News

Exciting enhancements are underway at the Williams Bear Habitat that will enrich the visitor experience and celebrate more than a century of Baylor Bears.

Ten Baylor faculty members have been selected as 2026-2027 Baylor Fellows for their excellence in teaching and commitment to advancing Baylor’s mission of transformational education.

Since 1962, Howdy has served as Baylor’s official Texas welcome to new students. With the opening of the Hurd Welcome Center in 2023, the event — presented by Pi Beta Phi and Baylor University — has evolved into a Friday night block party outside the Hurd, anchored each year by a concert from an up-and-coming country artist.

This year’s event featured line dancing, food trucks, a Ferris wheel, cornhole and more on Friday night, topped off with a concert by CMA New Artist of the Year nominee Carter Faith. (Faith followed in the footsteps of such other recent Howdy performers as Bailey Zimmerman and Ty Myers.)

Earlier this month, Baylor University asked on Facebook and LinkedIn: “Which Baylor professor changed the way you thought about your future?”

Nearly 2,000 (!!) comments later, the impact Baylor faculty have on students is evident in both the quantity and quality of the responses.

Baylor University is set to launch an innovative study examining how NIL opportunities are transforming the experiences, character development and well-being of collegiate student-athletes.

A record number of Baylor University students graduated with their degrees in four years, a key component for keeping a highly valued Baylor education affordable and attainable.

Baylor’s rise as a nationally recognized Christian research university continues to attract exceptional scholars, teachers and innovators from across the country and around the world. This fall, a new cohort of faculty — think of them as the Class of ’26 — joined the Baylor Family, bringing expertise that ranges from quantum materials and artificial intelligence to bioethics and sports nutrition.

It’s impossible to spotlight everyone, but meet four of these new faculty members who offer a glimpse into the people choosing Baylor to begin, continue or grow their careers:

Baylor University’s Living-Learning Communities and First-Year Experiences remain firmly among the nation’s Top 10 in the latest U.S. News & World Report 2027 Best Colleges rankings. 

Baylor has always been about family — so it was a joy to welcome thousands of BU parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings and more to campus this past weekend for Family Weekend 2026.

From the new “Wake Up!” coffee crawl, “Meet the Faculty” Welcome Hour, Taste of Waco, After Dark, and Old Dominion concert on Friday, and on through the Family Tailgate and Baylor Football’s win Saturday, the weekend was a joyful celebration of our Bears and their biggest fans.

The power of shared experiences is important in both large and small ways, particularly in the world of sports fandom. It could be as simple as friends gathering for a pregame ritual, sharing a moment together after traveling from near and far before heading into the stadium. For the Baylor faithful, the real value of the Baylor Spirit means showing up for the team they love. 

The notice of passing for the fall 2026 edition. 

Baylor University is one of only 42 institutions earning elite Honor Roll status as one of the nation's best colleges to work for.

While cheering on the sidelines at Baylor’s first home football game this fall, Baylor Spirit Squad member Brooke Walker couldn’t help but feel a cascading swirl of emotions. A little over three years ago, the Baylor junior and competitive cheerleader didn’t know if she would ever be able to cheer or tumble again.

During her junior year at Rockwall-Heath High School near Dallas, Walker experienced a persistent pain in her left leg, which turned out to be an arterial blood clot above her ankle. Surgeons tried to save her foot, but complications arose, and doctors had to amputate her left leg below the knee.

For 75 years, Baylor’s Armstrong Browning Library (ABL) has been a leading destination for Browning scholars from all over the world as a research library devoted to the study of the lives and works of Victorian poets Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

The library is noted for both its breathtaking beauty and for holding the world’s largest collection of books, letters, manuscripts, and memorabilia pertaining to the Brownings, as well as a substantial collection of primary and secondary materials related to 19th-century literature and culture.

Each year, the Baylor Alumni Awards recognize members of the Baylor Family who embody and reflect the power of the Baylor experience. The awards stand as a testament to how the University develops men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community. Read about the 2026 Alumni Award recipients and how they have shown dedication to their callings in remarkable ways. 

