Faculty-in-Residence at a glance

The heart of the Baylor experience is developed on campus in the union of shared experiences and relationships. The Faculty-in-Residence (FIR) program exists to assist Baylor's Campus Living and Learning department (CL&L) with fostering and shaping the social, cultural and educational life within residential communities. As such, FIRs work collaboratively with residence hall directors and CL&L leadership to nurture a heightened sense of community that fosters academic excellence, promotes faculty-student interaction, and enriches the student living experience.

As new residence halls have been built and others renovated, faculty have moved into campus housing at a rate of about one per year. Although no plans are currently in place to build more housing in the next few years, the trend of adding more faculty to residence halls will continue as all of Baylor's older residence halls are renovated over the next decade. South Russell is first in line for renovation, with North Russell following in the next year; Martin, Penland, Collins, Memorial-Alexander, Allen-Dawson and Kokernot will follow, one per year, in an order yet to be determined. As part of the refurbishing, each hall that does not already have one will add a Faculty-in-Residence apartment.

As of Fall 2013, 11 faculty members live on campus and work with residence hall directors and CL&L to nurture a heightened sense of community that fosters academic excellence, stimulates spiritual formation, promotes faculty-student interaction and enriches the student living experience.

Faculty masters are the FIRs in residential colleges and have additional leadership roles.

Faculty Masters for Fall '13

• Dr. Todd Buras, MA '94, associate professor of philosophy (Memorial and Alexander halls, Honors Residential College). Joining him are wife Allison Germer Buras, BA '92, and boys Benjamin (12), Jonathan (9) and Michael (7).
• Dr. Ian Gravagne, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering (Gordon Teal Residential College, East Village). He and his wife, Ann, have three children: Gina (9), Lydia (6) and Ray (3).
• Dr. Rishi Sriram, BA '01, MSEd '03, assistant professor in educational administration and program coordinator of the Higher Education and Student Affairs graduate program in the School of Education (Brooks Residential College). Joining him are his wife, Amanda Jackson Sriram, BSEd '02, their three children, Ellis (9), Lily (6) and Stella (4); and their dog, Bear.

Faculty-in-Residence for Fall '13

• Dr. R. Robert Creech, PhD '84 (University House, North Village) holds The Hubert H. & Gladys S. Raborn Chair for Pastoral Leadership in the George W. Truett Theological Seminary. He also serves as director of pastoral ministries. His wife, Melinda, is pursuing a PhD in literature and religion at Baylor. They have four grown children.
• Dr. James A. Marcum, professor of philosophy and director of Baylor's medical humanities program (Hallie Earle Hall, East Village) and the Science & Health LLC.
• Dr. Carson Mencken, sociology professor, and his wife, Kimberly Mencken, economics senior lecturer (University Parks) Transfer Year Experience LLC. Joining them is their son, Carter (12), and dog, Snickers.
• Steven Pounders, theatre professor, Fine Arts LLC (Heritage House, North Village). He and his wife, Hope, and have two daughters: Luci, BA '13, and Robin (15).
• Dr. Laine Scales, professor of social work and educational administration, assistant dean of the Graduate School (Kokernot).
• Dr. Jonathan Tran, assistant professor of theological ethics and graduate faculty in the Department of Religion (Allen-Dawson) and the Leadership LLC. Joining him are his wife, Carrie, and their children, Thalia and David.
• At press time, searches were running for positions at Brooks Flats and Texana House.