Baylor in the News – June 5-11, 2022

June 12, 2022

Media Contact: Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-710-1961
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WACO, Texas (June 12, 2022) – Baylor University researchers and faculty experts were featured in national and local media stories as they shared their thoughts and expertise on the impact of the Prison Entrepreneurship Program on recidivism rates, taking time for a "digital detox" and the dangers of toxic blue green algae in lakes.

June 5, 2022

The Dallas Morning News: This Texas prison program is improving recidivism rates
Thomas S. Hibbs, Ph.D., The J. Newton Rayzor Sr. Professor of Philosophy, writes about the success of the Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP), which operates in prisons outside of Dallas and Houston, and its promotion of pro-social behavior that includes a business plan curriculum joined to an intensive character assessment and development program. PEP’s exceptionally low recidivism rate is 8.3% after three years.

June 6, 2022

Ethical Voices: The Role of Ethical Leadership in Building Influence: A Female Perspective
AUDIO: Marlene Neill, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA, associate professor and graduate program director of journalism, public relations and new media and Juan Meng, Ph.D., associate professor of public relations at the University of Georgia, share insights from their recent journal article, “The Role of Ethical Leadership in Building Influence: Perspectives from Female Public Relations Professionals.”

The Christian Science Monitor: Has the gun become a sacred object in America?
Paul Froese, Ph.D., professor of sociology and director of the Baylor Religion Surveys, is quoted in this article about the rise of the gun as a symbol of Christian identity.

June 7, 2022

Axios: Time for digital detox
This article about taking a digital detox from devices cites a Baylor management study by Meredith David, Ph.D., and James A. Roberts, Ph.D., which found that screen time is ruining relationships, as one partner feels "phone-snubbed" by the other.

KWTX-TV: Baylor researchers analyzing toxic blue green algae found at Lake Belton last year
Thad Scott, Ph.D., professor of biology, is among Baylor researchers who study toxic blue green algae and its effect on people and other mammals, as well as how and why it forms in lakes. Scott said he and other researchers hope to develop forecasting tools to give early warning signs to the public.

June 9, 2022

Deseret News: How is using your cellphone at a restaurant connected with relationship satisfaction?
This article about restaurants becoming a more technology-based service, which could contribute to dissatisfaction in relationships and depression, cites a Baylor management study by Meredith David, Ph.D., and James A. Roberts, Ph.D. Their research found that the more often a couple’s time spent together is interrupted by one individual attending to his/her cellphone, the less likely it is that the other individual is satisfied in the overall relationship.

June 10, 2022

Baylor Connections: Sharra Hynes, Ph.D.
AUDIO: The summer months present a significant opportunity to connect incoming Baylor students to the Baylor Family. In this Baylor Connections, Sharra Hynes, Ph.D. associate vice president and dean of students in the Division of Student Life, shares how distinct Baylor programs – from Line Camp to New Student Orientation – give students a head start on friendships, campus traditions and more.

Waco Tribune-Herald: Waco police to seek violence interrupters
Patrick Flavin, Ph.D., The Bob Bullock Professor of Political Science, provides perspective on “violence interrupters,” who would aim to intervene before violent situations arise. The Waco Police Department will coordinate with organizations to seek out “violence interrupters” among the community, aiming to prevent situations from escalating to violence.

June 11, 2022

Medical News Today: Anxiety in men: Fighting stereotypes
Thomas Fergus, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology and neuroscience, is among four experts in mental health, who provide insight on topics ranging from how anxiety expresses differently in men and women, to how men seek treatment, and what could improve the way they think about the condition and seek support.

Waco Tribune-Herald: Naomi House to welcome asylum seekers in Waco
Dennis Tucker, Ph.D., professor of Christian Scriptures at Truett Seminary and chair of the leadership council at DaySpring Baptist Church, is quoted in this article about the creation of Naomi House, a resting place in asylum seekers’ arduous trek from dangerous Central American countries to safety in another country, a hospitality house for peace and healing.

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.