Newsbriefs
Baylor announces sixth 2009 Fulbright recipient
Recent music graduate Robert J. Moore, BME '09, has been selected for a Fulbright Scholarship to study under Dr. Dhrubesh Chandra Regmi, a performing sitarist and lecturer at Tribhuvan University in Nepal beginning in September.
The Fulbright is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government, offering fellowships for graduating seniors, graduate students, young professionals and artists to study abroad for one academic year.
Five other Baylor Fulbright recipients for 2009 were announced in the spring. In all, 20 Baylor students have received the honor since 2001.
Professor wins Christian music and ministry award
Dr. Terry York, associate professor of Christian ministry and church music at Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary, received the Baptist Church Music Conference's highest award in June.
York was presented with the W. Hines Sims Award, instituted in 1971 and named for the late W. Hines Sims, editor of the 1956 Baptist Hymnal.
The award puts York in "a very elite group of Baptist church musicians," said Dr. Randall Bradley, professor of church music and director of the church music program in Baylor's School of Music.
"Terry played a major role in producing the 1991 Baptist Hymnal and is one of the most significant living Baptist hymn writers," Bradley said.
Golden Wave gets new director
Dr. Isaiah Odajima has been appointed Associate Director of Bands and Director of the Golden Wave Marching Band. Odajima was Assistant Director of Bands and Associate Director of the Spartan Marching Band at the Michigan State University College of Music.
Originally from DeSoto, Texas, he previously served at Baylor as the assistant director of bands, associate director of the Golden Wave Marching Band, director of the Courtside Players volleyball/basketball pep band, and conductor of the Baylor University Concert Band.
Baylor debate team nationally ranked in Top 10
Baylor University's Glenn R. Capp Debate Forum finished 10th in the final national debate rankings following the 2009 National Debate Tournament, ahead of many traditional debate powers, such as Harvard, Dartmouth, USC, Georgia and Texas. Baylor was again the top-ranked college debate program in the state. All members of the 2008-09 debate squad will be returning this fall.
Baylor's debate program is housed in the Department of Communication Studies and is directed by associate professor Dr. Matthew G. Gerber, MA '99, and Dr. Scott Varda, who serves as associate director of debate.
Social Work gains first two endowed chairs
'In August, the Baylor School of Social Work announced the creation of its first endowed faculty positions: the Diana R. Garland Endowed Chair in Child and Family Services in the School of Social Work and the Dorothy Barfield Kronzer Endowed Professorship in Family Studies. The endowments will help attract and retain top-flight faculty, promoting the growth and prestige of Baylor's youngest school.
An anonymous donor made the lead gift for the Garland Endowed Chair in 2005 in honor of Garland, the school's founding dean. Kronzer's children chose to use an endowment their parents started to aid the School of Social Work through the Kronzer Endowed Professorship.
New director for IFL
'Dr. Darin Davis, MA '95, has been named director of Baylor University's Institute for Faith and Learning, which supports Baylor's commitment to its Baptist and Christian heritage as well as academic excellence. He previously served as the Institute's interim director and associate director, and is also joining Baylor's faculty as assistant professor of philosophy.'
Founded in 1997, the Institute for Faith and Learning serves a vital role in promoting the Christian intellectual life both at Baylor and beyond through programs such as the Baylor Symposium on Faith and Culture and the William Carey Crane Scholars Program.