Baylor Director Honored for Work in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Dr. Kristen Padilla was recognized with the Texas Chapter of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities’ 2026 Helen G. FitzSimmons Leadership Award, as reported in a Baylor Press Release. The award highlights Padilla’s work at the Baylor Center for Disability and Flourishing, where
A statue on Baylor’s campus wakes up one morning with a bright pink nose. Nobody claims it. And nobody has to — everyone already knows. The NoZe brothers at Baylor University have certainly developed a brand for themselves — one based completely on silliness and utter nonsense. The NoZe Brothers, originally Noze Brothers, date back
Finding good Asian food in Waco takes a little local knowledge. This isn’t Houston or Dallas — there’s no dedicated Asiatown here, and the best Asian restaurants in Waco are scattered from a converted Sonic drive-in on South Valley Mills to a 50-year-old Korean diner off North 18th Street. The upside is that almost all
Best Asian Food in Waco, TX: 10 Restaurants Locals Actually Go To Read More »
Bear Habitat Gets a Facelift The Eva and Bill Williams Bear Habitat is undergoing several exterior, non-habitat changes, including a seating area and a new way to honor past bears, according to The Lariat. A new education pavilion on the east side of the habitat facing the Bill Daniel Student center will include a screen
On the morning of March 28, 1977, hundreds of Baylor students settled into their theater seats spread across Waco Hall, likely having marked themselves ‘present’ for another Chapel attendance credit. Often the young men and women would expect to hear a sermon in the historic hall, but this week was the annual University Forum. A
Roots of the Tree: Alumni Remember Gloria Steinem’s Baylor Visit Read More »
From the author: On August 31, 2026, three days after I submitted the essay below to The Baylor Line, Wendell Berry died. The news reached me that evening as something I had anticipated and yet was unprepared to receive. For a moment, it seemed as though some great light had gone out of the world,
From the Soil to the Stars: Reflections on Wendell Berry From His Penpal Read More »
One of Waco’s most beautiful homes, tucked away on Austin Avenue under a canopy of trees, is called the Cottonland Castle. While most Wacoans would likely recognize the beautiful structure that looks like it belongs in medieval times, they might not know just how amazing the story of the women who once owned the home
Pauline Pipkin Garrett and the Cottonland Castle Read More »
Massive warships in the United States are not named after men like Doris Miller of Waco: men who knitted, cooked, and crocheted, who missed school days to pick cotton in the fields, and whose marksmanship abilities came from hunting squirrels with the family shotgun. These men do not often become presidents or admirals. Men like
The Man the Navy Almost Forgot: Preserving the Legacy of Doris Miller Read More »
I had been living in New York City for a short time when I learned that sirens have different voices. The city had been teaching me its sounds for weeks — cab horns, the low shudder of the subway, and the ordinary emergencies that move through a city the way weather moves, arriving and passing.
It was 1910, and Josiah Blake Tidwell had just taken over as head of Baylor’s Religion Department. Up to that point, the primary purpose of the religious studies programs at Baylor was to prepare students to become ministers, and the entire Baylor Bible Department had just moved to Fort Worth to become an official independent
For Cade Kegerreis (‘17), art was never something he had to discover. It was something he grew up with — passed down through generations, expressed differently on either side of his family, and eventually carried onto his canvases and murals. “I just always loved art,” Kegerreis said. “I was one of the kids that never
The best dog-friendly things to do in Waco are hiding around every corner — despite the town’s lack of an obvious, city-owned dog park. The list runs deep: a bar with a fenced dog run, more than 400 acres of riverfront trail in Cameron Park, a national monument that welcomes leashed dogs on its paths,
Baylor Astrophysicist Assists in NASA Telescope Launch The Roman Space Telescope launched at approximately 7:30 a.m. EDT Sunday, August 30 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The telescope is set to arrive at its final orbit in three months. Baylor University astrophysicist and assistant professor of physics, Dr. Benjamin Rose, Ph.D, is one of
Fans of the Harry Potter franchise are surely aware of the magical sport of quidditch, a fictional game in which players ride flying broomsticks, chasers toss Quaffles, beaters hit Bludgers, and seekers catch the coveted Golden Snitch. And though he was a fan, it wasn’t until student Cyrus Sellers came to Baylor University in the
When university life feels bust, sometimes all a student needs is to break outside of the Baylor bubble and be in nature. That’s exactly what Cameron Park has been offering students since its dedication in 1910, just 2 miles down the road from campus. Today, the park doesn’t just offer students an escape. The University
New Tailgate Experiences Baylor Athletics is introducing a new way to tailgate this year’s football games with live concerts called Baylor Backyard Live, in honor of what the University is calling Baylor’s Fan First Era. Headliners this season include local R&B band Suede, ’80s cover band Members Only, and Grammy-nominated artist (and former Wacoan) Pat
Every year, more than 85,000 people sit for the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test). Considerably fewer go on to apply to medical school. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), 54,699 people applied to MD-granting medical schools in 2025 — a 5.3 percent increase over the year before, and the largest gain in
Dr. Christine Limbers is a professor of psychology at Baylor University, managing the Pediatric Psychology Laboratory and serving as director of the Doctor of Psychology graduate program. Her work is groundbreaking, and her published work is so influential that, for two years running, she has been included in Stanford-Elsevier’s prestigious list of the top two
Dr. Christine Limbers: From Tennis Courts to Top 2% Read More »
While Baylor’s 50th anniversary passed without much fanfare, its 75th could not have been more different. The Diamond Jubilee was an all-out celebration of all that Baylor had accomplished throughout its lifespan — and there truly was so much to celebrate. While the school started as essentially a small liberal arts college, by 1920 it
The best places to watch Baylor football in Waco depend on one question: is the game at McLane Stadium, or is it on a screen? Six of the Bears’ 12 games in 2026 are on the road, starting with the Sept. 5 opener against Auburn in Atlanta — a 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff on ABC.
Best Places to Watch Baylor Football in Waco, TX Read More »
The evening of Sept. 29, 1945, 2,500 Nazi soldiers settled into their wooden bunks tucked behind barbed wire fences for a muggy, mottled Camp Swift sunset in Bastrop, Texas. These German prisoners of the recently-victorious Allied Forces pulled taut their sheets and massaged sweat from the backs of their necks as they heard the prison
Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft in recent years have progressively added features for consumers to personalize their transportation — the ability to request certain vehicle models, schedule future pick-ups, and even request a driverless car from Waymo. Now, researchers in Baylor University’s Advanced Vehicle Intelligence and Autonomy (AVIA) Laboratory are imagining a new future
Who knew the first bridge permanent across the Brazos River in Waco would become home to an iconic Baylor tradition: tortilla tossing! Today, the bridge is only for pedestrian crossings, though its history as an integral thoroughfare begins long before Baylor moved to Waco. Baylor students have adopted it for the tradition of tortilla tossing.
From the Civil War to the present, Baylor University students, faculty, and staff on observation have produced a disproportionate number of generals in the United States military. But few soldiers ever achieved the national acclaim and attention of the euphoniously named Gen. Beaumont Bonaparte Buck, a national hero whose every word made headlines. But his
The Former Baylor Drill Instructor Who Saved Paris and Became and American Hero Read More »
Entering Baylor University to study film, Will Loewen had heard all the horror stories — stories of film students who refused to work on one another’s projects because of the nature of the industry, stories of students who would do anything it took to get to the top, and stories of struggling to find genuine
If there is one thing former President Pat Neff knew about Baylor’s centennial celebration in 1945, it’s that he wanted it to be BIG! So big, in fact, that he began the planning process seven years before the big day. Neff decided to celebrate Baylor’s centennial with a new Student Union Building, creating the Centennial
The best happy hours in Waco aren’t always the ones with the biggest signs out front. Judged honestly by how long the window actually lasts, how much you actually save, and whether you can use it on a random Tuesday, the list narrows fast. Plenty of Waco happy hour deals run a tidy 90 minutes
Truett Seminary to Launch Dallas Campus Truett Seminary announced a plan to open a New location in Dallas, Texas, in the fall of 2027. The new campus will be housed in Park Cities Baptist Church and will join Truett’s other locations — Lanier Theological Library and Learning Center in Houston and Trinity Baptist Church in
Academic recruitment strategies at colleges are universities are changing, driven by drifting social attitudes toward the value of a college degree and technological advance. American colleges and universities are competing to adapt their image to be more attractive to prospective students in the coming decade. “The days when a college degree was a virtual guarantee
In a world where so much of science relies on experimentation in a laboratory and drawing visual conclusions, being blind or visually impaired presents a struggle for those seeking an education that relies on anything other than theoretical learning. Baylor professor Dr. Bryan Shaw has spent the last decade and more changing that perception. From
Dr. Bryan Shaw Welcomes Blind and Visually Impaired Scientists into the Laboratory Read More »
Home to All-University Sing and Student Chapel, Waco Hall is an iconic center for music and performance at Baylor University. The building was dedicated amid commencement festivities in 1930, but the journey to get there required the support of the Waco community, and the venue has come to represent the unbreakable bond between Baylor and
Outgoing Provost Appointed to TSUS Baylor University’s outgoing provost, Dr. Nancy Brickhouse, was named vice chancellor for academic and health affairs at Texas State University System. Brickhouse announced her departure from her role as provost in April. Previously, Brickhouse said she would take a year-long sabbatical before returning to the Baylor faculty to focus on teaching,
As anthropologist Loren Eisley wrote nearly 70 years ago: “If there is magic on the planet, it is contained in water.” Surely, every American who turns on their tap to seemingly endless streams of clean, drinkable water must agree. Although these days, with emerging contaminants like PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” and trace pharmaceuticals joining
Anna Dunbar (B.S. ‘78) spent more than four decades helping people care for the environment. Whether through recycling initiatives, stormwater education, or community outreach, she believed environmental stewardship wasn’t about asking people to do more but rather about making it easier to do the right thing. Her philosophy came into focus during a conversation with
Our little Baptist school in the middle of Texas has surprisingly seen its fair share of U.S. presidents throughout the years. In 1947, Harry Truman visited Baylor — the first president ever to do so. During his visit, he was awarded an honorary law degree and spoke to students and faculty about peace and economics
For 40 years, Waco Tribune-Herald reporter Carl Hoover has been the man Wacoans dial when they need arts and entertainment coverage. A veteran of the legacy media market, Hoover has seen the rise of the internet and social media, the downfall of print journalism, and now the proliferation of AI use, and notices invitations for
Waco has quietly built one of the best outdoor dining scenes in Central Texas, from rooftop bars with panoramic views to riverfront decks, trellis-covered cocktail patios, and a food park with local food trucks and yard games. If you’re looking for the best outdoor dining in Waco, this guide covers every category: the most impressive
Silobration with Mt.Joy The popular indie rock and folk band Mt. Joy is coming to Waco! This October, the band will perform at Silobration, hosted by Chip and Joanna Gaines at the Magnolia Silos. Mt. Joy will kick off the weekend at Foster Pavilion, with special guest Ax and the Hatchetmen. More live music will
Accounting and management information systems student Charlotte Tran hadn’t even begun classes pertaining to her major — much less the internship she was interviewing for — when the Big Four accounting firms came recruiting summer interns this spring. But the rising sophomore wasn’t coming unprepared. Instead, she was ultimately preparing for an internship experience she
Dr. Sarah Walden never planned on being a professor. In fact, she considered a career in the medical field, marketing, or law, before she ultimately landed on academia. “My parents were both professors and I was just kind of rebellious in the way that I just was not going to do what my parents did,”
Environmental Sustainability Certificate A new certificate at Baylor is helping students prepare for careers in environmental sustainability. Offered by the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, this new Certificate in Environmental Science Sustainability will focus on what can be done to care for the Earth and its limited resources. To complete the certificate, students must
A walk across Baylor’s 1,000-acre campus surely illuminates the care and artistic details put in at every step. It’s easy to notice the striking red brick and white cornices that make up the buildings’ Georgian-style architecture, Pat Neff Hall’s gleaming 23.5-karat gold cupola, and the many eye-catching statues and monuments that serve as iconic waypoints
Finding a campus job to help pay for your education is pretty common among Baylor students, but Neill Coker Morris had perhaps the most uncommon campus job of all — milking the cows on the university dairy farm! Morris’ story starts with Professor T.H. Claypool. Imagine running an entire university department on your own. Well,
Throughout her undergraduate years at Morehead State University, Dr. Lenore Wright repeatedly found herself asking one question: “Where are the women?” She was the only female philosophy major, had no female philosophy professors, and read works almost exclusively by male philosophers. “It was just me and the guys, all the time, in every class, and
There are over 300 churches in Waco, and according to University Baptist Church Waco Lead Pastor Andie Pellicer, women lead fewer than five of them. A recent vote passed at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting sets out to further restrict the roles women in Waco and beyond are allowed to hold in their churches.
Summer in Waco doesn’t mess around. From June through August, temperatures regularly push past 100 degrees Fahrenheit — but that’s never stopped locals from making the most of it. If you’re looking for the best things to do in Waco this summer, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re a student sticking around for
Brockmole Starts Tenure Dr. James R. Brockmole began his tenure as Dean of Baylor Univeristy’s College of Arts & Sciences on July 1st. He is the college’s 13th president since its creation in 1919 and succeeds Dr. Lee. C. Nordt, who will be taking over as the university’s interim provost on August 1st. “I am
When rising junior Natalie Weissinger was growing up, she often heard stories about her mother’s time studying abroad in Japan as a Baylor student. She marveled at the images these stories conjured in her mind — the historic sites, the amazing food. But more than anything, the older she got, the more Weissinger thought about
The landmark 1927 musical Show Boat, which was based on the novel by Edna Ferber, was groundbreaking for its time, tackling controversial social issues like racial prejudice, miscegenation (interracial marriage), the struggles of marginalized workers, and the societal limitations experienced by women. For nearly a century, large flat-bottomed showboats traveled the inland waterways of the
Samuel Palmer Brooks had a long and winding road to getting the education that would equip him to become Baylor’s seventh president — and because of that, he never took for granted the power of learning. Brooks was the oldest of eight children, and he first laid eyes on Baylor when his family attempted to
Almost three years ago, the Rev. Tish Harrison Warren walked away from the biggest platform a theological writer could have and left her role as an opinion columnist at The New York Times. Her advice to young Christian writers today is this: Focus less on building a platform and more on honing your craft, finding
Process Over Platform: Tish Harrison Warren Comes to Baylor Read More »
John S. Tanner is a name that has been somewhat lost in Baylor’s long-reaching history. However, this man not only left a lasting legacy at the University but was also almost its president. From his first year at Baylor, Tanner marked himself as a studious man. He was always reading and studying and was even
Dr. Craig Gundersen is one of the country’s leading food security researchers. He is the Snee Family Endowed Chair and a professor in the Department of Economics at Baylor University. Before coming to Baylor, he was ACES Distinguished Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at the University of Illinois, held positions Iowa
In Conversation with Food Insecurity Expert Dr. Craig Gundersen Read More »
Certificate in Literary Editing and Publishing For Baylor students who are interested in pursuing a career in publishing, the Department of English is introducing an exciting new certificate in Literary Editing and Publishing. The 12 hours of required coursework will include two of three upper-level English courses: Literary Editing and Publishing, Editing and Publishing, and
For children of professors and faculty, growing up on a college campus is like growing up on the world’s largest playground – especially when that campus is as beautiful as Baylor. The University grounds are full of secret hiding spots, sprawling landscapes, and endless adventure. Albert Meroney, son of William Penn Meroney — professor and
On April 22, 2026, members of the Baylor community gathered across campus — some in Waco Hall, attending a Turning Point USA event; others on the Quadrangle in protest of Turning Point’s presence on campus; and even more in Hankamer-Cashion Academic Center at the opposing All are Neighbors progressive event option. When the conservative political
Faithful Dissent: A Century of Protest at Baylor Read More »
Waco does the Fourth of July right. Whether you want to watch fireworks over the Brazos River with 15,000 of your closest friends, catch a neighborhood parade on Austin Avenue, or skip the crowds entirely from a quieter vantage point across the river, there’s a way to celebrate the Fourth of July in Waco that
Fourth of July in Waco, TX: Fireworks, Parades, and How to Celebrate Read More »
Of the 15 men who comprised the original Board of Trustees of a doughty little school on the rolling hills near the village of the Independence in 1845, only William M. Tryon and Judge R.E.B. Baylor are known and celebrated today. The others — J.G. Thomas, James Huckins, Albert G. Haynes, Albert C. Horton, R.B.
