Baylor University Honors Outstanding Faculty for 2023-2024

Contact: Lori Fogleman, Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-709-5959
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WACO, Texas (April 15, 2024) – Twelve Baylor University professors have been honored with Outstanding Faculty Awards for teaching, scholarship and contributions to the academic community for the 2023-2024 academic year.

The Outstanding Faculty Awards recognize the best all-around professors – including non-tenure track, tenured and tenure-track faculty – on teaching capabilities, research achievement, effective committee service, time spent with students and civic and church involvement.

The designation represents a singular honor for Baylor faculty since the recognition comes from their colleagues. Each of the honorees will receive an award of $3,750, a citation and recognition by their department.

Tenured Teaching Awards

• Dawn Carlson, Ph.D., The H.R. Gibson Chair of Organizational Development and director of the McBride Center of International Business, Hankamer School of Business (Category 1 - Schools of Business, Law and Engineering and Computer Science)
• Victor J. Hinojosa, Ph.D., associate professor of political science in the Honors Program, Honors College (Category 2 - Schools of Education, Music, Social Work, Louise Herrington School of Nursing, Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, Truett Seminary, Baylor Libraries and the Honors College)
• Theresa Varney Kennedy, Ph.D., professor of French and director of Women's and Gender Studies, Humanities (Category 3 - College of Arts & Sciences, one nominee each from the Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities)

Tenure-Track Teaching Award, all Schools

• Jessica Asbridge, J.D., associate professor of law, Baylor Law

Non-Tenure-Track Teaching Award

• Eric Swan, D.B.A., clinical assistant professor of marketing, Hankamer School of Business (Category 1 - Schools of Business, Law and Engineering and Computer Science)
• Amy Fleming, Ph.D., senior lecturer in music theory, Baylor School of Music (Category 2 - Schools of Education, Music, Social Work, Louise Herrington School of Nursing, Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, Truett Seminary, Baylor Libraries and the Honors College)
• Jim Huggins, M.F.S., senior lecturer in anthropology, Sciences (Category 3 - College of Arts & Sciences, one nominee each from the Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities) 

Tenured Scholarship

• Yulia Sullivan, Ph.D., associate professor of information systems and business analytics, Hankamer School of Business (Category 1 - Schools of Business, Law and Engineering and Computer Science)
• Davide Zori, Ph.D., associate professor of history in the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core, Honors College (Category 2 - Schools of Education, Music, Social Work, Louise Herrington School of Nursing, Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, Truett Seminary, Baylor Libraries and the Honors College)
• Rafael Climent-Espino, Ph.D., associate professor of Spanish and Portuguese and director of the Graduate Program, Humanities (Category 3 - College of Arts & Sciences, one nominee each from the Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities)

Tenure-Track Scholarship, all Schools

• Laura Upenieks, Ph.D., assistant professor of sociology, College of Arts & Sciences

Significant Contributions, all Schools

• Lenore Wright, Ph.D., professor of philosophy in the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core, Honors College, and director of the Academy for Teaching and Learning

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.