News

Even though Baylor has been classified as a “Research 1,” or R1, university only since December 2021, our recognition as a top research institution continues to grow.

Service is a big part of a Christian’s call to engage with the world. At Baylor, students learn to connect their technical and professional skills with the needs of others — specifically, those in the Waco community. Baylor Magazine recently highlighted three such discipline-based services offered by different Baylor departments, ranging from law and tax services […]

Every Opening Day signals the start of something new in college baseball, but this year brings added change and excitement for Baylor baseball. It’s the start of a new era under Mitch Thompson, the longtime Baylor assistant (and national championship-winning head coach at McLennan Community College) who was named the 20th head coach of Baylor […]

Whether performing on stage as some of history’s most significant figures or giving life to characters in productions written by some of America’s legendary playwrights, Baylor professor Sam Henderson (BFA ’05) has built a dual career — giving life to these voices, and preparing students to do the same. On campus, Henderson serves as an […]

In December during two Commencement ceremonies, we conferred nearly 1,300 degrees on newly minted Baylor graduates who now are flinging their green and gold afar as Baylor Alumni.

If you pay even a little attention to college athletics, you’ve probably heard the term “NIL” recently. But what is it? And what does it mean for Baylor? We’re here to walk you through the basics with a little “Baylor NIL 101” via a quick, three-question FAQ: What is “NIL”? NIL stands for “Name, Image […]

Last year, we wrote about Baylor’s plans to address many of the priorities named by the Commission on Historic Campus Representations — recommendations aimed at more completely telling the history of the university, particularly with regards to some early leaders’ slaveholding past. Last week, the university released the first detailed renderings of an addition to […]

Pop quiz: Which first-year NFL player led all rookies in tackles in 2022, finishing 11th overall? If you know the answer, chances are you’re a Houston Texans fan. But if you predicted this would happen before the season started — you’re probably a Baylor Bear. That standout rookie is Baylor’s own Jalen Pitre (BBA ’20, MSED […]

Scholarship programs like the Fulbright, Truman, and Goldwater are among the most prestigious (and competitive) in the nation. Baylor set a school record last year with 14 Fulbright recipients, recorded its first Truman Scholar in 15 years, and added to that list Goldwater, Critical Language, Churchill and Boren award winners. Such honors are great starts […]

Texas weather is often described as, “Wait five minutes, and it’ll change!” Just a few weeks ago, our temperatures were in the 80s, but we know how quickly the weather can remind us that it is indeed winter.

Ask any Baylor alum about their favorite campus traditions, and you’re likely to hear Dr Pepper Hour mentioned pretty quickly. The combination of the soft drink invented in Waco and ice cream that makes a Dr Pepper float — plus a little fellowship with friends and coworkers… What’s not to love? For 70 years now, […]

If you want to reach students, you can’t be afraid to try new things. Baylor has struck an incredible balance of holding on to what’s most important (our faith, emphasis on teaching, etc.) while growing and improving across the board (Exhibit A: R1 status). Higher ed leaders across the country are noticing Baylor’s efforts — […]

Every year, higher education leaders at Baylor and across the nation survey the previous spring’s graduating class to determine how well students are finding jobs, grad school slots, internships and more to further their careers and set a strong post-undergraduate foundation. For Baylor, the numbers are in — and Baylor graduates are excelling. With 100% […]

In light of some recent crimes that have occurred off campus, I want to reassure you that Baylor takes the safety and security of our students, faculty, staff and visitors very seriously.

Every college student needs practical help with scholarships, housing or some other financial issue at some point during their time on campus. Definitions, deadlines, deposits and more are all easier to navigate with some help — which Baylor One Stop now provides, right in the heart of campus. Think of Baylor One Stop as a […]

Once again, Baylor Law has led the state of Texas with the highest percentage of students passing the bar exam. The most recent results are from July 2022, when 96% of Baylor Law students — 95 out of 99 first-time test-takers — passed the bar. Of course, this is nothing new for Baylor Law. The […]

Baylor graduates make an impact in virtually any field you can think of; this year’s Baylor Alumni Award winners are no different, with recipients leading the charge in fields as diverse as the military, space exploration, community service, and Texas Baptist life. Congratulations to this year’s honorees: Alumnus of the Year: Maj. Gen. Joel Carey […]

We've been welcomed back to Waco for the spring semester by spring-like weather, free-flowing I-35 traffic and food-delivery robots traversing campus. I hope all are signs for a fun, transformational semester!

