News

WACO, Texas (April 25, 2023) – Highlighted by the graduate entrepreneurship program breaking into the Top 10 nationally, several Baylor University graduate and professional programs were among those ranked in the 2024 Best Graduate Schools rankings, released today by U.S. News & World Report.

WACO, Texas (April 24, 2023) – Baylor University faculty members Julie deGraffenried, Ph.D., department chair and associate professor of history in the College of Arts & Sciences, and Karon LeCompte, Ph.D.,  associate professor of curriculum and instruction in the Baylor School of Education, have been selected to receive the 2023 Centennial Professor Awards for summer research projects.

WACO, Texas (April 24, 2023) – Baylor University students from across the disciplines have continued their strong momentum into the 2022-2023 academic year by receiving some of the most prestigious – and highly competitive – scholarships and fellowships at the national and international levels for public policy and diplomacy, critical language study, STEM research and more.

WACO, Texas (April 23, 2023) – Baylor University researchers and faculty experts were featured in national and local media stories as they shared their thoughts and expertise on the emotional and spiritual support provided to the City of West after a deadly fertilizer plant explosion 10 years ago, DNA replication and repair and its impact on human health and works by Black composers that span the 17th to 21st centuries.

WACO, Texas (April 19, 2023) – Baylor University is inviting students, alumni and all associated with the Baylor Family to join in celebrating the graduation of the University’s beloved American black bear, Lady, as she moves from the campus habitat to a private, auxiliary facility fully maintained by her Baylor Bear Habitat caregivers, staff and veterinary team.

WACO, Texas (April 19, 2023) –  Thomas D. McGrath, Ph.D., senior lecturer of chemistry and undergraduate program director in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Baylor University, has been selected as the 2023 Collins Outstanding Professor, an honor voted on annually by the senior class.

WACO, Texas (April 18, 2023) – The Baylor University Counseling Center has been accredited by the International Accreditation of Counseling Services (IACS), the premier leader in setting the benchmark for the full range of professional counseling services on college and university campuses worldwide.

WACO, Texas (April 17, 2023) – Fast Fashion is the most popular trend in retail fashion today but has a devastating cost to the environment. Baylor fashion expert Jay Yoo, Ph.D., says consumers are learning more about the environmental impacts of fashion and searching for better options. 

WACO, Texas (April 17, 2023) – Richard Rankin Russell, Ph.D., professor of English and graduate program director of English at Baylor University,  was presented with the 2023 Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of the Year at the annual Academic Honors Convocation on April 14.

WACO, Texas (April 16, 2023) – Baylor University researchers and faculty experts were featured in national and local media stories as they shared their thoughts and expertise on how ancient environments influenced the evolution of early apes in eastern Africa, how food is used in grieving rituals and how worship music is influenced by church organizations.

WACO, Texas (April 15, 2023) – Baylor University is mourning the passing of longtime University benefactor and dedicated alumnus William K. “Bill” Robbins of Houston. Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Mary Jo Robbins, with whom he shared a passionate love of Baylor and a deep commitment to its Christian mission.

WACO, Texas (April 13, 2023) – Something as simple as a grass can fundamentally change the understanding of life in the prehistoric world. A pair of studies funded by the National Science Foundation and published in the journal Science document the earliest evidence for locally abundant C4 grasses in eastern Africa and how C4 grasses and open habitats influenced early ape evolution.

WACO, Texas (April 12, 2023) – Baylor University Provost Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D., announced today that Mikeal Parsons, Ph.D., professor and The Macon Chair in Religion at Baylor University, has been designated as Baylor’s inaugural University Distinguished Professor, the highest honor bestowed on Baylor faculty.

WACO, Texas (April 9, 2023) – Baylor University researchers and faculty experts were featured in national and local media stories as they shared their thoughts and expertise on an innovative treatment model for children with autism and their siblings, how smartphone usage impacts mental health and a pair of unusual ads about Jesus that aired during the Super Bowl.

WACO, Texas (April 7, 2023) – Baylor University’s Hillis Scholars Program, with support from the Career Center, will host Joseph P. Dervay, MD, MPH, MMS, a flight surgeon at the NASA Johnson Space Center, for a university-wide talk on the on- and off-Earth experiences, challenges and service of space and operational aerospace medicine at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 13, in Room 506 of the Cashion Academic Center.

WACO, Texas (April 4, 2023) – Before a celebratory crowd in front of the iconic Tidwell Bible Building, Baylor University today unveiled and dedicated statues honoring the University’s first Black graduates, the late Rev. Robert L. Gilbert, B.A. ’67, and Barbara A. Walker, B.A. ’67.

