Baylor in the News – Feb. 9-15, 2025

Contact: Baylor University Media & Public Relations, 254-710-1961
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Note: The opinions expressed in these articles do not necessarily reflect those of the University.

Featured News

The Dallas Morning News: Damm: Return to office mandates and work-from-home confusion

Sara Jansen Perry, Ph.D., The Ben Williams Professor in Management at Baylor, is an expert source on work-life balance in this article about impact of Return to Office mandates on remote work. Perry offers some positives in the home office transition, as well as the reality that employees are likely to miss the freedom to structure their home and work lives.

TMC: TMC names 2025 cohort of cancer treatment innovators

Baylor’s Daniel Romo, Ph.D., Schotts Professor of Chemistry and co-director Baylor Synthesis & Drug-Lead Discovery Lab, is among the healthcare innovators named to the fifth cohort of Texas Medical Center Innovation’s Accelerator for Cancer Therapeutics (ACT). The group specializes in immunotherapy, precision drug discovery, monoclonal antibodies and diagnostic and therapeutic technologies.

National/International

CNET: Is 10,000 Steps Enough? The Origin of This Daily Fitness Goal May Surprise You

Exercise physiologist Paul Gordon, Ph.D., professor of health, human performance and recreation at Baylor, is among the experts quoted in this article about 10,000 steps a day as a fitness goal. “When it comes to walking, more is better for your health,” Gordon said, also noting that measuring steps is not always an accurate measurement of physical activity. 

Forbes: Too Much Focus On AI Has Taken The ‘Social’ Out Of Social Media

Pablo Rivas, Ph.D., assistant professor of computer science and site director for the Center on Responsible Artificial Intelligence and Governance (CRAIG), shares how social media platforms leverage advanced machine learning techniques to shape feeds, moderate content and incentivize user engagement. Rivas adds that AI can serve as a powerful force for positive online interactions, but this “requires a commitment to ethical principles – transparency, fairness, and respect for user autonomy." 

ScienceBlog: The Loneliness Paradox: Social Media’s Active Users Just As Isolated As Passive Scrollers

Baylor consumer behavior researchers James A. Roberts, Ph.D., Phil Young, Ph.D., and Meredith E. David, Ph.D., collaborated on research where their findings emphasize the need for a more nuanced understanding of how digital interactions impact our social well-being.

PsyPost: Eco-friendly actions boost happiness as much as hobbies, research shows

Research from Michael Prinzing, Ph.D., post-doctoral research associate in psychology and neuroscience at Baylor, is highlighted in this article on about how engaging in pro-environmental behaviors increases subjective well-being.

Local/Regional

KXXV: ‘I’m very grateful for it’ Baylor professor wins inaugural Big 12 accolade

Stephen Sloan, Ph.D., professor of history and director of the Institute for Oral History, represents Baylor University as its first Big 12 Faculty of the Year award winner, highlighting the academic side of the conference. “I’m very grateful to be representing Baylor as we’re a teaching, learning and research institution along with what you see on the court and on the field,” Sloan said.

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 coaching 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.