Anyone who has visited the doctor in recent years — whether in-person or virtually — can see that the ways patients and doctors share information is changing. From online patient portals to computerized files medical professionals can reference while talking to the patient, new technologies ensure that everyone involved is both adopting and adapting together. […]

The end of each year brings with it a series of lists that bibliophiles eagerly await — a rundown of the year’s best books. Baylor professors are often honored on these “best of” lists, on a wide variety of topics. For 2022, two books authored by Baylor faculty members earned recognition from Christianity Today and […]

Greetings from the River Walk in San Antonio, where I am participating in the annual NCAA Convention this week.

Chapel has been a significant part of the Baylor experience since the very beginning, and it remains an important part of each Baylor student’s experience. But after 175+ years, the size and setup of Chapel looks different than it did in 1845 — and probably different than when you attended. Why? Because campus now is […]

What role does grip strength play in predicting an individual’s overall health? While it’s just one small physical feat of many a human can perform, it can actually tell researchers a lot — and thanks to Baylor professor Paul Gordon, researchers now have the data to understand why it matters. Dr. Paul Gordon serves as […]

It’s been nearly a month since my last weekly Presidential Perspective, and I hope you had a wonderful (and restful!) Christmas break and are ready for all 2023 has in store for Baylor University.

How has 2022 already come and gone?!? As the calendar rolls over into 2023, let’s take one last look back at the year, through the lens of our favorite photos from Baylor’s official Instagram account. Here are our top 10 Baylor Instagram photos of 2022: No. 10: Starting off the school year right with a […]

Bowl season is here, and for the 11th time in 13 years, Baylor is a part of it. The Bears earned a berth in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, taking on the Air Force Falcons this Thursday, Dec. 22, in Fort Worth. It’s an intriguing matchup that sees two of the nation’s best rushing […]

After the lesson plans, essays and recommendations from student teachers across the country were put to the test, it was a Baylor alum who emerged from the best of the best. Emily Blackwell (BSEd ’22) earned the National Student Teacher of the Year Award for 2022 after a competitive process that included samples of her […]

‘Tis the season to be jolly and spread some Baylor Christmas cheer! If your loved one is part of the Baylor Family, here are a few gift ideas that are certain to make them light up: 1. For the Bear that’s graduating (or any grad), this Baylor alumni hat is a great gift. (The Baylor […]

For well over half a century now, the combined choirs and orchestra of Baylor’s School of Music have heralded the arrival of Christmas with a joyful worship performance. This month, a newly produced version of the award-winning “A Baylor Christmas” will make its national broadcast premiere, airing on 80+ stations across 28 states. Last December, […]

With Baylor football playing in this year’s Armed Forces Bowl, this seemed as good a time as any to look back at BU’s long history of connections to the U.S. military via the BaylorProud archives. Whether it’s preparing students for service to our country, or alumni who have dedicated (and even given) their lives serving […]

When Baylor Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades talks about building “Champions for Life,” he means it. After leading the Big 12 Conference in Graduation Success Rate (GSR) eight straight years, Baylor student-athletes again tied the school record for GSR in 2022, finishing second in Texas (behind only Rice) and No. 13 nationally among Power Five […]

If all goes according to plan, humanity’s first construction on another world could come from the mind of a Baylor Bear. Austin-based ICON, a 3D-printing construction company, was recently awarded a nearly $60 million NASA contract to research and develop space-based construction systems that support planned exploration of the Moon and beyond. The co-founder and […]

Here at Baylor, celebrating Christmas is serious business. Exhibit #1,845,254: the Christmas trees you’ll find decorated all around campus. Let’s take a look around, shall we? First up, we have perhaps the most Instagrammable tree on campus. You can find students snapping pictures here day and night, capturing the beauty of both the tree and […]

This is our last Presidential Perspective of the semester as we begin final exams. This fall has just flown by, but what an exciting semester we’ve had together as we fully emerged from the long effects of the pandemic.