Returning Home There have been some pretty remarkable people who have earned their degree at Truett Theological Seminary – and Mulenga Chela certainly falls into the category of remarkable. Chela, who is from Zambia, was wrongfully imprisoned in an African country in 2006. During his time in prison, Chela committed himself to sharing the gospel
Christian Contemporary Music (CCM) is a multi-million dollar genre that millions of Americans listen to every day. However, few people may know that a record label founded in Waco, Texas, by a Baylor University graduate helped spark the genre’s success. Jarrell McCracken, a sportscaster and ministry student at Baylor in the ‘50s, was working in
A day in the life of a local pastor might include one-on-one counseling with congregants, preparing a sermon, leading staff meetings, and now… consulting on AI? In Pope Leo XIV’s Magnifica Humanitas — his first encyclical, which was published for the public on May 25 — he focuses on the dangers of artificial intelligence and
African Studies Certificate Program Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences is offering an exciting new program – a certificate in African Studies open to students from across the University. The program is available starting in Fall 2026 and requires 12 hours of coursework, including a required three-hour language course in Swahili. Gorrety Wawire, Ph.D., lecturer
Dr. Elizabeth Palacios spent 40 years of her career at Baylor. During that time, she learned what it takes to succeed as a Hispanic woman within the predominantly white Baylor faculty. “For a long time, I was the only minority faculty in the School of Education,” Palacios explained. “They would hire [minority faculty], but they
Texas Banned DEI at Public Universities. Here’s What Baylor is Doing Instead. Read More »
The sun hung high over the badlands of New Mexico when Dr. Daniel Peppe crouched over a patch of rock. It was the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Peppe, associate professor of geosciences at Baylor University, was hard at work on a long-running project. With careful, practiced sweeps, he brushed away the layers of
Friends, Freedom is one of those words that feels self-evident. It elicits certain thoughts, emotions, colors — a flag, maybe, or an open road. We think we know what it means to be free until we sit with it long enough. The newest issue of The Baylor Line Magazine made me sit with it. How
We Hold These Truths: An Editor’s Note for The Baylor Line Magazine’s Spring 2026 Issue Read More »
Dr. Cory Smith has an ambitious dream — one of his primary goals is to develop a next-generation warfighter monitoring system to optimize performance and safety for military personnel operating in austere conditions. “My mission and passion are very much to develop the next-generation warfighter monitoring system,” Smith said. “I want to create the systems,
George’s tumultuous life is the stuff of legends, of Hollywood action movies, of dime store novels. He was a restless pioneer. A leader. A stone-cold killer. A mass of contradictions. It’s not a pretty story at times, certainly not by today’s standards, but few people in the American west lived a more eventful life than
In the 1920s, a sociology textbook landed Baylor University in the entire Baptist General Convention of Texas’ spotlight. In the 2000s, a small research center called the University’s academic freedom into question again. A century after its first evolution controversy, the nation’s largest Baptist university is still wrestling with the same question: What does a
When I was ten years old, my maternal grandmother, Velma Ray Kay Hugghins, was driving me to the store when she turned toward me with a seriousness I had never seen before. “In 2045,” she began, “there is a time capsule on Baylor’s campus that will be opened 100 years after it was sealed. I
It was the events of December 24, 1944, that Rufus Buin Spain, a then-21-year-old Army soldier from Pickens County, Alabama, recalled as most impressive from his time in World War II. That Christmas Eve, the Belgian vessel SS Leopoldville, hastily loaded with materials and reinforcements for the Battle of the Bulge, had been torpedoed by
Nick Bradford, who will graduate from Baylor with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2027, was on active duty with the Army before enrolling at Baylor. Initially he didn’t plan to self-identify as a veteran, preferring instead to “keep my cards close to my chest,” but he’s grateful Veterans of Baylor (VoB) encouraged him
Cross-Faith AI Consortium Baylor is a part of a newly formed multi-university academic consortium – The Consortium for Evaluation of Faith and Ethics in AI (CEFE-AI). In collaboration with Brigham Young University, the University of Notre Dame, and Yeshiva University, researchers have discovered a pattern of religious perspectives being excluded from AI responses. “More than
“My infidel fellow citizens, my Catholic neighbor, or Jewish friend, must have the same right to read or refrain from reading the Bible, to believe or reject the Bible as he chooses. These are fundamentally American principles.” In 1923 President Samuel Palmer Brooks spoke before the Texas Senate in response to a bill concerning compulsory
Baptists Championed Church-State Separation. Then Came Christian Nationalism. Read More »
First-generation students — defined federally as those whose parents have not earned a bachelor’s degree — face specific and well-researched barriers to entry when considering attending college. They’re historically less familiar with financial aid, scholarships, FAFSA, and college-level academic expectations. They’re more likely to have attended less-privileged K-12 schools, to be first-generation and low-income, and have
First-Generation Students Blaze the Higher Education Trail Read More »
Regents Meeting The Baylor Board of Regents held its regular May meeting on the 20th- 21st. Here are the highlights. The regents approved a $982.2 million operating budget for 2026-27 – an increase of 2.4 percent compared to last year. They also elected a new Chair of the Board, Todd Patterson, B.S. ’90, J.D., of
The seed of the Heart of Texas Network for Immigrant Rights (HOTNIR) was planted on the steps of Seventh & James Baptist Church as co-founders Dr. Blake Burleson and Dr. Mark Brickhouse ran into each other as they exited the Sunday service. “We talked a little bit that day about concern for our undocumented neighbors
Heart of Texas Network for Immigrant Rights Calls for “Loving Thy Neighbor” Read More »
The idea of running from Buc-ee’s in Hillsboro to Buc-ee’s in Temple — 75 miles — isn’t one that crosses most people’s minds. It’s certainly not a goal most people will ever aspire to or accomplish. For Baylor University senior Carson Sheldon, the feat marked the culmination of his goal to run eight ultramarathon distances
Whether you’re searching for a cozy study spot, a quick lunch, or the perfect sweet treat, Waco has no shortage of charming cafés and bakeries to explore. From rustic coffee shops to artisan bakeries with unique, “viral” menu items, there’s something for every craving and every vibe. Un je ne sais Quoi Address: 506 Austin
8 Best Cafés and Bakeries in Waco for Coffee, Pastries, and More Read More »
National Cancer Research Month Approximately 18.6 million people in the United States are living beyond cancer thanks to continuous advancements being made by cancer researchers. Baylor plays a small role in the important work being done, and this May, during National Cancer Research Month, the University is celebrating the work of its researchers, who have
Dr. Robert Baird dedicated 47 years of his life to Baylor — and he’s worried that the University’s history is repeating itself. Baird, professor emeritus of philosophy, earned his degree from Baylor before the University was even desegregated, and by the time he graduated, Baylor was still not admitting Black students. Although Baylor eventually integrated
New Baylor Center for Ethics A new Ethics Center is debuting at Baylor University this June – bringing together students, faculty, and resources in one place to engage ethical issues. Paul Martens, Ph.D., associate dean for undergraduate studies, strategic initiatives, and special programs in the College of Arts & Sciences, and associate professor of religion.
Dr. Michael Korpi was working for Liberty University, capturing visual content on university-organized mission trips, when he witnessed a young girl die before his very eyes from sickness and starvation in a small home in Haiti. Feeling disturbed and heartbroken at the sight, Korpi moved to turn off his camera – but as he did,
In the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 32:35), God tells the people of Israel, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” For members of Waco’s Black community steeped in faith, God seemed to be exacting his revenge, albeit 37 years later. Tyler B. Davis’ book God of the Whirlwind revisits the 1916 lynching of Jesse Washington, which W.E.B.
Happy graduation season, Bears! With commencement rapidly approaching, families will be traveling from far and wide to celebrate this special day with their graduates. Consider this your ultimate guide to having the best graduation weekend in Waco. From where to stay, to where to eat, to where to celebrate, we’ve got you covered. Where to
The Ultimate Guide to Graduation Weekend in Waco Read More »
Provost Search Committee This week, President Linda Livingstone, Ph.D., announced the Baylor Provost Search Advisory Committee. With outgoing provost Nancy Brickhouse’s impending departure, the committee will be responsible for finding and identifying candidates to serve as the next chief academic officer. The committee’s co-chairs are Shanna Hagan-Burke, Ph.D., Dean of the Moody School of Education,
With a last name like Sargent, a military career almost seemed inevitable for this Baylor alumnus. Since his freshman year, Philip Sargent has been preparing through Baylor’s ROTC program and an internship at the Pentagon for the moment he would begin active duty as a member of the U.S. Air Force. But years of preparation
Research Award from ASMA Professor of sports management and director of the MSEd program in sport management at the Baylor Moody School of Education, Jeffery Petersen, Ph.D., received the Research Fellow Award from the Applied Sport Management Association (ASMA). Petersen is a longtime supporter of ASMA. “I’m fully committed to what they believe,” he told
Turning Point USA at Baylor Baylor hosted Turning Point USA on Wednesday, April 22, for the This is the Turning Point Tour. The event shifted from a public community event to a private one with attendance limited to Baylor students only. Additionally, Turning Point denied all press passes to the event. In an email released
Dr. Kevin Dougherty was reviewing submissions for a class project in his SOC 1305 Introduction to Sociology course in 2016 when a pattern emerged. The task was straightforward enough: Students were to take photos of tattoos they saw around campus and analyze them. “Every day we’d start class with a photo of a tattoo, and
Provost Nancy Brickhouse Announces Step Down Baylor University Provost Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D., announced that she plans to step down as chief academic officer on July 31, 2026. Brickhouse will take a year-long sabbatical before returning to Baylor to focus on teaching. Outgoing Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, Lee Nordt, Ph.D., will serve
Ollie Mintz sought to charter a Turning Point USA chapter at Baylor because he felt there was something different about the late founder Charlie Kirk — something that set him apart from other conservative activists. But now, Mintz says he has questions as the organization continues to diverge from what he remembers. “I think Charlie
When LGBTQ+ students organized a support group called Baylor Freedom in 2002, Baylor University responded by reaffirming its student sexual conduct policy. Later the same year, the university released its first official public statement on human sexuality – a statement that continues to affect the culture and administration today. “The question is what’s right, not
Baylor’s Human Sexuality Statement: A Timeline of Controversy and Revision Read More »
Baylor University’s beloved origin story — how Texas’ oldest university, a scrappy little Baptist college in tiny Independence, overcame impossible odds, moved to Waco, and became one of America’s great institutions — conveniently glosses over the other significant factor in that transformation: Waco University. And while the larger-than-life presence of irascible, imperious Rufus C. Burleson
The School That Saved Baylor: Legacies of Waco University Read More »
Willie Nelson Returns to Baylor On May 14th at Magnolia Field at Baylor Ballpark, country singer and songwriter Willie Nelson is returning to Baylor for the first time since he attended the university in 1954. “Seventy-two years after Willie Nelson walked our campus as a Baylor student, I am thrilled this Texas legend will finally
Hall of Fame coach Clyde Hart’s accomplishments are well-documented. Coach to Olympic 400-meter champions Michael Johnson, Jeremy Wariner, and Sanya Richards-Ross, he also produced 34 NCAA champions and 566 NCAA All-Americans over the course of his 56-year career. A career highlight was being selected as men’s assistant coach for the 2000 Olympic Track & Field
Fan Fest As a part of its new Fan First initiative, Baylor Athletics recently announced the details for Fan Fest – a festival-style celebration of Baylor football for the Waco community. Fan fest will take place Saturday, April 25, at McLane Stadium and is presented by McLane Children’s. The event will include live music, on-stage
Under one of the bridges on Baylor’s campus (a bridge that for the sake of secrecy must remain unnamed) a group of students gathers long after dark to read aloud poetry. Since the group, Baylor’s very own secret poets society, meets sporadically and follows no set schedule, it is impossible to find them — unless
In 1998 Saint John’s Abbey and University in Collegeville, Minnesota, commissioned renowned calligrapher Donald Jackson (he was senior scribe to Queen Elizabeth II) to create a handwritten and illuminated Bible similar to the richly embellished manuscript Bibles that monks produced in workshops during the Middle Ages. The first Benedictine illuminated Bible to be completed since
Attorney General Ken Paxton has called for acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock to be removed from office, in a fiery social media tirade responding to a letter Hancock sent accusing Paxton of falling short in his efforts to stop the spread of Muslim-affiliated groups in Texas. Paxton called Hancock an “incompetent loser” and “embarrassment” to the position of
Dean of the School of Music – Vote of No Confidence Dean of the Baylor School of Music, Kevin Sanders, will step down following a faculty vote of no confidence, Vice President and Provost Nancy Brickhouse determined on March 6th. Of the school’s full-time faculty, 33 voted no confidence, one voted in confidence, four abstained,
When your father spends his life on the road with B.B. Crimm — the cowboy preacher who wore a 10-gallon hat and carried a six-shooter into the pulpit — ministry feels like an adventure. Now a third-generation evangelist following in his father’s footsteps, Dr. Rob Randall has carried that legacy and adventurous spirit into a
If you’ve ever wondered why social media feels so crazy — with all the new ways we use language, storytelling, images, and tone to shape the way others think and feel — imagine how scholars studying online rhetoric must feel. “It is crazy,” said Dr. Sarah Walden, associate professor of rhetoric in the Baylor Interdisciplinary
Collins Outstanding Professor Each year, Baylor’s senior class recognizes a professor for outstanding teaching with the Collins Outstanding Professor Award. This year, the 2026 senior class voted on Walter M. “Sparky” Matthews, M.D., B.A. ’92. Matthews is a clinical professor and pre-medical mentor who has continuously been recognized for his humility and exceptional care for
Annabeth Dusek was furloughed on October 1, 2025 — the day the government shut down. After about a month on the job she’d prayed for since high school, Dusek, a Baylor junior, thought she had finally mastered the rhythm of her office and adjusted to the fast-paced culture of life on Capitol Hill. It was
Central Texas is a gold mine for birders, and the Waco area is no exception to that. With a diversity of ecosystems that attract many species, it is a prime location on the Central Flyway. Of the four avian superhighways in the United States, the Central Flyway runs through Texas, as well as Colorado, Kansas,
New Venture Competition Collegiate entrepreneurs from across the world will soon have the opportunity to compete for up to $50,000 to launch their business. The Hankamer School of Buisness is hosting the New Venture Competition from March 27-28. More than $200,000 in cash prizes and resources are on the line for these college innovators who
Sam Henderson is 45 years old, and he just decided what he wants to be when he grows up. It only took creating an Oscar-shortlisted short film to figure it out. “I want to be a writer and director when I grow up. It’s taken a long time for that to be realized. But as
They Would Do it Again: Sam Henderson, Maverick Moore, and the Making of ‘ADO’ Read More »
According to David Grover, Baylor’s senior director of cyber initiatives, most people have a very clear – if inaccurate – picture in their head of online threats. “Most people believe what they see on TV: the hooded hacker that’s selling your banking secrets or something,” he laughed. “While there are aspects of that, it’s usually
Guarding the Digital World: Baylor’s Expanding Role in Cybersecurity Read More »
Sing Results Baylor closed out their final weekend of Sing 2026 and, for the first time in the chapter’s history, Beta Upsilon Chi was awarded first place for their act “Grill of Rights.” Second place was awarded to Phi Kappa Chi for their act “Cold as Ice,” and third place was awarded to Tri Delta
Waco’s restaurant scene is continuously growing, and at the heart of that growth are passionate local entrepreneurs bringing bold flavors, culture, and community to the table. If you’re looking to explore something new while supporting Black-owned restaurants in Waco, this guide highlights must-visit spots for great meals, sweet treats, and fun experiences around town. Mo
William Sidney Graves was born on March 27, 1865, in Mount Calm, 24 miles northeast of Waco on old Highway 31. Before his death on February 27, 1940, he would experience several lifetimes’ worth of adventures, be called a revolutionary and a counter-revolutionary, see much of the world, and become the central figure in one
The awards have expanded. The venues have moved. But the purpose remains consistent: to recognize members of the Baylor Family whose leadership, service, scholarship, and public impact reflect distinction. 1965 Dr. Gordon Teal and Earl C. Hankamer, Sr., are recognized as the University’s first Outstanding Alumni. Ex-Students Association Executive Director Dr. George Stokes presented the
Baylor Law School alumnus and Dykema associate Matthew Maupin is an accomplished litigator. But, more than that, he is a hometown hero whose commitment to service extends far beyond the walls of the courtroom. Born and raised in Kerrville, Texas, Maupin spent his childhood outdoors along the banks of the Guadalupe River. Those days instilled
Emily and Brett Mills are just as comfortable leading a worship service for thousands on a Sunday morning as they are doing ministry in a strip club on a Saturday night. That is because they live their lives by the words “Jesus Said Love.” For the couple, this phrase reminds them of the importance of
Emily (’99) and Brett (’98) Mills: Building a village Read More »
Tiffany Jones-Smith embodies the adage “triumph over tragedy.” She is no stranger to grief, having lost 15 members of her family to kidney disease and later discovering that she herself carried the same high-risk genetic marker. It would have been easy to surrender to this grief and let it consume her. Instead, Jones-Smith was motivated
During his 41 years at Baylor University, Maxey Parrish truly saw it all: sidelines, courtsides, Olympic games, board rooms, and classrooms. He taught across the world, earned countless awards, and even founded Baylor’s athletics website, embracing every opportunity that came his way. Yet beyond these achievements, Parrish’s greatest impact was made outside the classroom, where
Maxey Parrish (’78): On the field, in the classroom Read More »
When Dr. T. Michael Parrish’s father was serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the pivotal attack on Pearl Harbor, he had no idea he was sailing less than a mile from Doris Miller, the very man his son would later dedicate much of his professional life to bringing into history’s light.
