This fall, Baylor’s new Mark & Paula Hurd Welcome Center is set to open as a new “front door” to the Baylor campus. Located at the intersection of I-35 and University Parks Drive, the Center — generously funded by a gift from Mark (BBA ’79) and Paula Hurd — will be an obvious first stop for anyone visiting campus.

But it’s not just for prospective students; current students, alumni, and faculty/staff will also find a home at the Hurd. Here are just some of the ways the new facility will serve the Baylor Family:

How did a Baylor professor play a role in adjusting what scientists thought they knew about Africa’s historic timeline — by 10 million years?!?

It all comes down to a lot of digging, a decade’s worth of research, and the definitive presence of warm-weather grasses.

Many BU graduates credit Baylor’s Career Center with the assist for helping them put that best foot forward. Here are three Bears — one headed into the workforce, one headed to grad school, and one headed for a summer internship — speaking about their Career Center experience:

Every year, U.S. News unveils its annual ranking of American colleges and universities to the world. Last fall, Baylor came in at No. 77 in the nation — again among the top 20% of national universities — and was one of just eight schools to make the outlet’s top 25  for both undergraduate teaching and undergraduate research opportunities. (Baylor was also named among the nation’s top 10 for first-year student experiences and top 20 most innovative schools.)

The big news of the summer: Baylor has new bear cubs coming to campus!

Judge Indy and Judge Belle will make the transition to the AZA-accredited Bill & Eva Williams Bear Habitat on campus this summer. The rescue cubs are cousins, born just five days apart earlier this year, and come to Waco from a wildlife park in Idaho.

WACO, Texas (May 23, 2023)  – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded $7.2 million to the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty to operate its innovative Meals-to-You summer meals program for a fifth summer.

WACO, Texas (May 22, 2023) – Baylor University today announced the addition of two American black bear cubs to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited Bill and Eva Williams Bear Habitat. The cubs, named Judge Indy and Judge Belle, will join the Baylor Family in the on-campus habitat as early as mid-summer.

WACO, Texas (May 19, 2023) – During its regular May meeting, the Baylor University Board of Regents elected new leadership and approved the 2023-2024 operating budget, three renovation projects and two new degree programs – a Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies and a Bachelor of Science/Master of Science degree in Biology of Global Health.

For the third time in the last six seasons, both Baylor men’s and women’s golf have reached the NCAA Championship!

WACO, Texas (May 17, 2023) – Baylor sleep researcher Michael K. Scullin, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology and neuroscience, and Blake Barley, doctoral candidate in psychology in Scullin’s sleep lab, examined how institutional factors, biological factors and behavioral choices play a role in sleep problems for college students and if these "chronotypes" may more flexible than current theories suggest.

Another academic year has come to its end: final grades posted, books returned, students graduated — and Baylor professors honored! Here’s a look at this year’s Baylor professors of the year:

All year long, Baylor Softball made it clear they deserved to be named among the nation’s best. Now, they’ll get the chance to prove it further in the NCAA tournament.

More than 4,000 new Baylor alumni — the largest class in BU history — crossed the Ferrell Center stage over the weekend as Baylor celebrated Commencement for the Class of 2023!

Growing up in the Metroplex, Dalton Capps’ circumstances didn’t exactly suggest college was in his future. No one in his family had gone to college, his family faced significant financial hardships, and not many friends and classmates were considering a four-year university, if they were considering college at all.

But Capps had one advantage: His parents.

Sydney Duke came to Baylor in 2019 with the goal of eventually becoming a physician, where she could help save and better the lives of others.

She had no idea she’s have the chance to save a life before she even earned her undergraduate degree.

Every spring, the Baylor Family bids happy retirement to professors and staff who have dedicated their professional lives to the university and its students. It’s always a bittersweet mix — sadness in seeing them go, happiness for a well-deserved next step — but we wish them all well in the next phase of their lives.

Here, we honor some of the longest-serving and most recognizable professors who are retiring this year — men and women whose faces will be missed, but whose impact will not be forgotten:

In case you haven’t heard — Lady is graduating!

Yes, Baylor’s beloved American black bear is preparing to move on — in this case, from her campus habitat to a new home off-campus (located on the enrichment site she and her sister, Joy, have enjoyed for years). There, she’ll continue to be taken care of by her Baylor Bear Habitat caregivers, staff and veterinary team.

In July 2021, Baylor announced it was seeking an artist to create statues of Rev. Robert Gilbert (BA ’67) and Barbara Walker (BA ’67), the university’s first Black graduates, honoring the pair for what they endured to open doors for countless other students who would follow in their footsteps. Less than two years later, Baylor […]

Last year, Baylor set a school record when 13 Bears earned prestigious Fulbright scholarships — almost twice the previous BU record! — as part of the nation’s flagship program for international graduate student and education. The year also included a Truman Scholar (BU’s first in 15 years), a Goldwater Scholar, a Churchill Scholar, and two Critical Language Scholars.

