Baylor in the News – Feb. 19-25, 2023

February 26, 2023
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Baylor Sciences Building

Media Contact: Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-710-1961
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WACO, Texas (Feb. 26, 2023) – Baylor University researchers and faculty experts were featured in national and local media stories as they shared their thoughts and expertise on the history of Black gospel music, the combination of faith and sports and research on safer materials in environmental resources.

Feb. 20, 2023

Baptist News Global: Beth Allison Barr and Kristin Du Mez: The history of women, patriarchy, inequality and challenging conservative views
Historians, academics and authors Beth Allison Barr, Ph.D., The James Vardaman Endowed Professor of History at Baylor, and Calvin University professor Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Ph.D., discussed the challenges and rewards of being Christian women in a male-oriented world and profession during a wide-ranging discussion at Baylor on Feb. 16.

Texas Lifestyle Magazine: #MusicMonday: Preserving the Vanishing Legacy of Black Gospel Music
This article about the history of Black gospel music includes the preservation work of Baylor journalism professor Robert Darden, founder of The Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor, which identifies old recordings of black gospel, digitizes them, scans the album covers and catalogs their findings. Around 17,000 items have been digitized and preserved so far.

First Things: Becoming a Wonderless Robot
Rich Eva, a philosophy Ph.D. candidate at Baylor, writes this essay about how contemplation (to slow down, be still, listen for an answer or maybe even for another question) is interrupted by the constant barrage of news, email and social media.

Baptist News Global: Fear lies at the core of racism in the church and society, Beth Moore tells Truett audience
White evangelicals who claim they love the Bible but dismiss its demands for social justice as devious misinterpretations of "woke" culture continue to astound Beth Moore, she told participants in a conference sponsored by Baylor's Truett Seminary.

Feb. 21, 2023

KERA-FM (NPR/Dallas): Power struggles between state and local officials escalate in Texas — and across the nation
Patrick Flavin, Ph.D., The Bob Bullock Professor of Political Science at Baylor, is quoted in this article about how a case dating back to the COVID-19 pandemic about who has the power to require masks may determine to what extent conservative officials across Texas can dictate the health, environmental and law enforcement policies for cities, counties and school districts.

Baptist Standard: Jemar Tisby offers lessons from an ‘evangelical reject’
Predominantly white spaces—particularly in evangelical circles—seldom welcome African Americans who focus on racial justice, author Jemar Tisby told a conference at Baylor University's Truett Theological Seminary.

KWTX-TV (CBS/Waco): 'Mad Man in Waco': How David Koresh went from aspiring rock star to religious sect leader
VIDEO: Robert Darden, author of "Mad Man in Waco" and professor of journalism at Baylor, described Branch Davidian sect leader David Koresh as a fiercely influential and manipulative leader who used scripture to prey on confused followers.

Baptist Standard: Committee affirms BGCT-Baylor relationship
The Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board heard a committee report affirming Texas Baptists' relationship with Baylor University and a prayer challenge from the BGCT president.

Deseret News: Students have worshipped at this school for nearly 2 weeks. Here’s why — and what will happen next
Andrea Turpin, Ph.D., associate professor of history at Baylor, is quoted in this article about revivals on college campuses, which used to take place about once per year at religious colleges like Asbury.

Feb. 22, 2023

Baptist Standard: Around the State: Baylor plans Monument to the Unknown Enslaved
Baylor released a detailed rendering of an addition to Founders Mall called the "Monument to the Unknown Enslaved." The design is inspired by the limestone used on the original Baylor campus in Independence—likely built at least in part by enslaved people.

Fortune: How long does it take to earn a master's degree in social work?
As the number of jobs in social work grows by approximately 9% in the next ten years, students are enrolling in top-rated master's in social work programs such as Baylor at a higher rate.

Fortune: The number of social work master's programs is growing to meet demand—here are 4 new options
Baylor University's Diana R. Garland School of Social Work master's in social work program is highlighted in this article on top MSW programs in the country.

KWTX-TV (CBS/Waco): Religious revival event ‘FM72′ to hit Waco in March
VIDEO: The religious revival annual event, 'FM72,' is returning to Baylor for three days of uninterrupted prayer and prayer sessions in March.

Sports Spectrum: Former WNBA player Sophia Young-Malcolm seeks to serve, encourage in faith at Baylor
Sophia Young-Malcolm, an All-American at Baylor and an All-Star in the WNBA and is Assistant Athletic Director for Player Development with the Baylor women's basketball team. Baylor's Faith & Sports Institutes sat down with Sophia to discuss her sports and faith journey and the potential she sees in FSI.

Feb. 23, 2023

KWTX-TV (CBS/Waco): 'Monument for the Unknown Enslaved' to tell more complete story of Baylor's history
VIDEO: A new monument is in development to celebrate the unknown enslaved people who labored to build Baylor. The monument will feature light and water elements and was initiated by the Commission on Historic Campus Representations.

Fortune: What career opportunities are available to someone with a master's degree in social work?
Career paths for master's in social work graduates are detailed in this article that uses Baylor as an example of how individuals can utilize their degree in the professional world.

Feb. 24, 2023

Baylor Connections: Christie Sayes
AUDIO: "Safety by design" is a focus of Christie Sayes' work at the intersection of toxicology and materials science. An associate professor of environmental science at Baylor, Sayes uncovers unintended consequences of new materials to promote safer design. In this Baylor Connections, she takes listeners inside products that utilize advanced materials, talks about her research with the U.S. Air Force and unpacks the "lung-on-a-chip" she developed to simulate the lung in real operational environments.

Baptist Standard: Regents approve Baylor Benefit program
Baylor University regents at their February board meeting approved the Baylor Benefit program to assist financially disadvantaged students and heard a positive report related to the university's Faith and Character Study. The meeting was also covered in the Baylor Lariat, KWTX-TV and Waco Tribune-Herald.

Vox: 4 unanswered questions about the future of the Ukraine war
Sergiy Kudelia, an associate professor of political science at Baylor, is quoted about aid to Ukraine given by the West in this article detailing unanswered questions about the Ukraine war.

Religion News Service: 'Woke Wars' infiltrate Christian colleges, prof under fire for racial justice unit
Andrea Turpin, associate professor and graduate program director of History at Baylor, is quoted in this article on Christian colleges working to uphold faith issues that can be understood as politically left.

KXXV-TV (ABC/Waco): Central Texas school districts looking ahead to recruit for next school year
VIDEO: Bill Sterrett, Ph.D., professor and department chair of educational leadership for Baylor University's School of Education, stated the need to listen to teachers and improve support in this report on hiring bonuses for local teachers.

Feb. 25, 2023

Her Campus: Why Is It Trending?: Fashion Forecasting Expert Dr. Lorynn Divita Breaks Down the Apparel Industry
Lorynn Divita, Ph.D., associate professor of Apparel Design and Merchandising at Baylor, is interviewed on trends in fashion. She discusses the ways in which industry and social media influencers forecast trends.

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 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.