Dr. T. Michael Parrish (’74, MA ’76): Hometown historian Read More »
Hon. Anh “Joseph” Cao is a boundary breaker whose life has been marked by defying expectations time and time again. He was the first Vietnamese American elected to the U.S. Congress, the only nonwhite House Republican of the 111th Congress, and the only House Republican to vote for an early House version of the health
Hon. Anh “Joseph” Cao (’90): From adversity to advocacy Read More »
Dr. Elizabeth Palacios is no stranger to being first, and she has never hesitated to lead the way. A first-generation college student, one of the few Latina professors in Baylor’s School of Education during her 10-year tenure, and the first faculty member appointed special assistant to the president on diversity, Palacios has consistently broken barriers
Dr. Elizabeth Palacios (’80, MSE ’91): Developer of diversity Read More »
Skye Perryman is urgently working for justice and fighting for the future. The current president and CEO of Democracy Forward, Perryman’s work centers on confronting extremism, challenging anti-democratic movements, and building a vibrant democracy for all people. For her, the work isn’t political — it’s about serving people. Perryman grew up in Waco and studied
When Pastor Chris Seay was 16 years old, he destroyed two of his grandfather’s most prized possessions: his car and his house. After driving his grandfather’s brand-new Oldsmobile 98 straight through a wall, a shaken teenage Chris braced himself for the anger and disappointment he assumed would follow. Instead, his grandfather, a Baptist preacher, responded
Chris Seay (’95): For the love of spiritual leadership Read More »
From an early age, Daniel Vestal was already responding to a clear call to ministry. At just 16 years old, he was licensed and ordained to preach, stepping into pulpits and leading revival meetings while still in high school. What began as a sense of calling quickly became a way of life. During those formative
Updates from the Regents The Baylor Regents held their regular February meeting on the 19-20th. At the meeting, the board approved a new degree: A Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering. The program will be housed in Baylor’s School of Engineering and Computer Science and will help meet a growing need for biomedical engineers in
“I’m telling you, that is one smart, hard-working, gracious, wonderful lady.” — John F. Baugh In times of darkness, Emily Tinsley’s commitment to bettering the Baylor Family shone through. “I think [she] wanted to see Baylor be … more transparent, more honorable, the ways that they believed it had been and could be,” said Robyn
Findings from the Field Exciting new field evidence from the University of South Bohemia and Baylor University demonstrates that neuroactive pharmaceuticals are accumulating in developing freshwater fish beyond internationally recognized safety thresholds. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization has noted increased global consumption of neuroactive pharmaceuticals. These findings prompted Baylor researchers to examine
If you live in Texas, you’re probably familiar with the Hobby-Eberly Telescope, located in Fort Davis. It’s one of the largest optical telescopes in the world. However, being based on Earth means the views are limited by the atmosphere, which not only blocks specific wavelengths of light but is also composed of shifting pockets of
Baylor Grad Conducts 2026 Super Bowl When Giancarlo Guerrero stepped off a Greyhound bus in Waco after traveling from Costa Rica, he did not know what to expect. When the bus arrived at the terminal at 2 a.m., the only person waiting was Dr. Larry VanLandingham, who had advocated for bringing promising young musicians from
During Jeffrey Epstein’s tour of Baylor’s campus he couldn’t be bothered. All he seemed concerned with was making it to his meeting with Ken Starr in Pat Neff Hall. Former Baylor President Judge Kenneth W. Starr’s long relationship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is well documented, but recent files released by the U.S.
“Hugs, Ken:” Epstein visited Baylor for meeting with Starr in 2012 Read More »
Anticipation was running high in central Italy last summer as a Baylor-led research team prepared for its first peek into an ancient chamber tomb. With the aid of a camera inserted into the top corner of the front door, Dr. Jamie Aprile saw archaeological treasure: 2,600-year-old Etruscan pottery, and lots of it, seemingly whole and
Waco is known for its ever-growing food scene, charmingly humble downtown, and cozy local experiences and shops that make it easy for couples to slow down and reconnect, making it a great and intimate destination to spend with your special someone! If you’re planning something special this February 14th, Waco is the place to be
Valentine’s Day in Waco: Where to Eat, Stay, and Play Read More »
Post Malone and Jelly Roll to Visit Waco Award-winning artists Jelly Roll and Post Malone are hitting the road once again for their highly anticipated “Big Stadium Tour Part 2,” with a stop scheduled at McLane Stadium in Waco on May 19. The duo previously toured together in 2025, delivering high-energy performances and genre-blending sound,
In 2016, Baylor University and the Baylor Alumni Association reached an agreement of co-existence after years of arbitration. One of the agreement’s most consequential provisions expanded alumni influence in university governance by adding three alumni-elected members to the Board of Regents. “If it were not for that term, this lawsuit would not have been settled.
To say that Nellie and Miriam Buck were Baylor and Waco’s answer to Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan is to over-state the fact – but just barely. Few people of any era have overcome more and achieved more than the indomitable Buck sisters. Civil War veteran and lawyer Giddings Judson Buck and his with Mary
If you’re on the hunt for flavorful, wallet-friendly taco restaurants in Waco, consider this your ultimate guide. These seven spots — ranging from food trucks to sit-down taquerias — serve up delicious tacos and full plates for around $10–$20 per person, making them perfect for students, families, locals, and visitors alike. Whether you’re craving classic
New Name for The School of Education Baylor’s school of education received an exciting $30 million gift from the Moody Foundation of Galveston, Texas. The funds will help support faculty research, scholarships, and academic programs. In recognition of the generous donation, the School of Education will be renamed the Moody School of Education. The donation
Out of the roughly 6 million students worldwide studying abroad, the United States currently hosts more than 1 million. “And higher education in America is considered No. 1 in the world,” said Dr. Mary Landon Darden, president of Higher Education Innovation, LLC, and a Baylor University alumna. “We’re the top of the food chain. Our higher
Chart Toppers at Foster Pavilion Foster Pavilion has a reputation for bringing A-list entertainment to Waco, hosting past musical guests such as Forrest Frank and Lauren Daigle. This summer, the venue continues its streak with performances by chart-topping artists La Fiera de Ojinaga and Los Pescadores del Río Conchos. The group’s one-night-only concert is this
In 1996 the average price for concert tickets was around $25. Today it’s about $130. Talk about sticker shock. Surge pricing (prices increase in real time depending on demand) and resale sites like StubHub can drive prices even higher, which puts seeing their favorite performers live out of reach for a lot of college students.
Same Field, New Name If it wasn’t clear from the baseball field found amid the shops of the Magnolia Silos, Katy Ballpark, Chip (’98), and Joanna Gaines (’01) carry a deep love for baseball. On January 12th, Baylor University announced the largest gift in the history of the Baylor Baseball Program. A press release from
MaCio Teague only has a few hours of sunlight when he wakes up for practice in Poland. By the time he leaves the gym after the day’s drills, the sun has often already set. It’s a tough situation during the fall and winter months, but the 2021 Baylor grad, pro player, and Cincinnati sports leader
Baylor Baller MaCio Teague Is Ready to Play, Night or Day Read More »
WBB On The Rise No. 16 Baylor women’s basketball is rising in the ranks after a 72-70 win over No. 11 Iowa State Sunday afternoon at Hilton Coliseum. The Bears trailed 21-17 after the first quarter, but rallied to take a 41-39 lead by halftime. With the score tied at 70 and two seconds left
In his lifetime, Pompeo Coppini was recognized as a talented artist, both popular and successful,” according to Dr. Rick McCaslin, director of publications at the Texas State Historical Association, and former professor of history at the University of North Texas. “But I’ve seen several newspaper headlines that referred to him as a Confederate sculptor,” he
Pompeo Luigi Coppini: The Most Famous Texas Sculptor You’ve Probably Never Heard Of Read More »
As the October 1, 2025, federal government shutdown stretched from days to weeks, one consequence was the disruption of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments to more than 42 million people in the United States. But while food insecurity was fast becoming a national issue, students at Baylor University could rely on the many initiatives
As the holidays roll around, families across Central Texas plan which delicious, home-cooked dishes to put on the Christmas dinner table. Just a month earlier, these same famlies likely feasted on steaming turkeys, potatoes, and casseroles for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, lavish holiday meals are a far-fetched dream for some Texans — around 34,000 people, according to
30 Years of Engineering and Computer Science In 1980, engineering and computer science were merged, leading them to open up the School of Engineering and Computer Science in 1995. Since then, ECS has expanded its academic offerings to include disciplines such as aerospace engineering and cybersecurity informatics. Dean of the School of Engineering and Computer
Greg Davis (‘92) thinks there’s a meaningful moment of time between when you wake up and when you’re actually awake. “[It’s] right before you open your eyes. . . You wake up and then you open your eyes. But it’s brief. It’s little. It’s a sliver,” he explained. This sliver of space between waking up
In this episode of The Green Room, host Jonathon Platt sits with Emily Mills, founder of Lovely Village, and Dr. Jeremy Everett, founder of the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty, in a conversation about their intersection of faith, philanthropy, and the hunger crisis. Everett emphasized the truth: there is enough food in the U.S.
Love Thy Neighbor: An Interview with Emily Mills and Dr. Jeremy Everett Read More »
The holiday season is a time for celebration, generosity, and community, but it can also bring financial and emotional stress for many families in our community. Whether you’re looking for the food banks, volunteer opportunities, or gifts, Waco has a wide range of holiday resources available. Here’s your complete guide to holiday food resources in
Holiday Resources in Waco, TX: Where to Receive Food and Assistance This Season Read More »
Baylor University’s legacy of filmmakers, screenwriters, playwrights, and actors is uncommonly rich and varied – John Lee Hancock, Kevin Reynolds, Derek Haas, Michael Brandt, Robert Askins, Mark Olsen, Carole “Cookie” Cook, Geoff Moore, Jordan Hearne, Maree Cheatham, Angela Kinsley, Clu Gulager, and so many others – but few have had a more intriguing path than
A New AD Earlier this week, Baylor officially named Doug McNamee (‘03, MSEd ‘05) as its new Athletic Director. McNamee returns to Baylor after previously serving as Baylor Athletics’ Senior Associate AD before departing in 2018. Since then, he has served as president of Magnolia and, most recently, Field & Stream. As a student, McNamee
In this episode of The Green Room, host Jonathon Platt will not be joining us. Instead, digital editor Kassidy Tsikitas takes over The Green Room for one night, and one night only, for a rewind. Tsikitas takes us through her favorite moments from The Green Room: the famous Molly Llama [yes, that Molly Llama], former
Top Moments of The Green Room: A Baylor Line Rewind Read More »
Baylor Law School alum Matthew Maupin (JD ‘22) always wanted to be a litigator. And if you want to be a litigator in Texas, there’s no question about where to go for your education. “They call it the boot camp of law school, and that’s for good reason,” he said. “It produces fine litigators, but
Put the Phones Down Have you ever wondered why you feel alone, even when surrounded by many people? You’re not alone. Paul Carron, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy in the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core, is exploring why it’s so common for people to feel “profound loneliness.” Carron gained interest in this month during the early months
In this episode of The Green Room, host Jonathon Platt and Dr. Jerry Park, associate professor of sociology, discuss being a minority within a minority, an accidental baptism, and research on racial minorities within religious congregations. Park reflects on his childhood with his single mom, being one of a few Asian students at Carver High
Religion in Every Space: An Interview with Dr. Jerry Park Read More »
On visits to Chicago when she was growing up, Dr. Saralyn McKinnon-Crowley watched Jeopardy! with her grandmother. Even then, she was pretty good at answering questions. “My forte was literature, pop culture, TV, and anything food-related,” she said. Sports, not so much, but as the daughter of a former minister, she knows her Bible. “There
In this episode of The Green Room, host Jonathon Platt is joined by members of The Baylor Line team, Kourtney Nering, editor-in-chief; Kassidy Tsikitas, digital editor; and Nina Um, executive assistant to the CEO, to reflect on the year of growth, change, and gratitude for everything they have learned. The Baylor Line team has all
A Reflection on Our Year: Giving Thanks With The Baylor Line Read More »
Mack Rhoades steps down Mack Rhoades has stepped away from his position at Baylor, effective immediately. In a letter released Thursday, Rhoades expressed that, after nine years of serving as Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, he wants to prioritize his faith and family with an “intentional focus.” Last week, Rhoades stepped down from his position
In this episode of The Green Room, host Jonathon Platt and Amira Lewally, supervising producer at A&E, look back on a decision that changed the trajectory of Lewally’s career. A simple creative spark led her to add a film and digital media minor to her college studies, to which she credits her success in
A Change of Plans: An Interview with Amira Lewally Read More »
Senior lecturer of piano Dr. Bradley Bolen admits he was hesitant when Dr. John Ferguson, founder and executive director of American Voices, called him in 2009 to do some teaching in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. “I didn’t think anyone in Iraq would care about the arts because they’d been through so much tragedy,” he said,
Mack Rhoades is taking a leave of absence Athletics Director Mack Rhoades, who has led Baylor athletics since 2016, has taken a leave of absence from his posts as athletic director and College Football Playoff chairman. His absence, reportedly for “personal reasons,” comes just days after reports of multiple University investigations into Rhoades. According to
In this episode of The Green Room, host Jonathon Platt and Jackie Baugh Moore, president of the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation, explore the Baugh legacy: Eula Mae and John Baugh’s lives, the founding of Sysco, and looking at things through the lens of love. Moore reflects on a legacy defined by conviction and
Building a Lasting Legacy: An Interview with Jackie Baugh Moore Read More »
Baylor football’s annual whiteout game – this year against the Utah Utes – is coming up on November 15. Whether you’re cheering in the stands, tailgating with friends, or taking photos along the Brazos, your outfit should be stylish, spirited, comfortable enough to last all day, and on theme. Don’t be the one person who shows
How to Build the Perfect Whiteout Outfit for Baylor Game Day Read More »
Oui Did It The No. 16 women’s basketball team had its season opener at Adidas Arena in Paris, where it held a 58-52 win over No.7 Duke. This is the Bears’ first neutral-site season opener since 2005 and their 17th game outside of the United States and first outside of North America, now holding a
In this episode of The Green Room, host Jonathon Platt is joined by three culinary entrepreneurs during the Waco Restaurant Week panel hosted by The Baylor Line. Jake Patterson turned an abandoned Sonic Drive-In into Yaki Texas Teriyaki – inspired by a mom-and-pop teriyaki truck behind his former job at a dealership in Portland. Danielle Young,
Friends, I cut my teeth as a young journalist the same way many Waco journalists do: reporting on whatever fell on my desk at the Waco Tribune-Herald. The beat was, at times, mundane. The hours were long. My car’s mileage was rising. And I often wondered what caused me to stray from my original bigwig
Disrupting Your Feed: An Editor’s Note for Baylor Line Magazine’s Fall 2025 Issue Read More »
As any good clinical psychologist knows, the seeds of who a person will become are planted early on in life. Dr. Francesca Penner, an assistant professor in Baylor’s Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, is well known for her work with parents and children — mostly researching the connection between parental mental health and children’s socio-emotional development.
A Look Inside Dr. Francesca Penner’s Lab at Baylor Read More »
Hosted by CEO Jonathon Platt, The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast The Green Room brings conversations by Baylor alumni, for Baylor alumni, about the Baylor Family. Converging at Baylor, interviewees bring stories from all walks of life and diverge on journeys of extraordinary heights (literally), on the big screen, and across the world. To hear full
Jonathon Platt: You’ve gone from earning your BBA and your MBA at Baylor in the early ‘90s to CFO roles at United Airlines, PayPal, and now, Walmart, the world’s largest retailer. That’s a journey that’s taken you from flight decks to Silicon Valley to the Walmart headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas. When you think back to
If you live in Waco, you’ve likely seen Rod Aydelotte (’77) and his camera: maybe at the dedication of tiny homes for the homeless; or the reading of the Declaration of Independence at the courthouse; or any protest, parade, art festival, high school clothing drive, or amid the frenzy of a breaking news story or
Homecoming This is our favorite time of year, too. 116 years (and counting) of welcoming home Baylor Alumni is finally upon us, and don’t worry, because we have a guide for the perfect homecoming week. Baylor enters the matchup after a 41-20 loss at No. 21 Cincinnati and a 42-36 loss at TCU. The homecoming
In this episode of The Green Room, host Jonathon Platt sits with Dr. Mary Landon Darden, president of Higher Education Innovation, LLC, and Dr. Ray Perryman, president and CEO at The Perryman Group. The group unpacks the focus of The Baylor Line’s article It’s a New World – skyrocketing graduate enrollment and what the future
“The building of a better environment will require in the long term a citizenry that is both deeply concerned and fully informed. Thus, I believe that our educational system at all levels has a critical role to play.” – President Richard M. Nixon At age 91, Dr. Owen Lind still vividly remembers the cacophony of
Owen Lind and the Birth of Environmental Studies at Baylor Read More »
New Pediatric Residency Hannah Wheatley, PT, DPT (’24), is Baylor’s first pediatric physical therapy resident. Her background in dance, child ministry, and teaching inspired her to pursue a career serving children through movement. The new residency – a partnership between Baylor and Hope and Believe Pediatric Therapy – integrates faith, service, and hands-on clinical experience.
