Baylor in the News – Nov. 26-Dec. 2, 2023

Contact: Baylor University Media & Public Relations, 254-710-1961 
Follow us on Twitter: @BaylorUMedia 

WACO, Texas (Dec. 3, 2023) – Baylor University researchers and faculty experts were featured in national and local media stories about common sleep myths, the ways universities are responding to the challenges first-generation students face in the college application process, and how a team of Baylor engineers is partnering with the City of Waco on more efficient, energy-producing technology that could breathe new life into waste gases produced by the city landfill. 

Nov. 27, 2023 

Prevention: 5 Myths About Sleep: Common Misconceptions That Need to Be Put to Rest  

Michael Scullin, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at Baylor, debunks common myths about sleep in this article. Scullin is quoted about the importance of adequate sleep and awareness of sleep apnea.  

Newswise: Baylor Researcher Explores the Resiliency of the Blackfeet Community  

Annie T. Ginty, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at Baylor, will explore the resiliency of the Blackfeet American Indian community and the potential health effects related to childhood and historical trauma. Baylor University, Blackfeet Community College and Montana State University-Bozeman were awarded a $3.37 million research grant from The National Institutes of Health to explore the issue.  

Texas Lawyer: Baylor Law Launches Family Law Clinic for Pro Se Litigants 

Not everyone can afford to hire an attorney or may simply prefer not to use one, so Baylor Law School is launching a Family Law Clinic in January 2024 to assist pro se litigants with navigating family law cases, such as divorce and parent-child relationships. Assistant Professor of Law Stephanie Tang, J.D., is leading the clinic. The Texas Bar Blog also wrote about the new clinic. 

Waco Tribune-Herald: Baylor graduate wins statewide student teaching honor  

Baylor education alumna Debbie Chou was honored as the fifth Baylor student teacher in the last seven years to receive the statewide Clinical Teacher of the Year award. Chou is currently a graduate student in the Baylor School of Education. 

Nov. 28, 2023 

The Diapason: Baylor University high school organ competition 

Baylor University’s School of Music has announced results of its inaugural national high school organ competition, held Nov. 4, 2023, on the three-manual, 56-rank Létourneau organ at Truett Seminary. The required repertoire consisted of one piece by Bach and a contrasting work, both chosen by each finalist. 

CU-Citizen Access: Champaign County sees increase in SNAP recipients over five years, adding thousands last year 

Craig Gundersen, Ph.D., The Snee Family Endowed Chair at the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty and professor of economics at Baylor, says there are multiple factors contributing to the rise in the number of people seeking food assistance, such as changes in eligibility. 

Nov. 29, 2023 

TIME: The Best Colleges for Future Leaders 

TIME and Statista have named 100 colleges shaping U.S. leaders, with Baylor University at No. 40 nationally and No. 3 in Texas, with Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business named as a notable subsidiary. The ranking is based on analysis of the resumés of 2,000 top leaders in the U.S.—politicians, CEOs, union leaders, Nobel winners, and more across sectors. 

Baptist Standard: Around the State 

The Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities within the Baylor University School of Education will join With Ministries in a new program, “Worship as One: Learning with Children with Disabilities about Worship and Prayer.” The Lilly Endowment is supporting the program with a $300,000 grant to With Ministries through its Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative.   

Nov. 30, 2023 

Houston Chronicle: The uphill battles first-generation students face in the competitive college application process 

This article about the challenges first-generation students face in the college application process quotes Mary Herridge, associate VP of enrollment management at Baylor, on how Baylor has changed some of the academic jargon it uses when speaking to applicants, rather than assuming all know what "FAFSA," "major" and "degree" mean. 

Dec. 1, 2023 

Baylor Connections: Stephen Newby 

AUDIO: Stephen Newby, Ph.D., came to Baylor this summer as the inaugural Lev H. Prichard III Chair in the Study of Black Worship, bringing a background in music, scholarship and ministry to the position, which leads research and scholarship efforts associated with the growth of Baylor’s Black Gospel Music Preservation Project. In this Baylor Connections, he discusses the power of Black worship, Baylor’s efforts to both preserve and share the music for future generations, and the path that led him to Baylor for what he calls his “dream job.” 

Waco Tribune-Herald: Baylor, Waco team up for landfill gas technology upgrade 

As part of the National Science Foundation’s Civic Innovation Challenge, a team of Baylor engineers is working with City of Waco partners on more efficient, energy-producing technology that could breathe new life into waste gases produced by the city landfill and streamline emerging lab technologies to meet local community needs. Principal investigator is Lulin Jiang, Ph.D., assistant professor of mechanical engineering. 

Forbes: How Patient Is Too Patient? Are You Wisely Waiting Or Languishing? 

Baylor psychology and neuroscience professor Sarah A. Schnitker, Ph.D., is quoted in this article about the value of patience, which rests on three things: what kind of patience you’re talking about, the opportunities around you, and the details of your personal situation. 

Baptist Standard: Dorrells and Stricklin among Baylor alumni honorees 

Janet and Jimmy Dorrell, co-founders of Mission Waco/Mission World, are the recipients of Baylor University’s Pro Ecclesia Medal of Service—one of five 2024 Baylor Alumni Awards announced Nov. 30. In addition, Gil Stricklin, founder of Marketplace Ministries/Marketplace Chaplains, was named the posthumous recipient of Baylor's Distinguished Achievement Award. 

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. 

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.