Baylor in the News – Dec. 22, 2024-Jan. 11, 2025

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

Note: The opinions expressed in these articles do not necessarily reflect those of the University.

University Business sits down with Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone about her national leadership that puts students first, while national and regional outlets report on family dynamics at Christmas, college enrollment trends among Christian universities and how Baylor’s Black Gospel Archive is digitizing historic albums for future generations.

Featured News

University Business: President’s corner: How a genuine student-first mentality propels Linda Livingstone

In the whirlwind of change occurring in college academics and athletics, Baylor University President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., discusses her work as leader of a Christian Research 1 university and chair of the NCAA Board of Governors: putting students first, engaging faculty across disciplines in research that’s solving problems that matter and maintaining academic integrity across higher ed in the face of changes in college athletics.

Texas Highways Magazine: Preserving Traditional Black Gospel Music

Black gospel has influenced American culture, but without a comprehensive effort to archive gospel, the genre’s history was at risk of disappearing. In 2006, Baylor University launched the Black Gospel Archive, a massive effort to preserve Black gospel traditions. Among those interviewed are Stephen Newby, D.M.A., The Lev H. Prichard III Endowed Chair in the Study of Black Worship and professor of music at Baylor, and Robert Darden, cofounder of Baylor’s Black Gospel Music Preservation Program.

National/International

TCTMD: Access to Key Cardiac Services Remains Uneven Across the US

Access to various cardiac services is not the same across all parts of the U.S., according to a new analysis published in the journal Circulation by Gabriel Benavidez, Ph.D., assistant professor of public health at Baylor, and colleagues. Their study found that rural areas and regions outside of the Northeast are significantly less likely to have hospitals that provide general cardiology or diagnostic or interventional catheterization services.

Brew Theology Podcast: Dr. Rebecca McCumbers Flavin - Holiday and Religious Displays in Public Spaces

AUDIO: Rebecca McCumbers Flavin, Ph.D., senior lecturer of political science at Baylor, discusses how the religion clauses of the First Amendment carve out space for individual religious freedom while at the same time preventing the government from establishing any particular faith as an official government religion. The discussion centers on U.S. Supreme Court rulings on religious displays with a special emphasis on the Nativity scene cases.

Snopes: Did Ben Franklin Pen Famous 'Tell Me and I Forget' Quote?

Blaine McCormick, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of management at Baylor and author of "Ben Franklin: America's Original Entrepreneur," confirmed that the famous quote – “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” – should not be attributed to Franklin, as McCormick noted in a 2015 interview.

Minnesota Star-Tribune: Minnesotans are taking their beloved recipes to the grave

This article about how improved engraving technology has allowed families to put a loved one’s favorite recipe on a memorial marker. Baylor death and dying expert Candi K. Cann, Ph.D., associate professor of religion and author of “Dying to Eat,” is quoted about how gravestone recipes connect to the ancient tradition of honoring the deceased through food, from Roman times to Dia de los Muertos celebrations in Mexico to the Protestant communal repast.

Christianity Today: Christian Colleges Continue to See Enrollment Growth

Perry L. Glanzer, Ph.D., professor of educational foundations at Baylor, is quoted in this article about the rise in evangelical colleges and universities with significant enrollment growth in 2024, continuing the post-pandemic rebound seen in 2023.

LiveNow FOX: These are the ways you can reduce waste during the holidays

Gary Cocke, senior director of sustainability for Baylor, is among the experts in this article about reducing waste during the holidays. Cocke said artificial trees can be a more sustainable option if used for at least 10 years, but real trees are a good choice if properly composted after the holidays.

ABOUT BAYLOR MEDIA & PUBLIC RELATIONS

Baylor's Office of Media and Public Relations (M&PR) supports the University's Baylor in Deeds strategic plan as a premier Christian Research 1 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. Learn more about Baylor University at www.baylor.edu.