In this episode of The Green Room, host Jonathon Platt sits with Devin Li and Jaja Chen, 2025 Abner V. McCall Humanitarian Award honorees and co-founders of Cha Community – a Taiwanese and Chinese fusion boba shop. Their story begins in June 2018 at the Waco Downtown Farmers Market with laminated logos and borrowed tables,
Your cup of tea: An Interview with Devin Li & Jaja Chen Read More »
As final exams and the rush to start packing to go home approach, Baylor students often forget how chaotic move-out week is. You know the scene – dumpsters fill throughout the Baylor student housing bubble as students toss out perfectly usable clothes, appliances, and furniture in lieu of packing them up to take home. Two business
In this episode of The Green Room, host Jonathon Platt sits down with Carole Fergusson, Executive Director of Keep Waco Beautiful and founder of Waco Restaurant Week. She discusses the story behind Waco Restaurant Week – how it’s grown, the opportunities for growth, and the purpose of the week. What began in 2019 as an
Serving Up Community: An Interview with Carole Fergusson about Waco Restaurant Week Read More »
Beat the Frogs And they said rivalry was dead. This weekend, Baylor will face their biggest opponent, TCU, at 11 a.m., a rivalry that stretches back to 1899. The Bears are on the long haul to reach their road win streak to six. During their last meet-up, Baylor won its third game as part of
In this episode of The Green Room, host Jonathon Platt talks with the founders of 1953 Tequila – a premium, women-owned tequila brand. Baylor alumna Lindsey Davis Stover and partners Shivam Mallick Shah and Adriana Lopez tell the story of their shared vision turned into community and empowerment. The year 1953 honors a historical moment
Cheers to the Trailblazers: An Interview with 1953 Tequila Read More »
There’s so many things to do in Waco around Baylor Homecoming week. With events like the Baylor Homecoming parade and football game, Waco Restaurat Week, Día de los Muertos festival, and many other events filling the month of October, Waco locals and those coming from out of town have lots to choose from. Let us
Your Guide to the Perfect Baylor Homecoming Week Read More »
Little Change in the program Auburn University is moving its 2026 home game with Baylor from Jordan-Hare to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. This will help supercharge the opportunities and image of NIL for the Tigers as part of an arrangement with the Aflac Kickoff Game. In short, athletic director John Cohen stated that they will
Welcome to ‘Episode 20’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast. For the first time in The Baylor Line’s history, host Jonathon Platt takes you on the ride of your life around Waco – accompanied by stories gleaned from the forty-year-long byline of Robert F. Darden. Along the way, Darden shares the tales from decades of
Decades ago, artificial intelligence was something for sci-fi novels: an imagined future where robots with humanlike intelligence would clean our houses, cook our meals, and otherwise set us up for a life of leisure. A life where we could pursue our passions–write, make art, play music, whatever we liked. Cut to 2025 and the future
How AI Has Influenced Higher Education–And How Baylor is Hopping Onboard Read More »
More than a Language Many people form misconceptions about American Sign Language being directly formulated from the English language, but it’s actually its own language – and other countries have their own dialects. In recent years, as ASL has become a minor at Baylor and is now approved for a language credit, it’s seen a boost
Welcome to ‘Episode 19’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast. Host Jonathon Platt meets with John David Rainey, EVP & CFO of Walmart. From small town Angleton, his life lesson of leadership begins with how you treat people. We navigate his career in three major companies: United Airlines – formerly Continental Airlines – during its
Not Your Average Walmart Experience: An interview with John David Rainey Read More »
A Gameday Experience That Includes Your Baby Bear Getting out of the house with a baby can feel overwhelming — especially on football Saturdays. Where do you feed? Where can you pump? Where do you change diapers without stress? That’s why Baylor partnered with TakingCaraBabies to create the Baby Bear Family Lounge at McLane Stadium
Bringing Your Baby to McLane Stadium: The Baby Bear Family Lounge by TakingCaraBabies Read More »
School of Social Work Dean Steps Down Jon Singletary is stepping down from his position as dean of the Baylor University Diana R. Garland School of Social Work, effective October 15. Singletary served nine years as dean, leading the social work program into the top 25% of social work programs nationally. Provost Nancy Brickhouse stated
Welcome to ‘Episode 18’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room. Host Jonathon Platt meets with Dr. Mia Moody, professor and former chair of the Baylor University Department of Journalism, Public Relations, and New Media. Known for mentoring students within the journalism department and in-depth research into image repair, intersectionality, critical race theory,
Exploring Gender, Race, And Media: An Interview with Dr. Mia Moody Read More »
Skye Perryman was a sophomore at Baylor University, working toward a bachelor’s degree in economics and philosophy, when, early on the morning of September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Seventeen minutes later, United Airlines Flight 175 struck the South Tower. Her experiences on that
How Skye Perryman Rose from Baylor to Become a Defender of Democracy Read More »
Football, Triumphs, Accolades & More Things are not looking too shabby after the Bears had a 42-7 win over Samford, holding a 2-1 record before the conference games start. Baylor is going up against Arizona State University tomorrow at 6:30 pm – their previous match up was in 1990 in Tempe, where the Sun Devils
Whether you’re checking off your Waco Restaurant Week bucket list, returning to town for Baylor Homecoming, or just searching for the best restaurants in Waco, here’s your guide to Baylor alumni-owned restaurants you have to try. Your Guide to Baylor Alumni-Owned Restaurants in Waco You have your digital passport. You’re hungry. Now where to start?
Baylor Alumni-Owned Restaurants to Try During Waco Restaurant Week (and Beyond) Read More »
After a short hiatus, we are back! Welcome to ‘Episode 17’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room. Host Jonathon Platt meets with former Congressman Chet Edwards, Baylor’s W.R. Pogue Distinguished Chair of Public Service, and recipient of The Baylor Line’s Babs Baugh Servant Leadership Award. Chet and Jon reflect on 9/11 and
Don’t Fear Failure: An Interview with Chet Edwards Read More »
For David Corkill, Waco was a metropolis. He grew up in La Grange, Texas, a town of 4,000 people roughly halfway between San Antonio and Houston. When it was time to go to college, many of his classmates went to the big cities. He chose Baylor and fell in love right away. “I like to
David Corkill: The Impresario Behind Waco’s New Performing Arts Center Read More »
AI is the powerhouse of the cell Imagine a world where artificial intelligence is used not only to help students with studying or to plan out vacations but also to advance the field of nutrition. In a recent review in the journal Cell Host & Microbe by Baylor researchers Dr. Leigh Greathouse, associate professor of
While there may be no signs that a tepid U.S. economy is abating this fall, enrollment in law schools and other graduate programs across the country is booming. Graduate enrollment in the U.S. reached over 3.1 million students this past spring, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 7.2 percent.
Sermon in Flight Chaplains have served to meet the spiritual needs of the American military members since the Continental Congress established them in 1775. Chaplain Davis, Chief of Chaplains for the U.S. Air Force, visited Baylor to speak during Turett Seminary’s Chapel Service. His message traced back to the legacy of Baylor’s Chaplain services, drawing
Tom Everett thinks a lot about first impressions. As the grounds manager for HES Facilities Management, he and his team are responsible for everything that grows across Baylor University’s 300-acre Waco campus, including the flower beds at the entrances that greet prospective students and their families as they drive in for the first time. Right
Baylor Football avoided disaster and a possible change at head coach by closing out the 2024 regular season with six straight wins. The 8-5 record was the best for the Bears since winning the Big 12 championship in 2021. But a 2-4 start tested the team’s heart and determination. Some teams would’ve folded. Baylor did
In February 1973, the Rev. Jesse Jackson – not yet a household name, but a significant figure in the modern civil rights movement – undertook a speaking tour of Southern colleges. Jackson’s presence on that fateful Memphis hotel balcony the day his mentor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated had been the catalyst for
Baylor vs. BU If you’ve ever wondered what Baylor’s logo might look like in red, here is your chance to find out. Boston University recently released a line of merchandise with a red interlocking “BU” in the middle. Baylor filed a lawsuit in Texas federal court on August 8 against Boston University for federal trademark
Some may look at the Baylor Sciences Building and just see classrooms. Some may look at a professor and only think of them as a teacher. But when you look closer, you’ll see the heart of Baylor’s mission. Inside the BSB, professors and students are engaged in groundbreaking research with the power to change lives.
Beyond the BSB: A Look at Baylor’s Groundbreaking Cancer Research Read More »
In Memoriam The Baylor community mourns the loss of two members: Provost Emeritus Donald D. Schmeltekop and alumnus, physician and former regent, Ronald L. Wilson, M.D. Ronald L. Wilson, M.D. (‘71), lived a life of caring for others in the Baylor and Waco community. He attended Southern Arkansas University on a basketball scholarship, before transferring
Amjad Dabi was studying civil engineering in Damascus, Syria, when he met Dr. Bradley Bolen, who teaches piano at Baylor University, in the summer of 2010. As part of American Voices, a nonprofit cultural and diplomacy organization founded in 1993, Dr. Bolen spent six weeks in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon teaching piano to people who
For some, it was an act of “moral courage.” For others, discrimination and a betrayal of academic freedom. After accepting and then rescinding a grant intended to fund research on LGBTQ+ inclusion within churches, Baylor University has faced backlash, support, and widespread attention over the past month. In a statement, Baylor President Linda Livingstone cited
Multiple groups respond to Baylor’s rejection of LGBTQ-inclusion grant Read More »
In Her Element Baylor’s journey to becoming an R1 Institution spans decades. In fact, we recently published an article about Dr. Barry Hankins’ research on Baylor’s path to our current status and those who helped get us there. Speaking of people who helped get us there, Leila Romero, Ph.D. (B.S. ‘11), an assistant professor of
In early 2024, Baylor Provost Dr. Nancy Brickhouse invited Dr. Barry Hankins to document the history of Baylor’s 30-year transformation into a R1 research university. “She wanted me to write a book about how Baylor grew into one of the best research universities in the country, while it became even more intentional about its Christian
Why did Jonathon Platt bring a donut to the interview? Because he knew this conversation would be jam-packed! Welcome to ‘Episode 16’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room. Host Jonathon Platt sits down with Omari and Abby Head, the couple behind some of Waco’s most beloved spots – Pop’s Lemonade, Cheddar Box
Faith, Family and Food: An Interview with Omari and Abby Head Read More »
Team USA Baylor basketball is already getting its reps in. With a whole new team under head coach Scott Drew, the Bears are in Germany to represent Team USA in the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games. USA is one of 16 countries being represented in the men’s basketball competition. The Bears have remained undefeated
Welcome to ‘Episode 15’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room. Host, Jonathon Platt talks with Craig Nash, Senior Editor at Good Faith Media, to explore the quiet, meaningful spaces where faith, storytelling and community meet. Nash’s journey starts out as a kid from East Texas to a community pastor at UBC Waco,
Life and Faith in the Margins: An Interview with Craig Nash Read More »
The Baylor Line Foundation’s motto is, “There’s a story for every Baylor grad” and I believe it. But some stories don’t have a happy ending. Some stories don’t have an ending at all. This is one of those stories. I stumbled across a one-paragraph notice mentioning Helen A. McCullough in the July 21, 1944, edition
Helen A. McCullough: The Unfinished Story of One of the Angels of Anzio Beach Read More »
Sit down, get comfy and listen in. The Wise Molly Lama is ready to read your cards. The first card she pulls is The Fool. She pauses dramatically. “I didn’t know you were in this deck!” Welcome to ‘Episode 14’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room. Host, Jonathon Platt is met with
Dancing, Laughter, and Divine Improv: An Interview with Molly Murchie Read More »
When in Rome We have no words or “Non ho parole,” for one of the coolest discoveries Baylor has been a part of. Led by Davide Zori, Ph.D., Baylor’s principal investigator for San Giuliano Archaeological Research Project, a team of archaeologists found a rare, intact Etruscan chamber tomb outside of Rome. It is thought to
Welcome to ‘Episode 13’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room. In this episode, host Jonathon Platt and Lisa Hanna, Head of Public Affairs and Policy Communications at Delta Air Lines, trace a career that began in uncertainty and evolved into a life of purpose and impact. By her senior year of college, Lisa
Fresh from moving back to Waco, Adam Stanley reflects on the personal connections he made in his four years at Brewton-Parker College in Georgia, where he coached several championship teams until April. “That’s the really cool thing about sports and competition, is you develop these kinds of relationships through manufactured adversity,” he said. “It’s all
Welcome to ‘Episode 12’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room. Host Jonathon Platt meets with Kristin Diwan, a senior resident at the Arab Gulf States Institute. The two dive into how her work as an analyst and geopolitics involving Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and beyond. This wide-ranging conversation takes you from Central
Diplomacy inside her DNA: An Interview with Kristin Diwan Read More »
One Step Forward, Three Steps Back This week Baylor rescinded its acceptance of a $643,000 grant that would fund research on the inclusion of women and LGBTQIA+ individuals within the church. The University announced its acceptance of the grant in late June. NBC’s article on the return of the grant includes a statement from the
The most important challenge facing a student at Baylor University should be acquiring the best education the school offers. However, other issues can get in the way, including those related to financial uncertainty, mental health and wellness, and adjusting to a new living environment, among others. Data from Inside Higher Ed’s 2024 Student Voice survey
A Baylor alum is spotted in the wild – Jonathon Platt says, “Hey you, tell me a joke!” The alumnus starts out with “John Lennon and a zombie walk into a bar.” And that’s how we got this episode. Welcome to ‘Episode 11’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room. Host Jonathon Platt
Bears, Beatles, and Zombies: An Interview with Ambassador Doug Silliman Read More »
Welcome to ‘Episode 10’ of the Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room. In this episode, host Jonathon Platt is met with Joanne Cummings, Director of Middle East Studies and Professor of Political Science, to discuss the politics and misunderstood narratives of the Middle East. With decades of work in crisis management, intelligence, diplomacy, and
Iran, Israel, and the Politics of Perception: An Interview with Joanne Cummings Read More »
Off Broadway The Baylor New Play Initiative – a program that presents young playwrights with the opportunity to showcase their work and be awarded the $15,000 Kirk New Play Prize – makes its debut on September 26. In addition to the readings, the festival will include a panel that creates the opportunity for playwrights to
Great colleges have great art. In addition to the treasures at the Martin Museum of Art and in the Armstrong Browning Library, scattered throughout Baylor University’s campus are a handful of widely recognized classics. But what’s different about Baylor’s collection is that several of these paintings in particular have been hiding in plain sight–seen, yet
Welcome to ‘Episode Nine’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room. In this episode, host Jonathon Platt sits down with Rev. Dr. Eric Mathis, associate pastor at First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C. – a minister, musician, scholar, and Baylor Bear whose life bridges the academic, pastoral, and personal with
Called in Every Key: An Interview with Eric Mathis Read More »
Welcome to ‘Episode Eight’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room. This time, we’re launching into orbit with one of Baylor’s brightest stars – Howard Chang, a NASA attorney whose work is out of this world. Host Jonathon Platt sits down with Howard Chang to trace his incredible journey from the neuroscience labs
Attorney on the Launch Pad: An Interview with Howard Chang Read More »
Edgecombe on the Rise VJ Edgecombe has made Baylor men’s basketball history during the NBA Draft. Standing tall at just 6-foot-4, Edgecombe was No. 3 overall in the draft for the Philadelphia 76ers, which makes him the highest pick for the Baylor Bears. We will be the only program in the past five years to
It was his grandmother–his protector and inspiration–who inspired Dr. Dennis Myers to pursue a calling to work in the field of social work and gerontology. Now, after 43 years of service to Baylor University, Dr. Myers is retiring, starting a new chapter in his life and leaving behind a legacy that future generations of students
Dr. Dennis Myers: Gerontology’s Greatest on a Career that Aged Well Read More »
Welcome to ‘Episode Seven’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room. On this episode, host Jonathon Platt meets with Booking Producer at Bloomberg TV, Amanda Hayes Roark. Just a few years into post-grad life, Amanda has already charted an impressive path through some of the top names in journalism. From her early start
Behind the Broadcast: An Interview with Amanda Hayes Roark Read More »
Welcome to ‘Episode Six’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room. In this episode, host Jonathon Platt introduces Dr. Felipe Hinojosa, the John and Nancy Endowed Chair in Latin America and Professor of History at Baylor University. Born and raised in Brownsville, Texas, Felipe brings a unique perspective shaped by his upbringing in
The Gospel According to Justice: An Interview with Dr. Felipe Hinojosa Read More »
Pro Mundo, New Meaning Baylor and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship this week announced a partnership responding to the decline in Baptist-identifying students over the years. The University over the years has become a ‘melting pot’ for Christian denominations and recently expanded its motto, “Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana,” to include Pro Mundo, which means for the
Welcome to ‘Episode Five’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room. In this episode, host Jonathon Platt is joined by Dr. Coretta Pittman, associate professor of English and Baylor’s new vice provost for community engagement. With warmth, clarity, and depth, Dr. Pittman discusses what it means to foster a university community that reflects
Narratives that Lead: A Talk with Dr. Coretta Pittman Read More »
For Dr. Michael K. Scullin, principal investigator in the Sleep Neuroscience and Cognition Laboratory, the lab’s new exhibit at the Mayborn Museum Complex exploring sleep signifies the culmination of his last decade of research at Baylor. “If you’d asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, the last thing I would have
Welcome to ‘Episode Four’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room. In this heartfelt conversation, host Jonathon Platt sits down with his longtime mentor and personal hero, retired Director of Baylor’s Ministry Guidance Program and Professor of Religion, Dr. Jeter Basden. His leadership helped shape generations of students preparing for lives of service,
Guided by Grace: An Interview with Dr. Jeter Basden Read More »
Baylor tennis makes quite the racket Baylor women’s tennis received regional rewards from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Junior Na Dong earned Rookie of the Year – the first bear to do so since 2008! The newcomer made waves all season, finishing strong with a 15-match winning streak and proving she’s a force to watch. Baylor
Welcome to ‘Episode Three’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room. In this episode, host Jonathon Platt sits down with two Baylor legends and authors of Soon and Very Soon, Robert Darden and Dr. Stephen Newby. This conversation isn’t just about music – it’s about the history and cultural commentary of gospel music.