Whether pursuing nursing, a pre-med track, health sciences or another healthcare field, Baylor students gain the knowledge, skills, and passion needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving industry. Through hands-on clinical experiences, dedicated faculty mentorship and comprehensive academic opportunities, Baylor equips students to enter practice with confidence and continue growing throughout their careers.

As Baylor’s president from 1995 to 2005 and Houston Christian University’s president during the past 20 years, Sloan left a lasting legacy at the two institutions and more broadly across the landscape of Christian higher education in America.

Choosing Baylor is choosing to be a part of making a better world; Baylor’s mission to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service continues to be at the heart of its academics, its student organizations and the wider community. Learn more about some of the ways the Baylor Family gives back to the Waco community. 

The obituary of Joe L. Spivey, an avid Baylor Bear athletics fan, a charter member of the Endowed Scholarship Society and the Old Main Society, a member of the Baylor Heritage Club and the Baylor Bear Foundation, and a director of the Strecker Museum.

The obituary of Theodore “Ted” Nichols, who is best remembered for his work as music director for Hanna-Barbera Productions from 1963 to 1972, where he helped create the musical soundscape of beloved animated classics including “Jonny Quest,” “The Flintstones,” “Scooby-Doo,” “Where Are You!,” “Space Ghost,” and “Josie and the Pussycats.”

The obituary for Gloriana S. Parchman, who served on the Baylor Fling Committee for eight years, was active in the Baylor Alumni Association, served on the Baylor University Council for Institutional Development, and was a charter member of the Baylor University Women’s Council of Dallas, where she served as its second president.

The obituary of Larry B. Funderburk, who lived a remarkable life of great industry, generosity and adventure.

The obituary of Harold W. Nix, who was a titan of the Texas legal community and a lifelong champion of justice for the everyday person. 

The obituary of Thomas W. Wilkins, who lived a full and meaningful life as a devoted husband, proud father, loyal friend, respected attorney and mentor to many.

The obituary of Margaret E. Hollis, who was, at one time, the only Baylor employee outside of Texas.

Earlier this year, a group of Baylor football student-athletes visited some of the pediatric patients at McLane Children’s Medical Center in nearby Temple, Texas. During the visit, the players and kids colored their own versions of the Baylor bear head logo — and this Saturday, one of those designs will adorn the Bears’ helmets when they take the field.

The artwork was created by 6-year-old ILaria Ramirez of Cameron, Texas (about an hour south of Waco). Ramirez, who was diagnosed with leukemia last year, titled her design “Helmet of Hope.” Her art also features the words “faith,” “victory,” and “strength.”

John David Rainey,  B.B.A. ’93, M.B.A. ’95, was named Alumnus of the Year in the 2026 Alumni Awards. 

Kenyatta Gilbert, B.A. '96, won the Pro Ecclesia Medal of Service in the 2026 Alumni Awards

Brenda Snitzer, B.S.Ed. ’85, M.S.Ed. ’86, was awarded the Pro Texana Medal of Service in the 2026 Alumni Awards.

Biak Nu Sung, M.S.W. '12, was awarded the Pro Mundo Medal of Service as part of the 2026 Alumni Awards.

Twenty-five years after watching the Twin Towers fall, Dr. Marilyn Rhames, a Hankamer School of Business professor, traces how God’s calling led her out of a New York City reporting career and into teaching in Chicago public schools, a faith-based teaching movement, two White House visits — and now to a Baylor podium teaching storytelling.

College is about education, of course — but it’s just as much about the experience.

Thankfully, Baylor excels in both areas — and that’s the message behind the University’s new 30-second television spot, which debuted last weekend on social media and national television:

Before Erik Carter and his family moved to Waco, he spent more than 20 years at major research institutions in metropolitan cities, Vanderbilt University in Nashville and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Entering his fourth year at Baylor, Carter shares more about how Baylor and Waco exceeded every expectation as a vibrant community in which to live, work and put down lasting roots.