WACO, Texas (April 4, 2023) – Baylor University's collegiate recovery program, Beauchamp Addiction Recovery Center, known as BARC, is celebrating National Collegiate Recovery Week and National Collegiate Recovery Day with a line-up of engaging activities for students April 11-15, including daily lunches, games, puppy therapy and a formal dance.

WACO, Texas (April 3, 2023) – Following a six-month internal candidate search, Baylor University Provost Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D., announced today that DeAnna Toten Beard, M.F.A., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Theatre Arts and professor of theatre history and dramaturgy, has been selected as vice provost for faculty affairs, effective July 1, 2023.

WACO, Texas (April 2, 2023) – Baylor University researchers and faculty experts were featured in national and local media stories as they shared their thoughts and expertise on the Silicon Valley Bank collapse, human flourishing and its real-world applications for well-being, and Graduate Student Appreciation Week, which shines a light on how graduate students impact teaching, research and scholarship.

WACO, Texas (March 29, 2023) – Baylor University is again joining universities and communities around the country to increase public awareness and prevention education about sexual assault and interpersonal violence during Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April.

WACO, Texas (March 30, 2023) – Baylor University announced today that its Dunn Center for Christian Music Studies (CCMS) in the School of Music has been awarded a four-year, $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. as part of its Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative.

WACO AND SAN ANTONIO, Texas (March 27, 2023) – Baylor University and Evidence In Motion (EIM) announce that the two organizations have entered a licensing agreement where Baylor may continue to use the innovative blended learning methods and structured clinical education model developed collaboratively by Baylor and EIM to support the university’s entry-level and post-professional doctorate programs in occupational therapy and physical therapy.

WACO, Texas (March 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 upcoming solar eclipse, the evolution of the mother-daughter bond  and the integration of faith into the highly competitive environment of sports.

National Social Work Month is a time to celebrate the role social workers play in society. Dedicated to breaking barriers that prevent people from achieving their own potential, social workers are essential to improving the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.

WACO, Texas (March 22, 2023) – Kwang Lee, Ph.D., chair and professor of electrical and computer engineering at Baylor University’s School of Engineering and Computer Science, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to South Korea, a prestigious and competitive fellowship of the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

WACO, Texas (March 22, 2023) – Three preeminent scholar/teachers from United States universities have been selected as finalists for Baylor University's 2024 Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching, the only national teaching award – with the single largest monetary reward of $250,000 – presented by a college or university to an individual for exceptional teaching. The winning professor will be announced by Baylor in spring 2024.

WACO, Texas (March 21, 2023) – Throughout his 35-year career in financial services, Erik Davidson, DBA., clinical assistant professor of finance at Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business, has witnessed the ups and downs of the economy and provides some advice to average investors on how to ride this current wave of financial uncertainty.

WACO, Texas (March 19, 2023) – Baylor University researchers and faculty experts were featured in national and local media stories as they shared their thoughts and expertise on how food insecurity equates to national security, how AI will impact the future and the importance of nurse practitioners in the pediatric health care community.

WACO, Texas (March 17, 2023) – Most people would agree that happiness is better than negative emotions. Still, few may take the time to fully appreciate how happiness can improve their lives and the lives of those around them. The United Nations declared March 20 International Day of Happiness, which is celebrated annually to create a happier and kinder world. This year’s theme is “Be Mindful. Be Grateful. Be Kind.”

WACO, Texas (March 16, 2023) – Baylor University announced today the appointment of Kristina MacMullen, D.M.A., as The Mary Gibbs Jones Chair in Music and director of choral activities. MacMullen comes to Baylor from the University of North Texas.

WACO, Texas (Thursday, March 16, 2023) – EXPIRED AS OF 8 P.M. CDT. The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado WATCH for Central Texas, including Waco and McLennan County, effective until 8 p.m. CDT. This means that tornadoes – along with damaging winds and hail – are possible in and near the watch area.

WACO, Texas (March 16, 2023) – Baylor University’s Office of Spiritual Life, in partnership with multiple campus ministries and local churches, will again host FM72, a gathering of college students for 72 hours of continuous prayer Sunday through Wednesday, March 19-22, on Fountain Mall, with nightly worship at 8 p.m.

WACO, Texas (March 16, 2023) – Baylor University today announced a $1.5 million gift from anonymous alumni establishing an endowed faculty chair position in the School of Education to support innovative research and teaching focused on the flourishing of children and youth with disabilities. 