Spread the Word: An Interview with Robert Darden and Dr. Stephen Newby Read More »
Baylor University has had a live bear mascot since 1917 when a Camp McArthur soldier allowed students to parade Ted, often called Bruin, across the football field during games. Then in 1981, the first costumed bear mascot, sponsored by Wendy’s, made his debut at a Baylor basketball game. Andy Spencer (’87) was the last Wendy’s
Welcome to episode two of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room. In this episode, host Jonathon Platt sits down with former United States Marine Corps Reservist Alexandra Benda to explore a career that spans continents, combat zones, and the corridors of power. With a degree in Great Texts and over 13 years of
Cleared for Takeoff: An Interview with Alexandra Benda Read More »
Welcome to the official ‘Episode One’ of The Baylor Line’s flagship podcast, The Green Room. In this episode host Jonathon Platt is joined by author and public defender Jeanne Bishop live at The Baylor Line’s BookTalk event on May 16 commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing. In it, the two unpack
Grace from the Rubble: An Interview with Jeanne Bishop Read More »
Tapestry of care Baylor, alongside The Congregational Collective of San Antonio and Harvard Medical school, received a $1.76 million grant from the John Templeton Foundation for a public-private partnership aimed to provide a “Tapestry of Care” for church congregations that find themselves on the front lines of the nation’s growing mental health crisis. Over the
Note of disclosure: The author of this article is the oldest grandson of Herbert Hal Reynolds (11th president of Baylor) and is the first cousin four times removed of W.R. White (9th president of Baylor). He is also a Freemason. What do Baylor University’s first 11 Presidents have in common with Mozart, Isaac Newton, George
Building Baylor: How Freemasonry Shaped the University’s First 150 Years Read More »
University Business During the Baylor board of regents’ regular May meeting it voted on board and committee leadership, $14.9 million in renovations to the Ferrell Center, a $995.8 million operating budget for the 2025-2026 school year, and two new master’s degree programs. Epps’ Emmy Deonte Epps (’13), a content associate working his dream job at
When Baylor University was chartered in 1845 by the last Congress of the Republic of Texas, its co-founders, Reverend William Milton Tryon and Judge Robert Emmett Bledsoe Baylor, wanted to weave the Baptist faith into the daily curriculum. The third founding father, Reverend James Huckins, who was the first Southern Baptist missionary to Texas, cemented
Catholics at Baylor: Promoting Unity and Cooperation Read More »
Refurbished Ferrell The board of regents will vote today on a potential remodel of the Ferrell Center, according to the Waco Tribune-Herald. Though Baylor officials declined to comment prior to Friday’s vote, a newsletter from the Waco office of Associated General Contractors of America reported the work could include interior demolition, new interior walls, ceilings,
This story was originally published by The Baylor Line in 2020 as an e-book. My wife Mary and I encountered Dr. Robert C. Cloud right before a conference at Baylor. We’re both big fans of “RCC”; Mary considers him to be her mentor. As modest as ever, the whippet-thin man who was once the youngest
Ventriloquist visits Ventriloquist, stand-up comedian, and 1986 Baylor grad Jeff Dunham is bringing his Artificial Intelligence North American Tour to Foster Pavilion at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, October 3. Dunham’s performance marks the next in a string of performances at the arena-turned-entertainment venue, following Forrest Frank, Lauren Daigle, and others. Tickets are on sale to
A legend at Baylor, Missy Yeary Wells (‘88) served as director of Student Foundation from 1989 to 1997. Beloved by everyone who knew her, Missy’s death at 59 on February 4, 2025, was sudden and unexpected. Her husband Steve (’90, M.Div. ’97, D.Min. ‘03), a regent at Baylor and pastor at South Main Baptist Church
A Foundation for Success: Remembering Missy Wells Read More »
Ideas Worth Spreading Baylor will host its inaugural TEDxBaylor University event “Innovation in Deeds,” independently organized under a TED license, on Saturday, November 8. Speakers for the event will include Baylor faculty, staff, and students, as well as local community members, and will be selected by a curation committee. “Bringing TEDx to Waco and Baylor
You don’t let life happen; you make it happen. These simple words seem to have reverberated in Melissa Lasater’s head for the past several decades. When she was just a little girl growing up in New Braunfels, her grandmother was everything to her: A role model, a friend, and in this case, a sage bearer
Decade of Dominance Baylor acrobatics & tumbling this weekend won its 10th-straight NCATA National Championship, defeating No. 2 seeded Oregon in the final round. “This was not an easy championship to win, and I don’t want anyone to think that,” said coach Felecia Mulkey in a Baylor release. Mulkey won her first four national championships
In its long history, who was Baylor’s first senior professor? Dorothy Scarborough? A. J. Armstrong? Paul Baker? Daniel Sternberg? Glenn Capp? Cornelia Marschall Smith? It was Dr. Luther Weeks Courtney, who taught in the English department for nearly 40 years. In 1954, President W.R. White conferred the newly created title of “Distinguished Professor” on Courtney
Better News for Baylor Basketball The Baylor men’s basketball team is steadily rebuilding after losing every player from its roster following its March Madness run. The team’s newest addition is Andre Iguodala II, the son of four-time NBA champion of the same name. One of those lost from the roster was VJ Edgecombe, who this
For many people, it takes years, decades even, to figure out what they want to do with their life. For most people. Baylor acrobatics and tumbling legend Kiara Nowlin does not fit this mold.
Visas Revoked At least three Baylor students have had their student immigration status terminated in the government database known as SEVIS, according to a University press release and reported by Baptist News Global. Baylor is among a few faith-based private universities affected by the unannounced revocations, but the Associated Press reports “At least 901 students
Welcome to the first episode of our new podcast, The Green Room. This go around, I’m joined by Dr. Steve Gardner, a respected economist and professor emeritus at Baylor University. I asked Steve for this conversation in order to unpack the latest on the Trump administration tariffs and to explore the broader economic theories behind tariff policies. Dr. Gardner brings decades of experience as an educator, researcher, and advisor, with deep expertise in international economics, trade policy, and market dynamics. Whether you’re an economist, a policy enthusiast, or simply curious about how tariffs impact your daily life, this conversation with Steve offers insights that are as timely as they are illuminating.
Tariffying Tales: An Interview with Dr. Steve Gardner Read More »
Diadeloso This year Baylor students celebrated a tradition as old as time with a state fair-themed Diadeloso. Of course, there was goat yoga, lots of food trucks, something called Dia Del Catholic, and live music. This year also featured a concert from Joshua Bassett, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (yes, our social media
Perhaps nothing says “Texas” like the Brazos River, the 10th longest river in the U.S. and the longest river entirely within the state of Texas. Powerful and temperamental, it meanders 840 miles from Lubbock to the Gulf of Mexico. Home to blue herons, white egrets, hawks, and golden eagles, its flow and color change (clear,
Baylor Spring Sports Sync Baseball – Baylor baseball currently holds a 20-8 overall record, 4-5 in Big 12 Conference play, heading into the weekend’s home series against Houston. The pro ball season is in full swing at my house (go Cardinals!), so I don’t always have time to watch college ball. However, writer Jerry Hill
By the time she first set foot on the Baylor campus in 1963, Pam Dial Taylor had been a cheerleader since junior high school. In fact, she’d already spent summers leading camps around the country for the National Cheerleaders Association. We’re talking about one serious cheerleader. When she arrived in Waco, however, Pam learned something
The Untold Story of Baylor’s Ultimate Cheerleader Read More »
Wrapping Up Baylor Basketball WOMEN’S – The Bears won their first match against Grand Canyon University on Friday at Foster Pavilion, ending the Lopes’ nation-leading 30-game winning streak. Unfortunately, their luck ran out on Saturday, falling 69-63 to Ole Miss in the second round and ending the Baylor women’s March Madness run. Plus, hear about
“I can remember the first time I went to an art museum. I was probably six or seven,” said Meghan Bias. “The colors and textures of the paintings, the sculptures. It was like I was home. A place where I just felt like I belong.”
The Colorful Past and Vibrant Future of Art Center Waco Read More »
Since the Paul Baker era, the Baylor Theatre has always punched far above its weight on Broadway. From the beloved actor Carole “Cookie” Cook to Robert Askins’ award-winning dark comedy Hand to God, dozens of Bears have graced the stages of the Great White Way. Baker’s Baylor was a particularly rich and nurturing home for
We want to keep you up to date on the latest news around the Baylor bubble. This week, men’s and women’s basketball heads into March Madness, alumni musicians take center stage, and more.
Keeping Up with Baylor Basketball WOMEN’S – The No. 14 women’s team beat Iowa State in last Friday’s Big 12 championship quarterfinal. On Saturday, the Bears played Oklahoma State in the semifinal and avenged their loss earlier in the season, playing into overtime and beating the Cowgirls 84-74. Baylor suffered another loss to TCU in
Waco, situated halfway between Austin and Dallas, is a city rich in history and culture, making it a popular destination for tourists. With so much to see and do, taking a guided tour is one of the best ways to dive deep into the heart of this eclectic city. From architectural marvels and outdoor adventures
We want to keep you up to date on the latest news around the Baylor bubble. This week, women’s basketball takes second seed in the Big 12 Championship, daylight saving time steals an hour, and more.
Aenard “Ann” Compton left a remarkably small footprint during her life, much less during her time in Waco. Even so meticulous a researcher as Frank Jasek, who spent more than 11 years assembling his book, Soldiers of the Wooden Cross: Military Memorials, could only find a few facts about Compton. Jasek’s ambitious, beautiful book is
We want to keep you up to date on the latest news around the Baylor bubble. This week, Livingstone talks about DEI’s future, an expert covers the spread of measles in West Texas, and more.
Sing Season is Upon Us The smell of hairspray and stage makeup lingers in the air. The Stacy Riddle Forum becomes a battleground and costume party. Moody Library feels a little emptier than usual. Ah, Sing season. Shows started with club night on Thursday and will continue on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights through March
The 7,975-square-foot Billy W. Williams practice facility has long featured cutting-edge swing analyzers, recording equipment, and pristine indoor hitting bays to keep the Baylor men’s golf team primed for each competition. And then there’s the 16.5-acre outdoor training space boasting multiple driving ranges, putting greens, simulated holes, and a chipping area. Add to all that
Kindness. Patience. Togetherness. These are the qualities that have built two very beautiful — even if very different — love stories in the Baylor Family. On Friday, February 14, The Baylor Line hosted a packed house in the President’s Suite at the Baylor Club in McLane Stadium for our first Sweetheart’s Dinner. Music, drinks, a
Love Stories from the Baylor Family: the Bairds and the Callaways Read More »
Brittney Griner (’13), the Baylor basketball legend-turned-WNBA superstar, has a new title to add to her impressive roster of accolades: the newest Bear to join the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. The award is one more impressive feat in the 34-year-old’s legendary career as an NCAA champion, WNBA champion, three-time olympic gold medalist, 2012 and
Brittney Griner (’13) inducted into Texas Sports Hall of Fame Read More »
Alumni-Elected Baylor Regent Election Open Degree-holding alumni can cast their vote for an alumni member of the Baylor Board of Regents now until 5 p.m. on Feb. 18. If you are eligible to vote, you should have received credentials and a link to the ballot system via email. This year’s nominees include: Barbara Calhoun Cargill
Throughout its long history, the Baylor University campus has been remarkably blessed, avoiding tornadoes, the worst impact of the regular Brazos River flooding, and the ravages of fire. Waco’s “other” university – and Baylor’s greatest rival – AddRan College was forced to leave Waco after a massive fire in March 1910 devastated the college’s primary
Bears at the Grammys Baylor grad Forrest Frank (’17) was nominated for his first Grammy for his most recent album, “CHILD OF GOD,” in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Album category. The album, released in July, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Christian Albums chart, where it stayed for 13 weeks. Football fans may
Waco’s food trucks cater to a diverse range of tastes and preferences, offering a culinary adventure waiting to be explored. Now, we’ll dive deep into the flavorful world of Waco’s food trucks, where gastronomic delights hit the streets to excite your taste buds. In today’s article, we will showcase our eight favorite Waco food trucks
Men’s Basketball The men’s team bolsters a winning record at the midpoint of the season. Most recently, it beat Utah for the second time time this season last Saturday, 71-61, but was defeated by BYU 89-93 in overtime this week. Superstar freshman VJ Edgecombe has proven his place among the greats this season, leading with 28
There was a time when the sudden arrival of quarter-sized hail might have taken some Texans by surprise, but when inclement weather forced the cancellation of the Baylor Bears’ baseball game against Dallas Baptist University on April 9, 2024, many fans were more annoyed than shocked—least of all Dan Peppe.
For the last 20 years, Dr. Felipe Hinojosa has dedicated his life to the study of history. But earlier this year, he actually helped make it. In July 2023, the South Texas native was appointed the first John and Nancy Jackson Endowed Chair for Baylor in Latin America, a milestone that made him the university’s first historian of Latino history. It’s an especially remarkable accomplishment when you consider that Hinojosa nearly talked himself out of the job… twice. After delivering a keynote address at a conference for the Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education in February 2023, Hinojosa was approached by Baylor University administrators who wanted to encourage him to apply to the newly opened endowed chair position. At the time, he had been a professor of history at Texas A&M for 14 years and had published two books on the intersection of faith and Latino activism.
Preparing Baylor Students for a Multiracial, Multiethnic World Read More »
Baylor grad Kat Largent took a circuitous route to land her dream job, living the dream of every “theater nerd” on the Great White Way.
Editor’s Note: For now over 75 years, Baylor Line has been publishing vivid storytelling from across the Baylor Family. I don’t think our archives full of deep, inspirational features should live solely on shelves, so we are bringing them back to life in BL Classics. On today’s National Day of Mourning for Jimmy Carter, Hal Wingo’s
During their brief tenure in Waco, artist Reynold Arnould and his wife, novelist and art critic Martha, were the most famous faculty members at Baylor University – and almost certainly the most glamorous. The Arnoulds brought international attention to the campus before the siren call of Paris eventually, perhaps inevitably, lured them back home. But
‘Tis the season for New Year’s resolutions, when everyone makes the promise to themselves that they’re going to get back into the gym once the holidays are over. On a quest for a new workout spot to fit your needs? Let’s explore Waco’s lively fitness scene and all the gyms it has to offer. Situated
For the first time in two years, “The Baylor Line” is back with a brand new magazine. This issue, called The Big Picture, features some of our favorite stories of 2024. Much like our own lives, this magazine is riddled with new beginnings, a few endings, and all the little things that make up the middle — The Big Picture. We hope you’ll join us as we embark on a new journey, telling stories for every Baylor grad with coverage beyond campus.
The Baylor Line Magazine Is Back: An Editor’s Note for our Winter 2024 issue Read More »
New buildings like the Baylor Science Building and Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation show the growth of campus. Renovations to existing buildings exude change in what was once a stability on campus. Even discussions about names of buildings and removing statues may come to mind. So what is the same? We can
Texas whisky was not a thing before Balcones, as improbable as that may sound. It certainly still feels odd to Jared Himstedt. “It’s kind of a funny deal when you think of the stereotypes of the South and the Old West and cattle driving,” Himstedt said. “You just think there was a lot of whisky, right? So the fact that there wasn’t anybody doing whisky in Texas when we got started… How the heck? That’s crazy.”
Theirs was a love story for the ages with all the passion and intrigue of a Victorian-era romance — a courtship that included 573 love letters and a secret marriage at St. Marylebone Church in London on September 12, 1846, over her tyrannical father’s objections. He later disinherited her, and she never saw him again after she and her husband started a new life in Italy, where their son was born three years later. His given name was Robert Wiedeman Barrett Browning, but they called him Pen. Though inseparable during their lifetimes, the lovers are buried nearly a thousand miles apart: Elizabeth in the Protestant Cemetery in Florence and Robert in Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey, London. Six years his senior, Elizabeth was just 55 when she died in her husband’s arms at their home in Florence of chronic lung disease. Father and son moved back to London where Browning established himself as a leading literary figure. He never married again, nor did he visit Florence after his wife’s death. Then in 1889 while visiting Pen at his home in Venice, Browning died of natural causes. He was 77 years old.
