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, and 30 declined to participate. According to the Baylor Lariat, the decision follows Title IX allegations against Sanders. Randall Bradley has been named interim dean. Sanders will take a paid one-year sabbatical before rejoining the faculty in the 2027–28 academic year.
Lifetime Achievement Award
The 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award has been awarded to Doug Smith by the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD). Smith served as Executive Director of the Bear Foundation for 16 years and later and Senior Associate AD for Development and Major Gifts. He dedicated 22 years to Baylor. Before coming to Baylor, Smith worked in athletic fundraising at Kent State, the University of Pacific, Cal State-Fullerton, SMU, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Rice.
“That was 50 years of my life,” Smith told Baylor Bear Insider. “I guarantee you, there is no one in the business today that’s been in it as long as I was. No one even close.”
Whitten Endowed Lecture Features Sky Perryman
Sky Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward and a Baylor alumna, spoke at the Whitten Endowed Lecture on March 24th.
In her lecture, titled “A Quest for our Better Angels at 250 years: A Journey of People, Promise, and Possibility,” Perryman drew on themes from United States History in the context of the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary. She urged American citizens and Baylor community members to consider questions of justice and warned against “performative peace.”
Bearathon and Road Closures
This Saturday, March 28th, Baylor University will host its annual Bearathon Half-Marathon and Sic ‘Em 6k.
Over 2,000 runners, volunteers, and onlookers will gather together and raise money for the Student Foundation Scholarship fund. The race is known as the “toughest half in Texas,” and the course takes runners all around Waco. Road closures are expected on and around the Baylor campus.
Moody School of Education and Salado ISD Collaboration
As part of a broader effort to partner with school districts across Texas, the Moody School of Education has announced a new partnership with Salado ISD to improve access to quality graduate-level education for district educators.
“We greatly appreciate our partnership with Baylor University to provide graduate school scholarships for our Salado ISD employees,” said Salado ISD Superintendent Michael Novotny, according to Baylor Instant Impact. “Baylor’s online, hybrid, and on-campus programs will also provide our employees the flexibility to choose the instructional option that works best for their learning style and schedule.”
Baylor in the Fulbright Specialist Program
Jonathan Kelber, Ph.D., cancer researcher and molecular biologist at Baylor, has been named to the Fulbright Specialist Program. This prestigious U.S. Department of State initiative connects American scholars with international institutions. Kelber, who is currently an associate professor of biology at Baylor, will serve in Slovakia to advance scientific research in Central Europe.
“Fulbright has been a catalyst for some of the most impactful collaborations of my career, and I’m honored to continue that work by partnering with colleagues who share a deep commitment to improving cancer outcomes worldwide,” said Jonathan Kelber, Ph.D., according to a Baylor Press Release.
Baylor Scientists in the Community
Baylor scientists are bringing science to life for Central Texas students through a series of community-focused STEM events. Researchers have partnered with local students, teachers, and families through hands-on workshops, including a water science demonstration and a mosquito research event.
This Saturday, March 28, Baylor will host Sic ‘Em Science Day at the Mayborn Museum. The event will feature interactive activities, hands-on experiments, and a Chemistry Magic Show. Events like these are designed to spark scientific curiosity in young students while highlighting the real-world impact of Baylor’s ongoing research.
Moot Court Competition
Baylor Law School hosted the Faegre Drinker Spring Moot Court Competition, with the team of Lillian Hawkins and Mackenzie Gillette taking first place. The multi-week competition began February 27 and featured 64 teams and 128 participants, with 26 teams advancing past the initial round.
The event is designed to allow students to sharpen their advocacy skills in a real-world setting.
“It was especially rewarding to see our students rise to the occasion and deliver thoughtful, persuasive arguments at every stage,” said Professor Jessica Kincaid, who coordinated the competition, according to an article from Baylor Law’s webpage.
Autism Research Award
The Dr. Ollie Seay Knowledge Award for Excellence in Research from the Texas Chapter of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDDTX) was recently awarded to Dr. Sarah Mire, PhD, LP, NCSP, LSSP, associate professor in the Department of Educational Psychology in Baylor’s Moody School of Education.
Mire is the founder and director of the School Psychology Austin Research Collaboration, and her research helps improve outcomes for students by equipping the adults, teachers, and caregivers who support them.
“This recognition is very meaningful and deeply humbling,” Mire said, according to Baylor Instant Impact. “I’m sincerely grateful to AAIDDTX for honoring the work I do as part of the Center. I truly hope our research continues to reflect AAIDDTX’s values and contribute in meaningful ways to the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.”