And yet — 2023’s student honors may be even more impressive.

WACO, Texas (May 3, 2023) – Baylor University today announced a $1.5 million challenge grant from the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Foundation of Midland, Texas, providing significant momentum and support for the renovation and construction of the Honors Residential College. The grant will fund a significant portion of the more than $7 million needed in philanthropic support to complete the project, one of many capital projects funded through the Give Light campaign.

WACO, Texas (May 3, 2023) – Noted Baylor University smartphone researchers Meredith E. David, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Marketing, and James A. Roberts, Ph.D., The Ben H. Williams Professor of Marketing in the Hankamer School of Business, have investigated the correlation between the “flow states” – or happiness experienced by individuals – while using Instagram and TikTok and psychological well-being.

When it comes to more fully understanding religion and faith in Latin America, Dr. Juan Carlos Esparza Ochoa bridges data, social work and theology — and at Baylor, he’s found a collaborative spot to continue decades of research in this area.

On Saturday, Baylor Acrobatics & Tumbling won its eighth — EIGHTH!!!!!!!! — straight national title. At some point, a run of success like this becomes hard to even comprehend.

Fueled by the post-war boom, 1947 was a busy year at Baylor -- and an important year in our nation’s history, as President Truman enacted legislation that created the United States Air Force as a separate military service, breaking ranks from the U.S. Army. Mere months after that birthday — on July 1, 1948 — Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) was formed at Baylor, making our Detachment 810 one of the oldest in the nation.

WACO, Texas (April 27, 2023) – An exhibit of selected works from the Jessica and Kelvin Beachum Family Collection, Narrative as Reality: Constructing an Identity, will be on display May 6 through Nov. 5 at Baylor’s Martin Museum of Art. 

Whether it’s due to one’s learning style or schedule, for some people, reading news online just doesn’t work. They prefer an audible format — books on tape, podcasts, etc. If that sounds like you — and if you’re a dedicated Baylor Bear — then these Baylor podcasts are for you:

How does your body respond to stress? What is the impact of stress on heart health? When it comes to answering these and related questions, Baylor can rely on one of the top scientists in the field.

Last June, Dr. Ryan McManamay and his family planned to celebrate his parents’ 50th anniversary at Yellowstone National Park. Their plans were changed, however, by historic flooding in the park, which washed out portions of the park’s main road and forced a shutdown that impacted every surrounding community. For McManamay, the park’s closure wasn’t an […]

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

he end of World War II brought with it a renewed sense of activity on the Baylor campus, as seen in the number of new facilities and traditions that opened or began in those first post-war years. The first decade at Baylor post-war included the debut of the Bill Daniel Student Center, Tidwell Bible Building, […]

Earlier this month, Baylor introduced a new high honor for faculty — the title of “University Distinguished Professor,” an accolade expected to be given out only once or twice every two years, and even then only after an extensive review process. The honor recognizes faculty members for outstanding achievement in scholarship and/or creative activity, national […]

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

We don’t stop learning just because we’ve finished college — and while podcasts and documentaries can be great, there’s just something about picking up a good old-fashioned book. Even better than that? Reading a book written by a fellow Bear! Baylor faculty and alumni authors have been busy this spring, writing on everything from history […]

We’re full swing into Spring, and before the temperature gets unbearable this summer (pun intended), we’re here to share our top 5 places to hang out around campus this spring. Baylor Ballpark(s) — There’s no better way to spend a spring afternoon or evening than at Baylor Ballpark (or next door at Getterman Stadium). Whether […]

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

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

Singers, speakers, performers — these “vocal athletes” all rely on their voices just as a pitcher relies on his or her pitching arm, or a runner his/her legs. To perform their best, many singers and actors seek to visit certified vocologists, but it’s not always easy to access one — only 20 each year are […]

Baylor's R1 status is far more than an elite club or glossy résumé item. It positions Baylor to have a significant impact around the world. Baylor faculty explain what that means to them in Baylor Magazine.

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

We’ve already got detailed studies that show the Baylor experience is among the best in the nation — whether you measure that in terms of first-year experience, engagement on campus, trust, or desirability.

Now, a new study adds to that list — ranking Baylor the No. 4 “happiest college in the U.S.”

For almost a century now, Diadeloso has provided Baylor students with a much-needed day off just as the spring semester reaches its crescendo — a day to rest and relax, to have fun with friends, and to make memories on campus that will last a lifetime.

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

W.R. White Meritorious Service Award

Young Alumna of the Year

Merrie Beckham Alumna by Choice of the Year

Distinguished Achievement Award

Pro Texana Medal of Service

Pro Ecclesia Medal of Service

Alumnus of the Year

In the spring of 1945, a group of Baylor students prayed for spiritual renewal for 90 straight days. Their prayers led to a movement that helped inspire ministries on campus and around the world, from the Journeyman mission program to the Passion Conferences. This week, hundreds of Baylor students again gathered in Jesus’ name for […]

If you haven’t been following Baylor softball closely this season, now might be a good time to start paying attention. Few outside Getterman Stadium expected big things from head coach Glenn Moore’s team this year — the Bears began the season unranked, and were picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 by league coaches.

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

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

Since 1956, Allen Hall has been home to thousands of Baylor Bears — but where did the hall get its name? Allen is one of at least a dozen Baylor buildings named for women — specifically, it was named in honor of Gladys Allen, a Baylor graduate, trustee and benefactor whose impact is still felt...

Like many sports fans, Deonte Epps (BA ’13) grew up watching SportsCenter, dreaming of someday being a part of the network. Unlike many sports fans, Epps has actually made it happen. Last year, Epps was accepted into the ESPN Next program for a competitive and coveted post as an ESPN production assistant.

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

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

The Fulbright Program is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious international education exchange programs in the U.S. Since its inception in 1946, it has helped hundreds of thousands of accomplished students conduct research, attend graduate school, and exchange ideas with other young professionals around the world.

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

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

This week’s NCAA basketball tournament announcements — with the Baylor women making their 19th straight appearance, and the men making their eighth appearance in 10 years — are only the latest in an ongoing series of honors for Baylor. Just how special is what’s happening right now in Waco? 

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

March Madness is finally here, and Selection Sunday once again delivered for Baylor basketball fans. Both Baylor’s men’s and women’s basketball teams fought through challenging schedules to extend their NCAA tournament streaks, with the men earning a No. 3 seed in the South Region and the women earning a No. 7 seed in the Seattle 3 […]

NIH funds a first-of-its-kind effort, led by Bryan Shaw, to provide tools eliminating barriers that exclude students with blindness from pursuing chemistry education and experiences. Students from the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired will participate in pilot portion of the project.

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

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

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

Baylor University has plenty of faculty members, across all disciplines, who bring an ethical foundation to their research and teaching; it’s one of the distinct benefits of a Baylor education. That doesn’t just happen on its own; it’s an intentional effort by the university, supported through efforts like the Baylor Ethics Initiative. The leader of […]

On Feb. 12, 2022, Baylor men’s basketball standout Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua took one bad step during a game against Texas. The injury was obviously and immediately significant, and doctors confirmed that in the days that followed. It wasn’t clear whether the man known as “Everyday Jon” would ever again be able to walk normally, much […]

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

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

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

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

When the rain began to fall on the morning of June 13, 2022, no one in or around Yellowstone National Park knew that a once in 500-year event was underway.

Baylor Computer Science Professors Lead NSF-Funded Effort to Identify Illegal Activity Online

Endowed chairs attract top researchers and scholars to Baylor.  Many of these positions are made possible by the generosity of the Baylor Family through the Give Light Campaign.

Baylor Education Professor Creates Program for Families with Autism, Focused on Sibling Interaction.

As their research addresses some of the world’s most pressing issues related to human health, technology, human flourishing and more, many Baylor professors are engaged in collaborative groups that facilitate a focus on ethics in their work.

This spring, Bryan W. Brooks, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Environmental Science and Biomedical Studies and director of the Environmental Health Science Program at Baylor, was elected to the rank of AAAS Fellow. The honor is given by the Council of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the Science family of journals.

As a high school student, preparing for college is no easy feat. Thankfully, Accelerate, Baylor University’s pre-college program, allows high school students to get a jumpstart on college courses and prepare for college-level rigor. 

Chapel has been a significant part of the Baylor experience throughout its 178-year history, and it remains an important part of each Baylor student’s experience. The size and form of Chapel looks different than it did in 1845, evolving and growing alongside the campus community that nearly 20,000 students call home each semester.

Baylor’s online M.B.A. program through the Hankamer School of Business was ranked No. 11 nationally among the 2023 Best Online M.B.A. Programs by Poets & Quants, the definitive online publication for business education news.

While there are theologians who study architecture, there are few who have been or are licensed architects, a unique point of view that has served Elise Edwards, Ph.D., assistant professor of religion, well. Edwards’ research combines her interests in theology, ethics, architecture and aesthetics to consider how Christian beliefs are expressed through the built environment. 

Baylor University’s recent classification as a “Research 1,” or R1, university has been widely and fittingly celebrated throughout the Baylor Family. To be sure, such recognition forms a landmark achievement in Baylor’s long history and positions the University to shine more brightly as a beacon of hope in a world facing many pressing challenges.

This spring, Baylor released the first detailed renderings of an addition to Founders Mall called the “Memorial to Enslaved Persons.” A report by Baylor’s Commission on Historic Campus Representations recommended the new memorial as an opportunity to honor the enslaved persons “who were instrumental in constructing the original campus where Baylor University began its journey” and whose identities remain unknown.

On Jan. 25, Dr. Rufus Spain celebrated his 100th birthday. Spain became a history professor at Baylor in 1957 and had an incredibly impactful career regarding 19th and 20th century history. 

A total of 14 Baylor students were selected for Fulbright awards for academic year 2022-23, a record number for the University.