Editor’s note: As you enjoy gathering with friends and family for Thanksgiving feasts, we encourage you to think of our less fortunate neighbors who may not be able to experience the same bounty during the holidays. Every year, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) releases a report on the household food security of the
Baylor’s Role in the Ongoing Battle Against Food Insecurity Read More »
Jeff Ireland spent his childhood summers in Chicago with his grandad, Jim Parmer, who was the director of college scouting for the Chicago Bears. Ireland, who became a ball boy in 1982 at the age of 12, hung out with the kickers during training camps, helping them warm up by kicking a soccer ball around
Beyond just their Southern locales and even with 600 miles between them, the link between Baylor University and the Overby Center for Southern Journalism & Politics, based on Ole Miss’ campus, is largely thanks to the longtime support of a few Bears. After years of advocating for First Amendment rights by advancing the tenets of quality
Reason, Rigor, and Reporting: Overby Center Faces Issues Plaguing Today’s Journalists Read More »
Walter Davis Gernand was born February 15, 1917, in Beaumont, Texas, the youngest of the three sons of Clarence A. and Catherine Perthuis Gernand. Julius “Julie” William (February 4, 1913) and Clarence “Bubba” James (October 17, 1914) rounded out the household at 1575 Emile St. All three Gernand brothers enrolled at Baylor University in the
There’s no doubt Baylor alumni and families heading to Waco for the 2024 homecoming celebration are practicing their sic ‘ems and bear claws this week. They may even be looking to bump the fun up a notch by exploring Waco and its many offerings, both new and familiar. …
Though many institutions make claims and battle for the title of “First Ever Homecoming,” our very own Baylor University celebrated the official first collegiate homecoming with the Thanksgiving football game and parade in 1909. The event has morphed since its inception 115 years ago, but one thing remains true – homecoming serves to reunite the community and welcome Baylor alumni home. Whether you’re a seasoned Baylor Homecoming veteran (you know the best place to see the parade, you’ve packed your lawn chair, and you know the nearest place to find a Dr Pepper Float) or you’re a first-timer, our guide has you covered for an exciting homecoming weekend Oct. 24-26.
Baylor Homecoming Guide: Football, Traditions, & Parade Read More »
For almost 30 percent of the student population of Baylor University, the campus is not only where they learn but also where they live. First-year students are required to live on-campus for their first two semesters. “It’s a big part of our campus culture and student life experience,” said Jeremy Vickers, Associate Vice President, Innovation and Economic Development at Baylor. “Living on campus helps them to get grounded in the academic environment, to build relationships with peers, and we can provide a significant amount of support systems for students.” Baylor has 16 residence halls on campus. The rates are per semester and range from $3,850 for a shared double room to $6,100 for the best single rooms. The buildings on campus are built in a Georgian style, and almost a decade ago a renovation plan began. South Russell Hall was completed in 2014, North Russell Hall in 2015, Penland Hall in 2016, and Martin Hall in 2017.
How Do You Measure A Year (In Student Housing)? | The Cost of College: Rent Edition Read More »
Why am I here? What was I made to do? Existential questions to be sure and ones that many students grapple with during their college years. In his experience as Assistant Director for Pastoral Care, Tyler Conway has found that students at Baylor have “a desire to connect with God or a community of people to find a sense of meaning and belonging,” and as an unapologetically Christian university, Baylor strives to help them make those connections. “There is a beautiful tapestry of ministers, staff and students whose dedication enhances the spiritual environment at Baylor and that ultimately has resulted in increasing numbers of church attendance,” said Charles Ramsey, Ph.D., Associate Chaplain, Director of Campus Ministries & Church Connections. “Can we track the numbers of students in church? Not yet. But from what we see and hear, there is a vibrancy of faith in our Baylor community, and this is translating into increased Christian commitment and church participation.”
Carroll “CD” Dawson, former Baylor men’s basketball player and coach and Houston Rockets general manager, died on September 9 at 86 years old, leaving behind a decades-long legacy in men’s basketball. “The Rockets family mourns the loss of beloved former coach and general manager Carroll Dawson, affectionately known as CD,” the Rockets said in a
The story of William Martin “Clu” Gulager’s journey, from tiny Holdenville, Okla., to becoming a star of beloved television series like The Virginian and films like The Killers and The Last Picture Show, would make a rip-snorting good movie itself. The son of vaudevillian/Broadway actor John Delancy Gulager, who left the stage to become a
From Shakespeare to Shoot-em-Ups: The Remarkable 70-Year Career of Clu Gulager Read More »
He first pulled up to Brooks Hall on move-in day in 1956, behind the wheel of a brand-new, red and white Chevrolet station wagon. His name was Kenneth Reuben Durham, he’d driven five hours from his Panhandle hometown of Tahoka, and he was beaming. There was nowhere he’d have rather been at that moment. From
One of the things visitors love most about Waco is the ability to explore the wonders of this city without breaking the bank. In Central Texas, the essence of exploration meets the embrace of affordability, allowing for the discovery of unforgettable experiences at an affordable cost. In this guide, we will explore 12 free things
Leach spoke on a panel Friday morning at Texas Tribune Festival titled “Criminal Justice and the 89th Legislature” with his colleague State Representative Joe Moody, a Democrat from Texas’ West-most district in El Paso. The pair discussed their efforts to initiate further criminal justice reform in the State of Texas. Though Leach and Moody caucus in opposite parties, Leach said, “In the Texas House, we don’t have to hate each other. . . . There are a lot of things we can work together on.”
State Rep. Jeff Leach (’05) Talks Criminal Justice Reform At Texas Tribune Festival Read More »
Personally, I think everyone should experience the magic and tradition of a Baylor University home football game – but not everyone knows how. With Baylor’s first of six home games this season happening August 31 against Tarleton State, here are some tips on how to do game day the right way. The Parking Problem
Baylor Game Day Guide: Where To Park, Eat, Drink, & Tailgate Read More »
There’s no denying the growth and change in Waco, Texas over the past decade. With this rise in popularity, new Waco hot spots are constantly sprouting, bringing in plenty of new gems and expanding the city’s offerings for locals and tourists. Whether you’re just visiting or are a looking for your new favorite spot, here are some new hot spots in Waco you need to check out, including the many offerings at Hotel Herringbone, a new barbecue joint, and Common Grounds’ newest location. There’s so much to explore in Waco, Texas!
Baylor was 3-9 in 2023 – the second consecutive losing season and third in four years of the Aranda era. The other season was a historic 2021 campaign that resulted in a program-record 12 wins and wins in the Big 12 championship game and the Sugar Bowl. That season was led by a strong group
“The beauty of living in a community where small businesses thrive,” said Oh My Juice owner Denitia Blount, “is that it sets a place apart. Whenever I go to a town or city, I want the local flair,” she said. “I want to feel like I’m somewhere different. When you go to a chain, you aren’t seeing what makes a place great. You aren’t tapping into the people. In Waco, people are drawn by what’s homegrown and the diversity of our small businesses.” Inroads have been made in recent years to support that diversity in Waco, even though the challenges for all small business owners everywhere are significant: Inflation. Supply chain issues. Renovation costs. Demands for a quick return by lenders. The Bureau of Labor reports a third of new businesses close within their first two years. It’s worse for minority and women business owners. Blount couldn’t secure a loan to start her business in 2013 unless her husband, who has a successful nationally-recognized business, co-signed. People of color face even more discrimination and other inequities. According to a recent Bloomberg Report, eight out of ten Black-owned businesses fail within the first 18 months.
A Commitment to Inclusion: Empowering Waco’s Minority- and Women-owned Small Businesses Read More »
For a time in the 1950s, Baylor graduate John Paul Stapp was the holder of the land speed record and was as famous as Col. Chuck Yeager. Once featured on the cover of Time magazine, Stapp is considered the “Father of the Seat Belt” in the United States and is even credited with coining one
Col. John Paul Stapp: There Was Much More Than Speed to the Fastest Man on Earth Read More »
Candi K. Cann calls herself a death scholar. Technically, the associate professor in the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core of the Honors College is a thanatologist, though she allows that most people don’t know what that is. For the record, a thanatologist is a specialist who studies death, dying, grief, and loss. It’s no secret that Americans have been remarkably averse to talking about death, but a 2018 survey released by The Conversation Project suggests that a huge cultural shift may be under way. “We have begun to break the taboo around talking about death,” Ellen Goodman, founder of The Conversation Project, reported at the time.
Named after the historic year Mexican women were given the Right to Vote, the 1953 Tequila company keeps social justice at its core and empowers women at every level: from the Jaliscan Highlands agave farm that sources its ultra-premium Anejo Tequila, to the unionized Mexican distillery that makes it and beyond.
Going to college in the United States is a fraught topic for pundits and politicians, who continually raise doubts about the value and purpose of a higher education. It’s too expensive, it’s for elites, it doesn’t deliver needed job skills, and students and families can end up saddled with crushing debt—whether or not the student actually graduates. But recent polls reveal that graduates still value a diploma. A Harris Poll survey conducted among 2023 college grads revealed that nine out of ten were glad they went to college. They also agreed that a degree is the best way to secure their futures.
Losing Faith in College | The Cost of College: Tuition Read More »
In fall 1957, just 5’9” weighing only 129 pounds Theodore Otto “Ted” Uhlaender journeyed from McAllen to Waco and asked to try-out for the baseball team. As a non-scholarship walk-on, he led the freshman team in hitting. By his junior year, Uhlaender was one of the Southwest Conference’s leading hitters, batting a sizzling .365. Ted was all-Southwest Conference in baseball three times. After graduating, it wasn’t long before he began an eight-year major league career with the Twins, Cleveland Indians, and ending with the Cincinnati Reds.
In May 2023, the most awarded professor in Baylor’s history retired. A year later, he’s working more than ever. Reflecting on his time at Baylor, Robert Darden (’76), master teacher and emeritus professor of journalism, public relations, and new media, has not only left an impact on the university at large but also on the thousands of students who walked into his classrooms for over 30 years. Having had such gifted professors when he attended Baylor in the 1970s, Darden said it was these passionate and informed mentors who he tried to emulate in his classroom, as he desired to carry on their legacy.
Shaping Minds to Sharing Stories: A Professor’s New Journey Read More »
Joe Gage III grew up on the water, his summer days occupied by buoys and the never-ending pursuit of the perfect gliding technique. His father was part of Baylor’s fledgling club water skiing team in the late 1980s and early ‘90s, and the younger Gage — an avid athlete — quickly adapted the elder’s love of the sport. “I’ve played a lot of other sports, but there’s nothing else like this,” Gage III said. “There’s a unique rush with waterskiing, and I’ve always been chasing that rush. I guess you could say it’s in my blood.” His father added: “I can remember going to my tax class with dripping wet clothes because I just came from practice and didn’t want to leave that time with my friends. So, to see Joe fall in love with the sport that gave me so much, that’s really special.”
Her name was Cindy Campbell Brown. Her age was 26. She was a Secret Service agent whose office was on the top floor of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. On April 19, 1995 at 9:02 a.m., Timothy McVeigh, 26, a U.S. Army veteran poisoned with anti-government hate, set off a truck bomb in front of the building where Cindy worked. McVeigh had designed and built the bomb by hand along with his co-conspirator Terry Nichols. The blast sheared off the front of the 9-story, glass front federal building, reducing it to rubble. The ensuing devastation killed 168 people, including Cindy.
Her Name Was Cindy Campbell Brown. She Died In 1995. And It’s Time You Knew Her Story. Read More »
Of its many achievements, Baylor particularly enjoys two distinctions: that of being the oldest university in Texas (established by the Republic of Texas in 1845, before statehood) and the first university west of the Mississippi to go coed, 75 years before American women were guaranteed the right to vote. Though BU’s gender history may be complicated—the university segregated for about 35 years in 1851—there is no surer sign of its inclusivity than the legions of female Baylor graduates who continue to honor the university through their accomplishments.
One of the things we love the most about Waco is the perfect blend of American and Mexican cuisine, giving us authentic and delightful dishes with a touch of originality and unique flavors. Now, it’s time to explore the Mexican food scene that Waco has to offer us – get ready for an authentic experience, and let’s dive deep into the best 10 Mexican restaurants in Waco. Waco’s long, vibrant Latino history has created a cultural connection that is rich, vibrant, and worth exploring. This part of Central Texas belonged to Mexico after the Spanish empire took over, and then, in 1836, to the state of Texas, when it declared independence. So, it’s no surprise to find the flavors of Mexico taking over the Waco culinary scene. Whether you love tacos or fajitas, these places really know how to make delicious Mexican food. Join us as we explore the diverse and flavorful world of Mexican dishes in Waco, TX.
Truly nothing could prepare me for an experience like that. A complete and total eclipse, on April 8, 2024, the entire world around me changed within a matter of seconds. Day turned to night at 1:38 p.m.
From working alongside healthcare and community development specialists combating poverty throughout the United States and heading to Washington for a congressional internship or spending nine weeks in the lab alongside leaders in tropical disease research, Baylor University’s plentiful internship opportunities are thrilling and diverse. Internships are a sure-fire way for undergraduate students to not only put their academic studies to real-life practice — they are also a launching point for future employment and a valuable way to maximize collegiate experiences. They also help students decide if their career aspirations are on the right track. Across disciplines and interests these are six internship opportunities Baylor students should consider.
Amazing Baylor Internships: Building a bridge beyond the classroom Read More »
With its quirks, special spots, and charming scenes, Waco stands out as a wonderful city with a variety of date ideas. If you’re in the heart of Texas seeking enjoyable, romantic activities for a date in Waco, you’re in the right spot. Let’s discover 14 different fun, exciting, and romantic Waco date ideas.
A West Texas football coach struggles to reconcile his faith with the news of his daughter’s homosexuality; Baylor researchers unearth the world’s largest accumulation of Mammuthus columbi (Columbian Mammoth) skeletons, right here in Waco; Two English explorers seek to claim the Nile headwaters for England with the help of their East African guide; and a celebrity chef sautés cuttlefish for a seafood paella party. What do these stories have in common? All were written by members of the Baylor Family. With Baylor’s commitment to inspired action, it’s no surprise that fellow Bears publish a considerable number of books each year. Here are a few titles to look out for.
Next On Your Nightstand: Books By Baylor Authors Read More »
As the sun sets over the heart of Texas, Waco lights up with new adventures. Just as captivating and family-friendly as its daytime offerings, Waco’s evenings beckon with a variety of activities for all ages. Whether you’re a local seeking some after-hours adventure or a visitor eager to experience the city’s unique vibe, our guide
For years, Waco has been growing its reputation as a hub of arts and culture, and nowhere is this more apparent than on its public walls. Everywhere you turn in the City of Waco, Texas, a mural of inordinate quality is likely to greet you, offering insights into the town’s history or just being darn cute. Here are six eye-catching murals and 25 related others that make for a fun and funky treasure hunt.
Welcome to Waco’s lively night scene! From historic family-owned bars to modern nightlife spots, it’s time to indulge in the sweet flavors, aromas, and essences of Waco bars. From whiskey to wine and cocktails to craft beer, these bars in Waco are always worth visiting. Read here to check out the 10 best bars in Waco, TX. Hot spots include Balcones Distillery, One Day Bar, Dichotomy Coffee & Spirits, The Backyard, and Valley Mills Vineyards.
Baylor prepares for a once-in-a-lifetime event when Waco, TX will become a prime location to view a total solar eclipse. On April 8, 2024, observers in Waco will be in that “right time and right place.” The total solar eclipse is predicted to last more than four minutes and is truly a once-in-a-lifetime event. The last total solar eclipse visible in Waco was on July 29, 1878; the next one is not anticipated until after year 3000.
From miniskirts to platform shoes, leg warmers to parachute pants, ripped jeans to cargo pants, fashion trends come and go. Classic looks like a plain white tee seem never to go out of style, but even some fads, like athleisure, that seem like passing trends end up having real staying power. Others — acid-wash denim, stirrup pants, and jelly shoes — have become downright cringe-worthy in retrospect. So, what influences our fashion choices in the first place?
Is Comfort the New Couture? Current Baylor Campus Fashion Trends Read More »
From the moment of his birth, John Seymour Belew was destined to devote much of his life to Baylor. He was a war veteran, chemistry scholar, senior administrator, internationalist, civic leader, patron of the arts, and, most of all, a dedicated friend and family member. Thank you, John, for 102 years of life, love, and service.
The Lasting Legacy (and Long Life) of Dr. John Belew Read More »
Nine years ago, Dolores Lozano claims she was violently assaulted by a Baylor football player and her boyfriend at the time. In 2016 she filed a lawsuit against the university, claiming that – despite having gone to administrators and football program leaders – her alma mater had been negligent in its handling of her reports of domestic violence and, as a result, violated her rights under the Title IX federal civil rights law. On Tuesday, a Waco jury found Baylor liable.
Baylor professors, students, and healthcare professionals who have served on the front lines of the pandemic since spring 2020. These Bears have spent untold hours both saving lives and grieving for the ones they’ve lost, and now, looking back on over three years of work, they’re reflecting on what they’ve learned—and the challenges that lie ahead.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify Joanne Cummings is the director of Baylor’s Middle East Studies program and teaches in the BIC and Political Science department. She has also been instrumental in the development of an interfaith minor here at Baylor. A retired diplomat, her experience is wide-ranging. She was most recently the Foreign Policy
The Conflict in Israel and the State of Foreign Affairs – with Joanne Cummings Read More »
Just fifteen minutes down the road, the Carleen Bright Arboretum in Woodway, TX, is named after Baylor alumna and community leader Carleen Bright. It may be the perfect place to spend a day away from campus or if you need a break. “The Jewel of Woodway” is open again after renovations, attracting butterflies and plenty of local residents.