Marissa Marquez, B.A. ’04, has been named Senior Counsel of the Year for a Nonprofit or Governmental Agency by the Association of Corporate Counsel Houston Chapter and The Texas Lawbook, recognizing her leadership and impact as an employment attorney.

As one of just 19 universities ranked among U.S. News’ top 40 for both undergraduate teaching and research, Baylor has built a culture where cutting-edge discovery is embedded in the student experience.

When cancer returns after treatment, for some, the roots of its recurrence may be a small population of cells known as cancer stem cells. Researchers believe these cells can act as the “seeds” of future tumor growth, surviving chemotherapy and helping tumors re-emerge after a patient appears cancer-free. 

Positioned in the heart of the dramatically growing Texas Triangle region, Baylor addresses challenges that drive competitiveness in fields expected to see significant growth in the coming decades.

It’s a measure of pride for Baylor that 44 current or retired faculty appear in a prestigious Stanford database highlighting the world’s most-cited researchers, recognizing the top 2% of scholars whose work has been cited by other researchers. 

For Baylor’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing researcher Nicole Gorecki, DNP, APRN, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, understanding how hospitals can better support sleep in intensive care units can lead to improved recovery outcomes.

A first-of-its-kind research and development center will equip service members of the U.S. military to handle complex, multi-sensory environments.

On January 22, 2027, the Baylor Family will mark the 100th anniversary of the bus-train accident in Round Rock, Texas, that took the lives of 10 Baylor students who subsequently became known as the Immortal Ten.

Each year, Baylor Athletics honors a group of former student-athletes, coaches and administrators who achieved excellence in their sports and brought distinction to Baylor.

Basketball season is coming soon and, with it, the chance for Baylor fans to once again cheer on two of the nation’s premier programs.

From championship victories and record-setting performances to draft-day dreams realized, Baylor student-athletes and alumni are making their mark across the sports world.

As we look ahead, here are three things you should know about Baylor’s work in the coming year.

This fall, Baylor hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony in partnership with the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation and Baptist Student Ministry for the grand opening of the new Baptist Student Ministries building at Baylor University. 

Here are a few of our favorite longstanding traditions — favorites of alumni and students alike —  and new opportunities for students to build connections, grow personally and prepare to impact the world.

Baylor students and recent graduates continue to be awarded the most prestigious — and highly competitive — scholarships and fellowships for language study, cultural exploration, graduate studies and impactful research. 

At the regular summer meeting in July, Baylor’s Board of Regents welcomed six new members.

On Aug. 3, Baylor’s Center for School Leadership packed thousands of school leaders and educators into the Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion to launch the most joyful school year yet at Culture of Joy 2026.

Nearly 75 years after attending Baylor University, country music legend Willie Nelson returned to Waco for a homecoming that fans will remember for years to come.

Just one year after uncovering a rare intact Etruscan chamber tomb in central Italy, a Baylor-led archaeological team has made another remarkable discovery. 

The research-backed sleep challenge described in the TEDx Talk by Baylor Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience Michael Scullin, Ph.D., earned the distinction of being recognized as one of the most important contributions toward TED’s “ideas worth spreading.”

From Christmas on 5th on Baylor’s campus to Christmas at the Silos and Waco Wonderland, the Christmas season brings the spirit of the holiday to students, alumni and families throughout Central Texas.

The newly renovated Kokernot Hall debuted this fall, welcoming 159 first-year residents of all majors to its community. 

In 2026, the Baylor Family’s combined support for the University resulted in Baylor’s highest fundraising year: a record-breaking $244.5 million.

The Baylor Line was voted No. 1 in USA TODAY Sports’ 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Walk-Out Tradition, beating 19 other nominees from some of the nation’s most passionate football programs. 

Once again, Baylor’s core curriculum has earned an “A” for the excellence of its core requirements from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni’s (ACTA) What Will They Learn?® (WWTL) project. 

In January, Baylor announced the naming of the Moody School of Education, made possible by a transformational $30 million gift from the Moody Foundation of Galveston, Texas. 