There’s no bigger name in the museum world than Smithsonian, with their famous collections lining the National Mall in Washington. What you might not know is that they have affiliate museums around the nation — a roster that now includes Baylor’s Mayborn Museum. The Mayborn was named earlier this fall as a Smithsonian Affiliate, one […]

For the fourth consecutive year, Baylor Volleyball is one of the last 16 teams standing in this year’s NCAA tournament. The Bears protected their home court at the Ferrell Center this weekend, defeating SFA and Rice in the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament to advance to the Sweet 16. The Bears’ seventh straight tournament […]

For the 11th time in 13 years, Baylor football is going bowling. The Bears will face Air Force in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 22 (6:30 p.m., ESPN) at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth. The game is a unique one among bowls, with its focus on the military extending far […]

The most wonderful time of the year has officially arrived! Thursday night, Baylor kicked off the Christmas season with the beloved tradition Christmas on 5th Street. From the snow zone to the musical performances and, of course, the live nativity, the heart of campus will filled with Baylor students, faculty/staff, their families — and plenty […]

As we wind down the fall semester, we also begin the Christmas season at Baylor. This is truly a special time on our campus that prepares our hearts in celebration of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.

The list of schools to make U.S. News‘ top 25 for both undergraduate teaching and undergraduate research is a short (and impressive one): Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Duke, Elon, Michigan — and Baylor. In their latest rankings, U.S. News put Baylor at No. 16 nationally for undergraduate teaching and No. 21 for undergraduate research/creative projects. […]

For the seventh straight year — and the fifth time in six years as a top-16 seed — Baylor volleyball is headed to the NCAA tournament. Head coach Ryan McGuyre’s team was named the No. 15 overall seed for the 2022 tournament when the bracket was released Sunday night. The Bears will host first- and […]

For so many, Thanksgiving means food, football, and maybe the start of Christmas shopping. But before we get to all that, let’s remember why it’s called “Thanksgiving” — by giving thanks for some of the blessings we, the Baylor Family, have received over the past 12 months: Academically, the highlight of the last 12 months […]

As a Baylor Bear, there’s a pretty good chance your Christmas tree has more than its share of green-and-gold decorations. Now in year seven, the Baylor Traditions Christmas ornament program is certainly keeping our family’s tree covered in BU spirit! This year, there are two new Traditions ornaments available. One, appropriately enough, celebrates Christmas on […]

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday and look toward the light of Christ to be celebrated at Christmas, I wish to express my personal gratitude – as well as to extend the gratitude of everyone on the faculty and staff of Baylor University – to the Baylor Family for your support of our outstanding students and your contributions to fulfilling the mission of Baylor.

This season marks the 20th year that Baylor men’s basketball has been led by Scott Drew — the Big 12’s longest-tenured head coach, and the architect of the greatest rebuild in college basketball history. Five Sweet 16 berths, three trips to the Elite Eight, the 2021 National Championship, and countless student-athletes graduating on to careers […]

If you know anything about the history of Native Americans in what is now Waco, it’s probably that a tribe called the Waco (sometimes spelled “Huaco” or “Hueco”) lived in this area before settlers began moving south and west into Texas. Native American Heritage Month is a great time to learn about those who lived […]

Students who live in Waco have no shortage of attractions to visit or cultural opportunities to enjoy. Some are well-known, while others are hidden gems. So, what does Waco have to offer the next time you visit for the weekend? For more than 1 million Waco visitors each year, that answer begins with Magnolia, and […]

You don’t want to miss Saturday’s football game at McLane Stadium! We’ll have great football weather for an increasingly rare night game, and our Bears will be playing with a berth in the Big 12 Championship Game on the line against No. 23 Kansas State.

At Baylor, our Christian faith is not just a thing we do, another box to be checked — it’s a part of everything we do. Even as Baylor has grown over the last 175+ years, our faith remains the “why” behind what we do — from academics to student life and beyond. Here are seven […]

It’s been almost exactly two years since Baylor football last hosted a night conference game: Nov. 28, 2020. You might remember that one — quarterback Charlie Brewer accounted for 400+ yards and four touchdowns, and Baylor kicked a field goal as time expired to complete a furious comeback and beat Kansas State, 32-31. Saturday, the Bears […]

When NASA released surface images of Pluto in 2015, the world was enthralled with the never-before-seen beauty of the dwarf planet. But it was much more than that for Alyssa Mills, then an undergrad at the University of Maryland (and now a Baylor Ph.D. candidate). The high resolution photos unlocked Mills’ academic passion — and […]

The Baylor University Board of Regents will be on campus today and tomorrow for its quarterly meeting. This is an important group of Baylor volunteers, as they serve as the official governing body of the University and ensure alignment with our Christian mission and financial integrity.

Adam Flagler, Sarah Andrews, L.J. Cryer, Ja’Mee Asberry — there will certainly be familiar names leading the reigning Big 12 men’s and women’s basketball champions when the regular season tips off for both Baylor programs this Monday. But both teams will also heavily feature a few newcomers fans should get to know: Keyonte George, Aijha […]

Gabe Madison’s résumé is the kind Fortune 500 bosses drool over: 22 years at Thomson Reuters, numerous placements on “most powerful business leaders” lists… Her corporate climb was surely on track to the top. That all changed in September when Madison (BBA ’00) left the corporate sphere to lead a nonprofit that aims to redefine […]

If decision-making makes you anxious — whether those decisions be small (like where to eat) or big (like buying a home) — you’re in good company. Dr. Ashley Otto, associate professor of marketing in Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business and a widely published consumer psychologist, feels the same way. So how did Otto learn to […]

We are heading into the final five weeks of the Fall semester, which is generally the toughest part of the academic year. Don’t let the weight of the semester bog you down.

As we noted earlier this fall, the Congressional Award gold medal is the highest honor presented to youth by the U.S. Congress. In September, we shared that young alum Andy Kim (BA ’22) had earned the award — only to learn that he wasn’t the only Bear so honored this year! Welles McDevitt, a freshman […]

From Line Camp to Welcome Week to the Baylor Line and the on-campus living experience, Baylor goes above and beyond to help new students feel like they are truly a part of the Baylor Family. Eyes across the nation are starting to take notice — the most recent being U.S. News, which this year ranked […]

Baylor is home, and every Saturday in the fall is like a mini-family reunion. But Homecoming? That’s the one you really don’t want to miss. Thousands of Bears made their way home to Waco this past weekend for Baylor Homecoming 2022 — and what a weekend it was. For those who couldn’t make it — […]

We ushered in cooler temperatures earlier this week, just in time for our 113th anniversary of Homecoming on the Baylor campus. But you know how Texas weather is – high temperatures will be back in the upper 80s over the weekend, so plan accordingly!

Baylor students come from every state and 100+ countries, and after graduation, they fling their green and gold afar in countless locations around the world. When Baylor alumni recognize one another in the wild — in the airport, on vacation, in the workplace, etc. — there’s a shared understanding of who they are. The Baylor […]

Last week, Dr. Kathy Schwaig — a two-time Baylor graduate — was formally introduced as president of Kennesaw State University, joining an ever-growing number of Bears leading colleges and universities across the nation. Schwaig (BBA ’84, MBA ’86), a Central Texas native, was the third of three sisters to attend Baylor, earning both her business […]

In 1909, Baylor hosted the first collegiate homecoming celebration in the nation. This weekend, we again renew that tradition, as the Baylor Family returns to campus to “catch that Baylor spirit again,” as President Samuel Palmer Brooks famously wrote a century ago. It all begins tonight with Homecoming Worship on Fountain Mall, followed by Dinner with […]

This is one of those weeks in which I’ve had an opportunity to fling Baylor’s green and gold afar.

Alumni returning to campus this month for Homecoming will find Collins Hall looking a little different, as the 65-year-old residence hall is closed this year while undergoing its first major renovation since opening its doors in 1957. At Move-In next fall, the Class of 2027 will be welcomed to a new main entrance from 7th Street […]

Whether you’re looking for a college for yourself (Gen Z) or for your child (Gen X/millennials), you’re going to want a school that you can trust. A recent survey of parents nationwide named Baylor the No. 2 most-trusted major university in the country, joining Princeton, Duke, Notre Dame and Yale in the top five.* While […]