The Carleen Bright Arboretum Is Back and Beautiful Read More »
Dr. Hotez is the founding Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine and Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine where he is also the Co-director of the Texas Children’s Center for Vaccine Development and Texas Children’s Hospital Endowed Chair of Tropical Pediatrics. He is also University Professor at Baylor University. His latest book is “The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science: A Scientists Warning.”
No, He Hasn’t Read The Elon Musk Biography – A Conversation with Dr. Peter Hotez Read More »
There’s more to see in Waco than the Magnolia Silos. Just off the beaten path are some hidden gems: old-school barbeque joints, dance halls built by Czech immigrants, and a general store that carries everything from pearl-button shirts to the licorice-flavored chewing gum introduced way back in 1884.
Baylor’s most awarded professor gives his advice to a new class of faculty: “If you’ll do those things, you’ll experience what Baylor professors have discovered for the past 178 years. More than anything you ever do or write or say, your greatest reward, your greatest fulfillment will come from the lives you have been privileged to touch every single day.”
In 1903, a ritual known as “tree-planting” was born. Each year, students would gather on the Quadrangle and scoop dirt around the roots of a new tree. The annual ceremony was discontinued after 1919, but as the campus expanded over the century, the old traditions so well-established in the roots of the university meant that tree-planting became a part of the construction of every new building.
Dr. Beth Allison Barr is the James Vardaman Endowed Professor of History at Baylor and author of “The Making of Biblical Womanhood.” In this episode, she discusses what got her interested in writing a book on the topic of Biblical Womanhood, the changes she’s seen since the book’s publication in 2021, why she thinks the topic is so culturally relevant and captivating, and how we’ve misunderstood the history of patriarchy within Christianity with Christianity itself.
An historic impeachment trial against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (’85, MBA’86) commenced this week with several Baylor alumni, including the attorney general himself, playing key roles in the outcome. Though many Baylor alumni across the years have had storied (and sometimes fraught) political careers, Paxton is the first Baylor graduate to be impeached from public office. In addition to Paxton, there are four other Baylor alumni involved in the trial as elected state officials.
Meet the Baylor Alumni Involved in the Paxton Impeachment Trial Read More »
To feel at home. To tell one’s story. To have fun. To challenge perceptions. To educate. To celebrate. To learn. These are how Baylor students describe the university’s remarkable cultural exchange that takes place on campus and in Waco. “Our different cultural events are an important way for students to drop their guards and see
Waco is now more than just a “college town,” and these events in and around the city are sure to offer visitors unique experiences with explosive local flavor.
Coffee is for everyone – that’s what we learned by exploring Waco’s coffee scene during our trip. From a robust brew that embodies the Texan spirit to a light, sweet coffee beverage that reminds us of Southern hospitality, the local offerings are as varied as they are delightful.
A recent open letter to Baylor leaders signed by a growing number of Baylor alumni and supporters seeks “to achieve a more inclusive campus environment” in response to what it claims are “harmful inequities” and inaccurate “representation of Baylor’s Baptist heritage and tradition” made by the university to authorities. The alumni advocacy group asks that necessary steps be taken “to ensure that LGTBQIA+ students on campus are protected from sexual harassment in all forms.”
Alumni, Faculty, and Students Respond to Recent Title IX Exemption Read More »
A Baylor alumna’s creative outlet of crafting neighborhood art is also a form of advocacy. Rebecca LaFlure, of the popular Instagram profile @ChalkOfTheTown312, is drawing more than murals. Chalk, it turns out, can be a powerful tool.
Planning a family trip to Waco, TX? Check out the best 21 things to do in Waco with kids by reading this post. Whether you’re having fun in Indian Spring Park, exploring Cameron Park Zoo, or catching a concert at the Waco Hippodrome Theatre, there’s plenty of activities to fill your next family trip to Waco.
The U.S Department of Education exempted Baylor University from sexual harassment claims regulated under Title IX last month after the Christian university asked the agency to dismiss discrimination complaints made by students, arguing that the claims were inconsistent with the university’s religious tenets, after LGBTQ+ students filed several Title IX discrimination complaints.
Baylor’s religious exemption reaffirmed in response to sexual harassment complaints Read More »
The Mayborn Museum special exhibit, curated by Dr. Kenneth Hafertepe, is spotlighting where residents find solace in the divine throughout Waco and provides visitors with an excellent survey of the city’s religious evolution across faith traditions.
Dr. John Belew, former provost of Baylor University, has passed away at the age of 102 after a life of service his country, community, and alma mater.
Discover the ultimate brunch experience with our curated list of 16 spots for brunch in Waco. Adventure and flavor await at these 16 best spots for brunch in Waco, Texas. Check out tested favorites, like Cafe Cappucino and Magnolia Table, or try something new or off the beaten path, like Harold Waite Pancake & Steak and Homestead Heritage.
An alumna found a side door propped open and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to explore the almost-complete and wildly anticipated Hurd Welcome Center on Baylor’s campus.
The City of Waco’s contingency plans for keeping water flowing for residents is top of mind as Texas sizzles in the summer sun. Lake Waco’s water levels in July 2023 are actually lower than the previous year — one of the worst on record. At the same time, twice as much precipitation has helped keep the ground saturated, allowing for reserves to build and the region’s flora to remain better hydrated. What are Wacoans to do?
The Brazos River’s temperamental mood swings made the cattle driving business unreliable, difficult, and frequently dangerous. In 1866, shortly following the Civil War’s conclusion, the Texas State Legislature chartered the Waco Bridge Company, granting the enterprise a $25,000 budget, not to mention essentially a local monopoly, to construct a new bridge spanning the wild Brazos. It cost the city one dollar. Well, technically.
Hungry Wacoans and Baylor students continue to build Jake Patterson’s Yaki dreams. Teriyaki as it is known today first originated during the 1700s in Japan, and refers to food that is grilled or broiled in a glaze traditionally composed of soy sauce, rice wine, and sugar. It wasn’t until 1976, however, that the first dedicated teriyaki restaurant in the United States opened — Toshi’s Teriyaki in Seattle, Washington. And now, there’s a growing Yaki empire in Waco.
The Miami Marlins’ Daniel Castano reflects as he recovers from a concussion. Thankfully, the former Baylor left-hander has virtually no recall of the horrifying image that flashed around the world in an instant: a baseball struck at 104-mph slamming off the bill of his cap and into his forehead.
Andrew Crawford, a Baylor grad and the owner of Rhino Coffee, is building a coffee empire to bring people together in his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana.
Waco is home to plenty of interesting boutiques and shops. Let’s discover 11 boutiques in Waco worth exploring right away.
11 Boutiques For Your Next Shopping Spree in Waco Read More »
What’s the Future of Power in Texas? Two Baylor Professors Discuss Options for campus and Waco, Texas.
Waco, Texas is like no other city. Let’s discover the 12 most unique things to do in Waco, Texas.
12 Unique, Unconventional, and Weird Things to Do in Waco Read More »
Kylie Finney is a marketing major at the Hankamner School of Business and a Baylor Legacy scholarship recipient. She grew up in Northern Virginia, right outside DC, attending Chantilly High School where she played varsity soccer for four years and participated in class leadership for two years. On top of varsity soccer and leadership, Kylie also played travel soccer.
A year ago the unthinkable happened: losing a brother, friend and husband and father at the place of comfort: a church. Dr. John Cheng (BA ‘91) died a hero when he tackled a gunman who entered Laguna Woods, California’s Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in May 2022.
On March 2, 2023, Waco and Baylor students took shelter under a tornado warning for approximately 12 minutes. No damage occurred and the night continued as planned. Seventy years ago, on May 11, 1953, a tornado ripped through Waco with no warning, killing 114 people and damaging 196 buildings.
In Texas, there is a 30-year difference between the highest and lowest life expectancies, and with earthworms, composting, aquaponics, and gardening, Urban REAP, a renewable energy and agriculture project within Mission Waco, is working to address that concerning statistic. REAP provides an educational center for children and adults alike to learn more about the world around them.
Reaping the rewards: Mission Waco’s Urban REAP Program Read More »
Jacob Duffer is a junior at Baylor University, studying Finance, Human Resource Management, and Religion. In hardships that life brings, Jacob credits the unwavering presence and provision of God as the common thread that helped him weather these storms. Read our latest profile piece to learn more about Jacob and his time at Baylor.
The Lord’s provision in the midst of difficulty: Jacob Duffer Read More »
Anna Bryant, a senior at Baylor University and Hallsville native, is making the most of her time in Waco. After growing up with parents and family who attended Baylor as well, Anna’s dream was to experience it for herself – something she has certainly done since arriving on campus. From immersing herself heavily in both business studies within the university alongside her sorority sisterhood outside of class to cherishing special moments like Sing or football games during childhood visits – there’s no doubt that Anna’a time here will have been more than what she could’ve ever imagined before college began.
Fisher Hargrove is a proud Houston native, born and raised in the suburbs of Klein, Texas. He will soon graduate from Baylor University with his degree in Entrepreneurship and a minor in Digital Media Management. During his time at Baylor, he has been actively involved with the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity (ATO), where he held the position of Sing Chair.
With a passion for learning and a yearning for teaching, Emily Blackwell (’22), won the 2022 National Student Teacher of the Year award for her work within the classroom as a senior intern. She now works as a first-grade teacher at Brentfield Elementary in Richardson ISD. “In about March, I got an email from
From Ukraine to Waco, a Baylor professor spreads his story and expertise on the Ukrainian-Russian War.
Highly competitive. Highly acclaimed. Highly unique. The Truman Scholarship is no small fête and these two Bears, Skye Perryman (‘03) and senior Veronica Bonifacio Penales, were awarded it just 20 years apart for their dedicated work on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Recognized 20 Years Apart, These Two Bears Are On A Mission Read More »
Allie Gamble has a long-standing connection to Baylor University. As a sixth-generation Baylor Bear, Allie has grown up attending home football games and participating in Homecoming celebrations for years
A little piece of Baylor took the Austin spotlight as alumnus Kirk Watson (’80, JD ’81) was elected mayor of the Lone Star State’s capital in a tight run-off election at the end of 2022 between two experienced Travis County Democrats. Watson, a former state senator and now Austin’s new mayor, was selected by
Kirk Watson’s Return: The Baylor Grad Is Back In the Austin Mayor’s Chair Read More »
Originally from Missouri, she has two siblings: a brother and an identical twin sister. In high school, Grace was very involved in organizations (student council, FCA, prom committee, VP) and sports (golf, basketball, soccer). She had success in writing throughout high school by winning essay contests; this made her want to major in Journalism. Grace,
Meet Grafton Craighead. Growing up, she was no stranger to Baylor University. Baylor is a family tradition for Grafton; both of her parents attended Baylor, and her older brother graduated from Baylor this past year. Both Grafton and her identical twin sister are undergraduate students at Baylor, planning to graduate in 2025. Originally from Jefferson
A Student’s Journey from Injury to Passion: Grafton Craighead Read More »
Dylan grew up in Parker, Texas. With many family members attending Baylor, Dylan knew it was pretty clear that he would at least be considering Baylor. What motivated his final decision, though, was his acceptance into the Baylor Business Fellows program. Dylan has been a Baylor sports superfan since he was young, but he
Baylor Homecoming has been in my life since I can remember. Having alumni parents, I have been raised to bleed green and gold, which entails going back to campus in October for homecoming festivities. Now, as a student, I realize the hype and get to experience the weeklong celebration in such a different way.
The Busiest, Craziest Time To Be A College Student Read More »
Alexandra Laurence fell in love with college football at an early age. She grew up going to games and cheering on the Bears. As a fourth generation Baylor Bear with multiple relatives playing on the Baylor football team, it was easy for Alexandra to want to be a part of it all. Over the
A senior interior design major from White Oak, Anna Dusek, chose Baylor before she chose her major. As a fourth generation bear, Anna says that she never felt pressure from her family to attend Baylor; they just simply showed her the kind of experience she could have that they had experienced themselves. Anna first
Corbevax, a low-cost coronavirus vaccine created in Houston by two Baylor scientists, could be a better weapon against Covid-19 by reaching the unvaccinated in poorer countries.
Despite all obstacles, the war correspondent was devoted to getting the story and relentless in following it to the end.
Her untimely death meant the world might never truly know her. Until now…
The 2022 Young Alumna of the Year explains why she finds it so important to use her voice as a creator of justice and joy, compassion, and peace.
Friends, Fear. It’s something we all struggle with. Personally, my biggest fear is being “found out” as a “fraud,” even though such fear is not warranted or even logical. For instance, despite my qualifications, experience, and passion, I rarely feel qualified to write these opening Editor’s Notes. I fear someone, one day, will call me
Baylor University’s Black Gospel Music Preservation Program has digitized more than 36,000 copies of classic black gospel songs, preserving them for future generations.
Spirit has been meeting soul in supernatural ways since 1988 at Baylor through the Heavenly Voices choir of gospel-singing students Sing out! Shout! Tell the world the good news! Lift every voice and sing! That’s been the goal of Baylor’s Heavenly Voices Gospel Choir from the group’s humble inception in 1988, and it will forever
Chet Edwards discusses his time in politics and the lessons he learned from a lifetime of legislating, leading, and living boldly for the right reasons Editor’s note: This interview was conducted for our December 2021 Living Legacy event. Chet graciously agreed to be our first guest in the hot seat, though, he did note that
Friends, Wow. What you hold in your hands now is truly going to be a treat. This issue defies categorization, description, even my wildest hopes of what it could become. Together the stories incased in these pages demonstrate just how truly awesome the Baylor Family is when everyone — and I mean everyone — is
Editor’s Note: For now over 75 years, Baylor Line has been publishing vivid storytelling from across the Baylor Family. I don’t think our archives full of deep, inspirational features should live solely on shelves, so we are bringing them back to like in BL Classics. In this installment, enjoy a trip back in time to
“Campbell was synonymous with football in Texas. He’ll be missed by many.” Dave Campbell was the Shakespeare of sportswriters, a wordsmith whose columns informed, entertained, and captivated his loyal readers for almost 70 years. During his legendary, 40-year career as the sports editor of the Waco Tribune-Herald and the founder of Texas Football magazine in
Since moving to Corpus Christi in 2020, Robert Morales and his wife have discovered that they love being on the water. The couple own a small pontoon, and when the weather is right, they’ll set sail in the bay near their home. “The cool thing is that when you’re out there, you get to see
Robert Morales is Looking for Small Miracles in Life Read More »
During Welcome Week at the start of her freshman year, Karen Jones remembers hearing a speaker talk to the eager new Baylor Bears about striving for balance. “They spoke about finding balance in your physical, spiritual, and mental self,” she says. “I have thought back on that many times over the years.” When she’s felt
J. Andrew Rice – the full moniker of the Baylor alum and Baylor Line supporter who goes by “J” – is a guy who appreciates the gifts of life. “Life is mysterious,” Rice says. “But you begin to know that there’s some order to the universe. It’s an adventure to find that out as you
Without our Torchbearer members, Baylor Line could not exist. They are a life blood to us all, rich in legacy, wisdom, support, and energy. Too often though, they are known in name-only by most of the Baylor Family. We’d like to introduce you to three Bears who were handed the torch and did something with
Tony Pederson has served Baylor Line tirelessly for decades in ways big and small, but now he’s in a totally new position. Here’s why he accepted the invitation. It is reasonable to ask why a professor from SMU is president of Baylor Line Foundation. The simple explanation is that it wasn’t planned this way. I
As this first-ever issue of Baylor Line Insider Exclusive reaches you, there will be a terrible thing happening. Most studies show that our New Year’s Resolutions will only survive the first month or so of the year. All that energy and excitement gained around these efforts at the end of 2021 and then they’re gone.
With so much happening in the Baylor Family, I thought I would take this opportunity to provide clarity on the most important ways you can play your role in making it even better. Because of you, we’re doing more than ever! It is exciting to see the Baylor Line team performing at such high levels
It is with great sadness we mourn the loss of a larger-than-life leader: Wayne Tucker (‘85), Baylor Line Foundation’s Incoming President and a friend to so, so, so very many across the Baylor Family and the globe. “Wayne was an important and valued member of Baylor Line Foundation’s family in so many ways,” said Allen
The Associate Professor of Ensembles and Director of the Golden Wave Band sat down for an interview about struggles, success, and how he has stuck to the things he loves. This interview has been edited for clarity and space. To hear the entire conversation, visit baylorline.com/isaiahinterview Jonathon Platt: Isaiah, could you tell us just a little
“At some point in their Baylor journeys, practically all of our students have taken a class in Tidwell, which houses some of our core disciplines, and we are grateful that this Baylor tradition will continue on for future generations because of their generosity.” These remarks, delivered by President Linda Livingstone at the re-dedication ceremony for
1. “KAYE!” Curtis watched as the fall happened in slow motion, her name erupting from his lips without even realizing it. No matter how fast he tried to move, he knew it was too late. Despite a running leap, Kaye hadn’t fully made it across a five-foot gorge. Before Curtis’s eyes, the woman he had
Editor’s note: In place of a traditional, first-person essay, we have included an “exit interview” of sorts with Laura Hilton Hallmon (‘96, JD ‘99), our out-going president of Baylor Line Foundation. Laura’s time as president began in June 2019, when the world was still “normal.” Since then, she has led us with grace, strength, and
Dear Friends: It’s on all of our minds: What will life look like when we finally (hopefully, soon) emerge from the Covid-19 crisis? How will things be different? How will they go back to how they used to be? Have you given much thought to considering how your life could not just be different, but
This week, Jon is joined by his very first Baylor professor, Dr. Eric Holleyman. They discuss how Dr. H seemingly stumbled upon his life’s “calling,” the many turns his career took and what those changes and challenges taught him, and how scripture can guide you in life’s most important pursuits.