At least one Baylor Bear has played in the NFL every year for the last 90 years. You have to go all the way back to 1936 to find the last time an entire NFL season was played without a Baylor Bear.

This year, there are 15 Bears in the league to start the season: nine on active rosters, one on the injured list, and five more on practice squads. Here are the Bears we’ll be cheering on Sundays:

From getting a head start on housing and academic advising to receiving a $3,000 scholarship, here’s how prospective students can be rewarded for making Baylor their top choice when applying to college. 

Baylor fans have long been known for their great passion in rooting for the Baylor Bears.

As scientists prepare for the next generation of Moon exploration, lunar rovers will play a critical role in discerning which samples are worth collecting and returning to Earth for study. 

ABET accreditation affirms excellence of Baylor undergraduate programs in Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering, and Electrical and Computer Engineering.

For almost a decade now, single-digit numbers have told a story for Baylor Football, and it’s one Baylor fans easily recognize: Single-digit guys are leaders, voted on each year by their teammates. It’s a badge of honor, like a helmet sticker, embodied by past stars such as Jalen Pitre and Terrel Bernard.

As the 2026 season kicks off, a new group of Baylor players have earned the nod from their teammates — six of whom made their presence known quickly, receiving the honor in their first year with the program. On the field and off, get to know the players who will be counted on to lead this year’s team:

Navigating college can be overwhelming, but thankfully Baylor offers resources that are often just a click or short walk across campus away. Whether you need help writing a paper, need a flu shot or have questions regarding your financial aid – we’re here to point you in the right direction. 

During a ceremonial sign unveiling, Baylor University celebrated the naming of the Moody School of Education, made possible by a transformational $30 million gift from the Moody Foundation.

We all knew it. Now the nation knows it, too. In a national vote conducted by USA Today, the Baylor Line run was named the No. 1 pregame walk-out tradition in all of college football, beating such other traditions as Auburn’s War Eagle flight, Colorado’s running Ralphie and Virginia Tech’s “Enter Sandman.”

With so many ways to get involved on campus, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out where to begin. Thankfully, the Student Involvement Center offers not only a great place to start, but also a resource for organizations as well. 

Baylor ranks among the top 20% of universities in the world, according to two recent rankings.

Yes, you read that right. In the first ranking, U.S. News — perhaps best known for its annual evaluation of America’s top colleges and universities — looked around the globe at more than 2,000 universities, and placed Baylor among the top 20% on the planet.

Baylor University is part of a $30 million NSF Science and Technology Center focused on understanding turbulence, a complex phenomenon with applications in fusion energy, astrophysics and hypersonic flight.

DJ Lagway is finally home.

The former five-star prospect grew up around Baylor, thanks to his dad, Derek Lagway (BSED ’01), who played running back for the Bears between 1997-2001. A generation later, the bright lights of the SEC initially drew DJ to the University of Florida. But after two years as the starter there, Lagway traded the orange and blue for the green and gold in January, and he will be Baylor’s starting quarterback this fall.

Lagway’s bloodline and high school rankings have been the headlines. But before the Bears kick off this fall, get to know the junior quarterback who seemed destined to play at Baylor:

For Baylor Volleyball, the 2026 season is the next step in the best era in program history. For 10 straight years, the program has reached the NCAA Tournament — a decade filled with postseason runs, program firsts, all-conference performers, and consistent national recognition under head coach Ryan McGuyre.

The last 10 years includes a Final Four finish in 2019 and four Sweet 16 appearances. This year’s squad begins the year in position to continue those superlatives, beginning the season ranked No. 21 nationally and picked to finish in the upper echelon (No. 4) of the competitive Big 12 Conference.

Running the Baylor Line has been named Best Walk-Out Tradition in college football by the USA Today Sports' 2026 Readers' Choice Awards.

When he was an English major at Baylor, classmates knew the man who would go on to become one of radio’s most prolific interviewers and storytellers as Bob Lewis (BA ’57) — but to generations of Texans, he’s known only by his radio stage name: Tumbleweed Smith.