As Baylor’s beloved hometown of Waco continues to grow, it becomes increasingly difficult to answer that ever-impossible riddle that has plagued everyone: “Where do you want to eat?” Six years ago, we attempted to solve the puzzle, and we tried again three years later. But the eatery landscape in Waco has continued to evolve, as […]

For families who have endured the trauma of unsolved crimes, advances in DNA testing have provided hope — but they are still limited in scope. So what’s the next breakthrough in solving cold cases? A Baylor alum and her husband are doing their part to break through the limitations of DNA testing and solve crimes […]

Trying to explain to your friends why Baylor Homecoming is so special? Ask them for 150 seconds of their time, and show them these four videos: Baylor University Homecoming History: All About the Baylor Homecoming Parade: All About the Baylor Homecoming Bonfire: Baylor’s Immortal 10 / Mass Meeting Tradition: And if somehow […]

Election Day is one month away on Tuesday, Nov. 8, providing an opportunity for us to exercise one of our most important privileges and rights as Americans.

The data is clear: Baylor grads are in high demand in the job market right now. Baylor’s Class of 2021, for instance, recorded a remarkable 86% placement rate within six months of graduation. With such numbers climbing higher by the year, you might be saying to yourself, “As a Baylor alum who’s hiring, I’d love to […]

Since 2002, the Baylor Black Alumni Alliance (BBAA) has honored Black alumni who, though service, have earned the respect and approval of their communities and professions. Past recipients of the Rev. Robert L. Gilbert Distinguished Black Alumni Award include Monica “Dr. Moe” Anderson (BA ’84), Walter Abercrombie (BSED ’86, MSED ’92) and Robert Griffin III […]

Strong teams are great at recruiting, and Baylor has been blessed to land multiple “top recruits” in the university’s pursuit of excellence — not just in athletics or the student body, but among the faculty, as well. Last year, Baylor announced plans to hire multiple new endowed chair positions, many of which were made possible […]

Did you know that Baylor’s iconic green and gold can be traced as far back as 1897? As legend has it, a member of the student committee selected to choose the official colors for the University was traveling to a debate tournament by train.

Once again, Baylor has been named a “Great College to Work For” — the 11th time BU has received the honor, based on a national survey released earlier this month. This year, faculty and staff at more than 200 colleges and universities were surveyed for their thoughts on working at those institutions. Their responses were […]

Very few universities today can (or would) claim to be preeminent research institutions that conduct their work for Christ’s glory — but that’s Baylor University today. Recognizing that all truth is God’s truth, our academic strivings and research efforts are all about learning more about what God has made on this earth, and inspired in […]

National Research Administrator Day is celebrated annually on Sept. 25 across the country, but we’ve adopted it as our own at Baylor over the past few years.

Most every Baylor alum knows the university’s motto: Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana — for the church, for Texas. Befitting the Lone Star State’s oldest continuously operating university, our impact has lived out that phrase for more than 175 years in a variety of ways. Today, Baylor is a global university, with research addressing challenges both […]

Picture the dust bunnies that are probably hiding somewhere around your home. (It’s okay to admit it; we all have them.) Now imagine those dust bunnies, but on a cosmic level. Kind of mind-blowing, right? But that’s the basis of Baylor physics professor Lorin Matthews‘ research. Allow us to explain: Dr. Matthews’ research, both theoretical and […]

Life’s challenges come in countless forms: war, intimidating opponents, mental health struggles, addictions, family conflicts — the list goes on and on. We all have to face such challenges at one point or another, but it’s important to remember we are never alone when confronting them. That’s the message of Jonathan Evans‘ (BA ’03) new […]

There’s a position in higher education that’s deeply appreciated by professors and students, but somewhat unsung outside of those with whom they closely interact: the postdoc. “Postdoc” is academic shorthand for postdoctoral researchers, and alongside professors and students, they’re an important part of the research being done at Baylor. In October 2019, Baylor announced the […]

From the “Meet the Faculty” luncheon on Friday through the last note of “That Good Old Baylor Line” after football’s victory Saturday afternoon, Family Weekend 2022 was a whirlwind of green and gold. For those who couldn’t make it (or those who just want to relive it), here’s a look back at some of the […]

When prospective students look to U.S. News & World Report’s college rankings over the coming year, they’ll once again find Baylor among the top universities in the state, conference and country. For the 11th straight year, Baylor has been named one of the top two schools in the Big 12 Conference and one of the […]

This has been a week of big news for the University, so let’s get right to the headlines!