Dr. Eric Holleyman On How To Find Your “Calling” Read More »
Make sure you check out the upstairs. There’s so much potential for that space.” These are some of the final words Craig Cunningham (‘08) said to me before I stepped into the role of editor-in-chief of Baylor Line Magazine. He gave no deeper explanation. Confused, I asked for the keys to this “upstairs” on my
A Place To Call Home: A Tour of Baylor Line Foundation’s New Offices Read More »
Hero, mentor, friend — Dr. Robert C. Cloud (MS ‘66, Ed.D. ‘69) was all three of these to me. His influence, teachings, kindness, and care substantially shaped my life and my professional career. I first met Dr. Cloud, or RCC as he often playfully referred to himself as to others, in 1989 when I enrolled in
In February and March of 1941, Julius “Jules” Bledsoe might have been the biggest name to visit the Baylor University campus. Bledsoe’s upcoming appearance in Waco Hall on March 13 merited a front-page story in The Lariat, trumpeting the singer’s many accomplishments, calling him “one of the greatest concert and opera singers of the present
Unprecedented. This is the word many use to describe the spring of 2020. Yet, while COVID-19 is a novel virus, an era of pandemic is not unknown to the world. “For the most part scientists believe [the 1918 flu] first spread in Kansas around March 1918, and was particularly noted in a local army camp.
“Her loving heart and wonderful sense of humor were truly a gift to us all.” This is how Laura Hallmon (’96, JD ’99), President of the Baylor Line Foundation, will remember Barbara “Babs” Baugh, who was called Home in the early hours of Sunday, June 14. “It is with a heavy heart that [we learned]
Judge McCall was president when I arrived at Baylor in 1972. I never spoke to him, though the door to his office in Pat Neff Hall was always open. I never attended one of his weekly “open” lunches at the old snack bar in the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum. But like every
Three months ago (or, wait, was that just a few week?), Baylor made a decision that changed the academic lives of current seniors. Administrative leaders decided to postpone the May 2020 commencement. “With the CDC’s Sunday guidance that no mass gatherings with 50 people or more should be held in the United States for the
“Bittersweet doesn’t even come close”: Seniors Respond To Cancelled Commencement Read More »
“Well…now what?” In the midst of Baylor’s transition to online classes for the remainder of the semester, many students and alumni are asking this same question. Although what we are experiencing is all unprecedented, Baylor faculty are working diligently to answer that question. One example is Baylor’s journalism, public relations, and new media department, which
Navigating the New Normal: How One Department Is Adapting to Online Instruction Read More »
We are now entering uncharted territory for Baylor. On March 11, 2020, Baylor University students, faculty, staff, and community at large, experienced the personal effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “Spring Break for students has been extended through next week. The spring semester will resume on Monday, March 23; however, classes will be provided strictly
Baylor Cancels Classes As Coronavirus Fears Grow Read More »
Students from around the world will attend an international environmental science meeting over spring break, run “by students, for students” to present their research and collaborate. The 9th Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Young Environmental Scientists (YES) Meeting is being organized by three Baylor environmental science students: Oviedo, Florida Ph.D. student Bekah Burket,
Miriam Laeky, an Allen senior, used to not have an interest in politics, but after the presidential election in 2016, she knew she had to step up. So she decided to run for county commissioner. Her parents are both immigrants who came to America to escape their government and civil war between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Miriam Laeky is focused on more than just midterms Read More »
“Jakey? Jackie? What does this say?” Rosie asked. “Jakey? No, it’s Jackie,” Belinda said with a laugh. “Jackie!” Rosie called to the waiting customers between chuckles. Rosie Garcia and Belinda Olivares are two supervisors at the Starbucks in Moody Memorial Library. But they are known all around campus. Rosie and Belinda’s gentle smiles, familiar laughs,
Coffee, customers, and family: Baylor’s best baristas Read More »
Guys talk about sports and girls talk about boys. Some things about college culture are the same wherever you go – even 7,000 miles away. “College students make some incredible cross-cultural missionaries. You could take a college student and drop them on a campus almost anywhere and the country’s culture might be different but it’s
Why in the World: CRU flies students to Asia in 2020 Read More »
All University Sing is a Baylor tradition that alumni and students both are familiar with, but are the Sing productions today the same as they once were? Kristin Dreyer Anderson (‘92) was Sing Chair her junior year in 1991 when her organization, Pi Beta Phi, paired with Sigma Chi. Anderson expressed how Sing has become
You never know who your boss might be. Often times students think their future boss is off in another city — a distant stranger. But what if you have already met them? What if you see them every day? During a panel discussion, Baylor alumni discussed the full-time jobs they received based on connections made
They met freshman year, at the beginning of 2010, in Kevin Dougherty’s sociology class. Dougherty referred to his classroom as “the neighborhood” and would have the students switch seats for the first few weeks so that they could get to know each other, Lauren Lara (’13) explained. “And so then I met Carlos. And the
As a full-time student, balancing schoolwork, social life and extracurriculars is hard enough. But creating, owning and growing a company adds another level of complexity and adventure to a student’s life. Baylor’s 1846 Business Incubator has “the goal of helping student entrepreneurs develop feasible, sustainable and profitable businesses,” its website says. The Incubator accepts a
Businesses in the Making: Baylor’s 1846 Incubator Program Read More »
Families burdened with bags full of home décor rush past Bobby. Less than a hundred feet away from the Magnolia Silos, Bobby receives little more than a passing glance as tourists move past, many avoiding eye contact completely. It appears as if some sort of barrier separates Bobby from the crowds surrounding him. Commonly referred
Maybe one conversation can burst the Baylor bubble Read More »
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjGnvjqpQvo[/embedyt] Video by Olivia Bragg It’s not every day that two American black bears have a university-wide birthday party. Lady and Joy turned 18 and 19 this week, the same weekend as the university they mascot for turned 175. And to celebrate, Baylor threw a party with ice cream, photo ops and free shirts.
Dr. D.M. Edwards has been consecutively donating to Baylor longer than some current students’ parents were alive. Since 1974, Edwards’ scholarships have totaled over $1 million to help students in various fields — athletes, legacies, library interns, the school of music, nursing and students from Smith County. Fittingly, he was named Philanthropist of the Year.
Million-Dollar Alumni: Dr. D.M. Edwards wins Philanthropist of the Year Read More »
The abandoned building that housed Waco Community Baptist Church was a glorified antique decoration, infested with rats. But that didn’t stop Danielle and Travis Young from transforming it into a hip new eatery. Snugly situated on Elm Avenue in East Waco and surrounded by buildings that seem untouched in many years, lies Revival Eastside Eatery.
The Baylor icon and wife to Dave Campbell died January 5 after several years of declining health. Reba Campbell occupies a special place in Texas journalism as part of the vanguard of women who broke barriers in news reporting in the post-World War II era. She believed that women could cover hard news and shouldn’t
Reba Campbell, Pioneering Journalist and Teacher, Is Dead at 95 Read More »
A new book details the personal and societal musings of the late Frank Guittard, the legendary professor who taught at Baylor for nearly 40 years in the early 20th century. Originally travelling down to Texas from rural Ohio as a young man, Guittard quickly established himself as a mainstay in Waco by founding and becoming
Review: “A Ph.D.’s Reverie” by Charles Francis Guittard Read More »
Walker Leigh Knight, the Baylor-educated writer and editor whose epic poem The Peacemaker includes the once widely quoted phrase “Peace, like War, is Waged,” died in Atlanta shortly before Christmas. He was 95. When President Jimmy Carter incorporated Knight’s iconic line into the signing ceremony of the 1979 Israeli-Egyptian Peace Treaty, the next day’s Washington
Walker Knight, Groundbreaking Editor of Baptist Publications, Has Died Read More »
They were calling it “Baylor’s greatest victory of all time” as most of the record 81,000 watchers in the fabulous Sugar Bowl still stared in shocked disbelief at the stadium scoreboard which read: “Baylor 13, Tennessee 7.” “I’ll buy that,” said exultant Baylor Coach Sam Boyd. To see Baylor win the Southwest Conference title and
Former Baylor football player and distinguished alumnus was on the field for the Bears’ first Sugar Bowl game 63 years ago – and he remembers it like it was yesterday Baylor’s upcoming Sugar Bowl encounter with Georgia brings back many memories for Jerry Marcontell, who played an integral role in the Bears’ 13-7 upset of
All these years later, all 63 of them, the 1957 Sugar Bowl game between Baylor and Tennessee holds a magical grip on Baylor alumni and fans of a certain age. To this day, the 13-7 upset over the No. 2-ranked Volunteers of Bowden Wyatt remains the highest-rated win in Baylor bowl history. The game was
Looking Back: What Baylor’s 1957 Sugar Bowl Victory Means in 2020 Read More »
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxLF2XAAeWQ[/embedyt] Video and photo by Olivia Bragg. I don’t like Christmas music. My friends tease me about it, but I only like three songs: “Go Tell It on the Mountain” by Penny and Sparrow, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey and “Baby It’s Cold Outside” by Michael Bublé and Idina
Full Circle: Christmas at the Silos freshman to senior year Read More »
Photos and video by Olivia Bragg [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qqd0qOmTp34[/embedyt] [envira-gallery id=”10156″] Besides Christmas on 5th finally falling on the 5th of December, this annual event hosted on Baylor’s campus was a continuation of tradition. Christmas on 5th is more than an excuse for couples to walk around campus under the string lights. It’s a platform for
Christmas Camels: A walk through Baylor’s Christmas on 5th Read More »
When Jim Bryson got fired from his marketing research job two years after he graduated Baylor (’83), he didn’t know what he’d do. But he couldn’t have guessed that 33 years later, he would be married with four kids – three adopted from Russia and one that doctors told him would be impossible. Or that
Parenting and Poverty: Highs and lows with Jim Bryson Read More »
Everyone has a box of keepsakes. Sweet notes. Old pictures. Sentimental cards. Baylor graduates Jon Mark and Michelle Buckner aim to take the sentiment one step further withopening their stationary store and custom letterpress studio. Upon returning to Waco in 2018, the couple opened shop on a quaint little corner off Franklin Avenue. The bright
Creativity & Hospitality: Waco welcomes January Letterpress Read More »
Photo provided by Associated Press Nervous fans thought Baylor’s season could derail after the devastating loss to Oklahoma earlier in November. Matt Rhule answered that concern convincingly last Saturday, when the Bears throttled the Texas Longhorns in front of a packed McLane Stadium. This game came down to each team’s QB, and perhaps the most
Bears Wrangle Longhorns as Brewer and Ehlinger Go Toe to Toe Read More »
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_mnrHozz2g[/embedyt] Sometimes God helps the stupid. Denitia Blount’s business is more than a local Waco juice store. It’s a ministry. Oh My Juice (OMJ) was birthed out of a car crash, pain and sickness. Following a back-fusion surgery, a minor accident threw Blount into pain every day for five years. “I never experienced
From Pain to Pineapples: How Denitia Blount pioneered Oh My Juice Read More »
Yes, Quidditch, the sport from the book and movie series Harry Potter. Club sports provide a route for athletic students to engage in the Baylor community in competition with each other and schools from around the country. The clubs range from familiar to foreign sports. But one club team on Baylor’s campus shines in its
House Games: An inside look at Baylor’s Quidditch team Read More »
The undefeated Baylor Bears took on the TCU Horned Frogs in Fort Worth on Saturday morning in what would become an instant classic. The Bears were riding high on 8 straight wins to start the season, but Matt Rhule knew that coming into their rival’s stadium meant anything could happen. Expecting the unexpected, Rhule took
Baylor Escapes TCU in Triple Overtime Rivalry Classic Read More »
Photo provided by Our Daily Bears The Baylor men’s basketball team has been the standard for consistency over the past decade, reaching the NCAA tournament in seven of the last 10 years. And yet they haven’t made a truly deep run in almost 10 years under coach Scott Drew. Could this be the year that
Strolling down Austin Avenue, you can’t help but notice the neon sign that reads “cookies” and the sweet smell that quickly follows. Hanna Austin, a second semester junior at Baylor University, opened shop last summer when her original cookie recipe took Waco by storm. Bittersweet was founded from the quest to create the perfect chocolate
Baylor hosted the West Virginia Mountaineers on Thursday night in what turned out to be a scary game for the undefeated Bears team. The Bears snuck out with a 17-14 victory over a rebuilding Mountaineers team, leaving many fans questioning if Baylor’s success thus far has been a charade. In the spirit of Halloween, we’re
Baylor Escapes West Virginia in Halloween Thriller Read More »
Photos by Olivia Bragg and Andi Risk It’s not often that you find Waldo and Nemo in the same place. Or Brooklyn and Bailey separated. Or find the secret service standing stoically in the student section. But for Baylor’s game against West Virginia, it wasn’t hard to find lots of things – including clever costumes
In the midst of colligate and professional football season being in full swing, many Americans might not know that the Rugby World Cup is currently being held in Japan. With a fanbase of 450 million worldwide, rugby has become an international sport, and we don’t have to look far to find its influence in our
We’re just past the halfway point in the College Football season. Let’s take a look at how things are shaking out in the Big 12. Kansas (3-5 Overall, 1-4 in Big 12) Kansas is a basketball school, and that’s alright. Finding themselves at the bottom of the pile once again, Kansas is simply not
How a student editor challenged segregation on the front page of the Lariat Ella Wall Prichard’s voice has a high pitch. Her gait is the stride of a woman with a purpose. She is always smiling, always dressed elegantly, always ready to help. Meeting Prichard in passing, she may not strike you as someone whose
As we scaled the mountain pass, we heard what sounded like an avalanche. The trees were obscuring our view – we couldn’t tell what was ahead of us. “Should we go back?” my girlfriend Andi asked me. I shook my head, and we continued upward. The sounds intensified the higher up we climbed. I could
One More Mountain: A Month-Long Road Trip Through the American West Read More »
Waco, Texas is known for a few things: A massive cult siege in the 1990’s, a wildly popular home improvement show on HGTV, and Baylor University. Driving around Waco, you see little to do with the first, and a lot to do with the second two. “Fixer Upper” is a show in which the undeniably
The Real Fixer Upper: How Matt Rhule Resurrected Baylor Football Read More »
In 2017, Julie Copenhaver quit her stable job working at Baylor and decided to travel the world. She purchased a storage shed and packed up her life in Waco, the place she had called home since college, and traded in her life for a dream many would find daunting. The seed was planted at a
Trust The Net: How Julie Copenhaver quit her job to photograph the world Read More »
At the whiteboard, Jon is demanding answers. Six months ago, he came up with an idea: to tell the untold stories of Baylor, using a podcast. In the time that followed, Jonathon Platt, currently a journalism graduate student at Baylor, developed a team for this pursuit. I joined Behind The Bear in February 2017 as
New Podcast Introduces Grads To A Baylor They Never Knew Read More »
Oversized couches scatter the second floor of Castellaw Communications Center. In the spring and fall semesters, students set up shop here between their classes and a buzz hiis the hallways In the summer, though, the buzz disappears. The hallways are empty, the couches lonely. In early June, I sat on one of those couches waiting
May 24, 2016 That evening, they met behind Robinson Tower to avoid being seen. The group of men entered the back of the building and made their way up towards a conference room. This would be Art Briles’ last-ditch effort to explain his side of the story. A handful of Regents were present, with others
Today, you’ll find Interstate 35, the Texas Ranger Museum, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, Baylor Law School, Baylor’s Mayborn Museum Complex, Grant Teaff Plaza, Baylor athletic complexes and stadiums, Lake Brazos Park, and the Waco Riverwalk. But for the most of the twentieth century, hundreds of mostly Hispanic workers made their homes here. Exactly zero square
As the 43rd governor of Texas, and the fourth Baylor graduate to serve in that state office, Mark White ushered in education reforms that still impact schools, including limits on elementary class size, the “no pass, no play” policy for high school athletes, and the first-ever statewide testing standards. For White, age 77, who died
There are a lot of things people might be surprised to learn about Jack Dillard. For one, he was an avid scuba diver. I never talked with him about it after he became unable to walk with ease, but I suspect that one of his great regrets later on was that he could no longer
Anyone looking for total objectivity here should probably read something else. I cannot reflect on the life of my sister Nancie Wingo ’54, who died last Christmas Eve morning, without thinking she may have been the best example Baylor ever produced in the matter ofloving, respecting and appreciating the people of a currently much maligned
BAYLOR JUSTIFIABLY TAKES PRIDE IN THE QUALITY OF ITS TEACHERS. So we built a list of 26 Baylor professors who have been granted Master Teacher status by the university, 23 professors who were chosen to win the Collins Award by the senior class, and nine winners of the Cornelia Marschall Smith Award. Individual departments and
It’s a key indicator for the NCAA basketball tournament selection when they’re picking – and seeding – teams for March Madness. And over the past five years, Baylor Basketball ranks in the Top 10 nationwide for average strength of schedule. The responsibility for building that schedule falls to assistant coach Sam Patterson ’08, MSED ’10,