For 57 years (!!) — until his retirement earlier this year — Bob/Tumbleweed was the host of The Sound of Texas, a program airing on stations across the state. It featured interviews with everyone from movie stars to everyday Texans, and chronicled the depth and breadth of life in Texas. The Baylor alum (and native Wacoan) served as a conduit for unique Texas stories through interviews, as well as his own unique storytelling ability.

What a week! From Move2BU to Welcome Week and then the first day of classes, Baylor and Waco are once again buzzing with activity!

We’re less than a month from Baylor Football’s 2026 home opener (Sept. 12 vs. Prairie View A&M, 7 p.m.) — and fans at McLane will find a host of improvements to the gameday experience this fall.

Welcome Week offers new students an opportunity to get to know their new classmates and Baylor's campus and traditions. 

As mainland Europe witnessed a total solar eclipse Aug. 12, Baylor researchers reported that viewing the 2024 U.S. eclipse increased awe and positive emotion, especially when experienced with others.

Learn how Baylor grads have made a difference across the business world

Located in the heart of the Texas Triangle, America’s fastest-growing megaregion, Baylor is leveraging its position to expand research, develop future leaders and serve the needs of a rapidly growing and economically dynamic region.

From preparing graduates and developing leaders to advancing innovation and building partnerships across education and industry, Baylor is helping meet the workforce needs of a fast-growing state while preparing the talent that will drive Texas' future.

Dr. Jon Eckert believes that he and his team in the Baylor Center for School Leadership have the best jobs in education. The Center, whose goal is to be “the most effective Christian leadership catalyst for educators worldwide,” steers Eckert and his colleagues toward the positive in an ever-changing field that presents its share of challenges for those who teach.

Baylor is known for its incredible student experience, especially for first-year students. A look at what students can expect during their first 100 days on campus illustrates that beautifully:

What happens when a Baylor geologist makes a career pivot to build an apparel and lifestyle brand? You end up with Sendero Provisions Co. — an outdoor lifestyle and apparel brand offering a modern take on Western wear that’s popular with millennial and Gen Z shoppers.

The geologist-turned-entrepreneur? That’s Hunter Harlow (BS ’10), who thought his love for the outdoors would lead him into the oil and gas industry (hence the geology). Instead, he found his calling with a western wear store in downtown Waco that has since exploded into popular culture, partnering with brands like Whataburger.

As schools increasingly become "phone-free," thoughtful policies around phones can improve student engagement, behavior and well-being, notes a Baylor education researcher.

On some level, all research promotes human flourishing. Whether it be scientific research leading to new cancer drugs or cleaner water, engineering research developing new technologies or exploring the final frontier, or ethicists applying insights to address key ethical questions, all research aims to make life better in some fashion — and, clearly, Baylor advances these causes a great deal.

But there’s also research that is specifically about human flourishing — for humanity as a whole, groups of people, specific professions, and more. It’s research that gets to the root of how to help people thrive in multiple dimensions: physical and mental health, spiritual wellbeing, relationships, finances and more. And in higher education, no one else is doing what Baylor is doing in this area:

Presale opens at 11 a.m. CT Aug. 13, with general public tickets on sale Aug. 14 for Third Day's 30th Anniversary Tour stopping in April 2027 at Baylor’s Foster Pavilion.

New research by Baylor University psychology and neuroscience researchers suggests that people who are more prone to worry may find those quiet moments especially distressing.

Baylor offers a variety of programs designed to help students achieve their academic potential. 

Many Baylor students use summer as a time to broaden their horizons, to grow both personally and professionally. Right now, thousands of Baylor students are taking part in internships, fellowships, research opportunities and more at elite companies and academic institutions. These positions are highly coveted and very competitive, and Baylor students shine as they enjoy experiences that further shape them in their academic and career journeys.

Here are just four examples of that — Bears representing Baylor in our nation’s capital and at Harvard, MD Anderson, and a construction-and-design firm for Fortune 500 companies: