels, shopping and apartments anchored by Baylor University’s $213 million Foster Pavilion.

Aug. 4, 2022

Waco Tribune-Herald: Baylor iEngage empowers local students with civics education, wins Sandra Day O'Connor Award
Dozens of middle schoolers have been learning about civics and consensus building by acting out real-life scenarios this past week at Baylor University, part of the first camp to receive the Sandra Day O’Connor Award for the Advancement of Civics Education. Karon LeCompte, associate professor of curriculum and instruction and one of the founders of iEngage, is quoted in the article. Baylor Law Professor and Associate Dean Patricia Wilson participated in the camp's version of "Shark Tank" for community-improvement proposals.

KWBU-FM: Business Review: Adverse Decision
AUDIO: Thousands of decisions need to be made every day, ranging from the mundane to the complex. Those who seek cognitive closure tend to be averse to making decisions. Ashley Otto, Ph.D., assistant professor of marketing at Baylor, explains why some team members prefer closure over decision-making.

Aug. 5, 2022

Baylor Connections: Deanna Toten Beard, Ph.D.
AUDIO: A new Baylor Theatre season begins this Fall. In this Baylor Connections, Deanna Toten Beard, Ph.D., department chair and professor of theatre arts, takes listeners behind the scenes to share the details that comprise a Baylor production and previews the upcoming season’s schedule.

The Conversation: After Trump, Christian nationalist ideas are going mainstream – despite a history of violence
Samuel Perry, Ph.D., associate professor in the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core and an affiliate faculty member in communication, writes about the concerning presence of Christian nationalist ideas in recent political campaigns, given its ties to violence and white supremacy.

KWTX-TV: Baylor hosts camp where kids work to address community issues
VIDEO: Young minds took a deep dive into issues that exist in our community and how to address it as part of the iEngage Summer Civics Institute. About 100 kids from across the region came together at Baylor to take part in the camp focusing on action civics, meaning taking action to change the community.

Aug. 6, 2022

Deseret News: Understanding the role of religion in sports
The Deseret News interviewed Paul Putz, Ph.D., assistant director of the Faith & Sports Institute at Baylor’s Truett Seminary, about the history of sports ministry and the overall relationship between religion and sports.

Waco Tribune-Herald: Mike Copeland: Solar in Waco; New Starbucks; Baylor's trustworthiness; $1 million bathrooms
Morning Consult, a consulting firm specializing in market research conducted a survey asking about the most trusted universities in the United States. Baylor University finished ninth among 135 doctoral research universities, according to a Baylor press release.

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.