Sometimes we’re told that it can be foolish to have our head in the clouds — but that’s not the case for Baylor’s premier aerospace engineering club, Aero at Baylor. The group introduces aerospace engineering to the next generation of engineers in the Baylor and greater Waco community; they inspire their students to shoot for […]

In just the past couple of years, Baylor alumni have been promoted into top positions with such prominent brands as Michael’s (CEO), TIAA (president & CEO), Freddy’s Frozen Custard (CEO), Walmart (CFO), and ConocoPhillips (EVP). The latest major company to tap a Bear for leadership? Denny’s, as the restaurant chain has promoted John Dillon (BBA ’93) […]

Over the weekend, Baylor’s new 30-second television commercial for 2022-23 made its national debut on ESPN. This year, to stand out in the “sea of sameness” that encompasses most university commercials, Baylor produced a music video as the national spot: The 30-second commercial features a new song, “Run,” by Apollo LTD; a full three-minute version […]

Naomi Skotnikov isn’t your average freshman. Sure, she’s pursuing a health science major, part of Baylor Interdisciplinary Core, and loves all things BU. But she’s also ranked No. 8 in the nation for rhythmic gymnastics (!!!) and is a current member of the USA National Team. This week, we sat down with Naomi to learn […]

I must admit that the First Gent and I are big fans of Baylor Athletics, especially during the week-long build up for a big football game like BYU this Saturday.

The Congressional Award gold medal is the highest honor presented to youth by the U.S. Congress — and recent Baylor grad Andy Kim (BA ’22) is one of this year’s recipients. Developed in 1979, the Congressional Award has been granted by Congress to recognize initiative, service and achievement by young Americans. To earn the honor, Kim […]

Baylor’s growing emphasis on faculty and student research is driven by three factors: Compassion — the desire to help people in countless ways; Curiosity — the desire to learn more about the world God created; and Courage — the desire to go places and tackle issues that others might shy away from. Beyond that, each […]

In July, we mourned the loss of Judge Joy Reynolds, one of our beloved live bears. Her passing was felt across the entire Baylor community and beyond, prompting literally thousands of comments, reactions and memories on social media. Joy’s 21 years of life were spent cheering on Baylor and educating our community on conservation and […]

Baylor is well-known for its in-person teaching, research opportunities and student experience — and it should be; after all, it’s been the core of the Baylor experience for more than 175 years now. But in recent years, Baylor has also begun to offer some online options for graduate studies in fields such as business and […]

To conclude each week we celebrate Spirit Fridays on all Baylor campuses when we encourage the entire Baylor Family to fling their green and gold afar.

As Baylor students returned to campus for the start of the fall semester, many brought back experiences gleaned from real-world research opportunities over the summer. While it’s impossible to capture the breadth of student summer research, here are three opportunities that drew students away from campus and into the field this summer: Addressing Hidden Homelessness […]

While it’s common for incoming freshmen to be welcomed to college by campus leaders, it’s not so common for that encouragement to come in the form of a hymn — but that’s what we do here at Baylor. Since 2008, each incoming class has been welcomed with its own unique hymn, each capturing an aspect […]

The list of superlatives that the Baylor Bears carry into the 2022 football season is pretty glossy, and every fan can proudly recite them: Reigning Big 12 champions Favorites to win the Big 12 again (a program first) Ranked in the preseason top 10 This is rarified air for the Bears. But however lofty the […]

San Antonio and Baylor share a military connection that provides a natural fit for a groundbreaking brigadier general with decades of medical and military leadership. Dr. Deydre Teyhen (DPT ’95) was recently promoted to the rank of brigadier general in the U.S. Army and given command of San Antonio’s Brooke Army Medical Center. Notably, she […]

When Baylor volleyball begins the 2022 season this weekend in the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge, they’ll do so with a talented young team poised to build on a foundation of success under head coach Ryan McGuyre. On the heels of last year’s regional run, the Bears look to reload with numerous young players stepping into […]

We're nearly through the first week of the fall semester!