WACO, Texas (March 14, 2023) – Baylor University is mourning the death of Randall Lionel Waller, Ph.D., clinical associate professor in the Department of Information Systems and Business Analytics in the Hankamer School of Business, who went to be with his Lord and Savior on March 11. He was 74.

WACO, Texas (March 14, 2023) – Following a nationwide search, Baylor University Provost Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D., announced that Eduardo Contreras Jr., Ed.D., associate provost for international education, diversity and inclusion at the University of Portland, has been selected as Baylor University’s vice provost for global engagement, effective July 1, 2023.

WACO, Texas (March 13, 2023) – Saint Patrick (A.D. 385-461) is probably one of the Catholic Church’s best-known saints, at least in countries influenced by Irish emigration. He is even more popular due to a rise in Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations and revelry. But, despite his popularity, how much do most people truly know about Saint Patrick?

WACO, Texas (March 13, 2023) – The best hour of the week – Baylor University’s Dr Pepper Hour – is in the second year of its highly lauded Dr Pepper Hour Tour, delivering sweet treats and Baylor swag to high school students across the country. This week, the tour will make local stops at Waco High School, Live Oak Classical School and Baylor’s Wiethorn Undergraduate Admissions Center.

WACO, Texas (March 12, 2023) – Baylor University researchers and faculty experts were featured in national and local media stories as they shared their thoughts and expertise on the benefits of patience, Baylor’s national honors over the past year, and the effect of springing forward into daylight saving time.

WACO, Texas (March 8, 2023) - Described as beautiful, elusive and enigmatic, Pi has fascinated and inspired mathematicians throughout history. With National Pi Day coming up on March 14, Baylor mathematics chair Dorina Mitrea, Ph.D., explains why Pi matters.

WACO, Texas (March 3, 2023) – Baylor University will host the 29th annual Beall Poetry Festival March 29-31, a premier American literary event of contemporary poetry, with poetry readings, a panel discussion and the Virginia Beall Ball Lecture on Contemporary Poetry.

WACO, Texas (March 5, 2023) – Baylor University researchers and faculty experts were featured in national and local media stories as they shared their thoughts and expertise on how leaders can better support adoptive parents, improving staffing and healthier work environments for nurses and Robbins College’s role in health research at Baylor.

WACO, Texas (March 3, 2023) – Baylor University mourns the passing of Danny Bowlin of Dallas, who was known and loved within the Baylor community as a longtime donor, alumnus, parent and community leader who advocated for student support as a member of the successful President’s Scholarship Initiative and through his service on the Hankamer School of Business Advisory Board.

WACO, Texas (March 3, 2023) – Baylor University today dedicated the Mary Jo Robbins Clinic for Autism Research and Practice during an event honoring the clinic’s namesake, Mary Jo Robbins, and her husband, William K. “Bill” Robbins, of Houston, who made the lead gift in her honor. The event recognized the Robbinses, a couple who has spent their lifetimes championing excellence in health care.

UPDATE: WACO, Texas (March 2, 2023) – The National Weather Service has canceled the Tornado Watch for Waco and McLennan County.

WACO, Texas (March 2, 2023) – Baylor University President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., will be the next chair of the American Council on education (ACE) Board of Directors.

WACO, Texas (March 2, 2023) – Daylight saving time, with its one-hour spring forward at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 12, may seem like a small shift of just a single hour, but on a societal level, it has startling effects, says Baylor University sleep researcher Michael Scullin, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology and neuroscience and director of the Sleep Neuroscience and Cognition Laboratory at Baylor.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (March 2, 2023) – The “best hour of the week” – Baylor University’s Dr Pepper Hour – is in the second year of its highly lauded Dr Pepper Hour Tour, delivering sweet treats and Baylor swag to high school students across the country.

WACO, Texas (March 1, 2023) – The music of the legendary gospel music singer and songwriter Andraé Crouch will be featured at a series of free concerts, panels and presentations as part of Baylor University’s 2023 Pruit Memorial Symposium, “My Tribute: The Life and Legacy of Andraé Crouch,” which will be held March 15-18.

WACO, Texas (March 1, 2023) – Often when people hear the word literacy, they think about learning to read, but literacy involves much more than reading from the printed page. Literacy encompasses the everyday ways people use language to make meaning and communicate, said Kelly C. Johnston, B.S. ’04, Ed.D., assistant professor in the Baylor University School of Education.

WACO, Texas (March 1, 2023) – Baylor University will join City of Waco and McLennan County partners – in cooperation with the Waco/McLennan County Office of Emergency Management – to conduct a regular test of outdoor tornado sirens, beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, March 3.