News

Students in Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business benefit from programs designed to enhance leadership skills.

Baylor Student Life cultivates a second-year experience for students to help guide their path to graduation and beyond.

Institutions of higher education in America are facing a host of challenging circumstances that are arguably unparalleled during the past century.

One of only 19 undergraduate students nationwide, and the only student from Texas, Ava Frescura, B.S. ’26, received an Undergraduate Research Award from the Society of Toxicology.

Following the first successful TEDxBaylor University event last fall, Baylor has released a YouTube playlist featuring talks from its inaugural event — a dynamic lineup of speakers from across the Baylor campus and the Waco community sharing innovative ideas, groundbreaking research and inspiring personal stories.

Recently named a top travel destination by Southern Living, Waco has a lot to offer! 

Twenty years after its founding, Baylor’s Black Gospel Archive (BGA) stands as one of the world’s foremost programs dedicated to preserving Black sacred music.

With Willie Nelson’s long-awaited return to Baylor University, Waco continues to hit a high note — and the momentum is only building. 

Championship team and a competitive venue put Baylor in the center of esports growth

U.S. News & World Report has included the University among the nation’s 30 Beautiful College Campuses.

Set to launch in Fall 2026, the Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering (B.S.B.M.E.) builds on Baylor’s established strengths in mechanical, electrical and computer engineering. 

Baylor’s participation in National Engineers Week spotlights the year-round work of the University to inspire next generation of engineers.

Baylor University welcomes new deans in the College of Arts & Sciences and the Louise Herrington School of Nursing and an interim dean in the School of Music.

From gaining valuable on-set experiences to working alongside industry professionals, two Baylor film and digital media students applied skills learned in the classroom and expanded their knowledge of working on professional productions on the set of The Chosen. 

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and Baylor University have a partnership rooted in service and scholarship. 

Baylor University Career Center provides assistance to all Baylor students through tailored career coaching, connections with employers, graduate school planning and much more.

From fostering belonging to addressing isolation and mental health, the new Future Church Leadership certificate equips leaders and faith communities to navigate ministry in a changing world. 

For 10 years, Baylor Law School has set the national standard for experiential legal education with The Closer.

Baylor graduate and professional programs are ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

Baylor is known for faculty who are dedicated to both the transformational education and top-tier research. 

Over the past 40 years, Steppin’ Out has become a tradition beloved by Baylor and the surrounding community.

Graduating seniors gathered one last time as students at McLane Stadium for Line to Legacy, an event designed to celebrate their accomplishments and welcome them as new alumni.

Baylor’s School of Education received a $30 million gift from the Moody Foundation of Galveston, Texas, supporting scholarships, expanding faculty research and providing resources to grow academic programs. 

Elite CAREER Awards spur high-level research by young Baylor faculty

Inside every human body are trillions of bacteria, viruses, fungi and more. Learn how Baylor researchers are making an impact studying these microscopic guests that play an oversized role in human health.

Among cancer types, colorectal cancers stand out, accounting for the second-most cancer deaths in 2025 — a statistic highlighting the need for new approaches to therapy and treatment.

Cory Dungan, Ph.D., and Michael Wiggs, Ph.D., who specialize in exercise physiology, are exploring ways to combat muscle loss in cancer survivors — particularly, pediatric survivors.

In the world of water research, Bryan Brooks, Ph.D., distinguished professor of environmental science, is a star, but his calling really lies in mentoring students to address a fundamental need for clean water around the globe.

As Baylor University pursues its distinctive goal as a preeminent Christian research university, the opportunity to build upon our foundational strengths in serving our students and the surrounding world has never been more promising.

Baylor received two significant grants from the Lilly Endowment aimed at equipping churches to serve the needs of their communities and congregations.

In the ever-evolving landscape of collegiate athletics, Baylor is doubling down on its most vital asset: fans. Under the leadership of Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Doug McNamee, B.A. ’03, M.S.Ed. ’05, the Fan First Era has officially arrived.

Spring brought the excitement of new seasons in Waco, with Baylor baseball celebrating a record-breaking investment in the future of the program.

Summer 2026 sports highlights

Last Thursday night was a memory decades in the making, as Willie Nelson returned to his alma mater and took the stage at Magnolia Field at Baylor Ballpark.

Almost 75 years after he attended Baylor, the legendary country artist — at age 93 — performed for nearly an hour and a half on a picture-perfect evening. The sold-out crowd of more than 6,000 spanned virtually every age, from kids and college students on up — all brought together by a historic night.

Congratulations, Class of 2026 — you did it!

This weekend, more than 3,100 Bears celebrated earning their degrees, the culmination of the Baylor experience. Thousands of their friends and family filled the Ferrell Center for each of the four ceremonies, and countless more watched online and joined in the celebration via social media to honor BU’s newest graduates.

The Global Flourishing Study is equipping families and organizations with the real-world tools to build conversations and communities where “the whole person” can thrive.

It's National Cancer Research Month, and Baylor researchers are leading the way on trailblazing approaches to effective therapies for some of the most aggressive cancers.

Baylor University’s core curriculum again has earned an “A” for the excellence of its core requirements from ACTA's "What Will They Learn?" project.

When Margo Paluch (BSED ’26) walks across the stage this weekend during Baylor Commencement, the senior elementary education major from Lake Geneva, Wisc., will experience a historic first as a member of the inaugural graduating class of Baylor’s newly named Moody School of Education. But she will also carry another first very close to her heart.

As a third-grade student teacher at Hewitt Elementary School just outside Waco, Paluch spent a day substituting in a self-contained special education classroom. That experience sparked an idea — a deeply personal one — about creating opportunities for her third graders to include others, be kind, and form friendships.

Jay Pulliam, Ph.D., will explore Antarctic ice shelf dynamics and the ancient geological connection between Antarctica and Africa.

Alan Lenz had heard all the stories about Baylor from his wife, Allison (BA ’94). Then the couple sent two of their kids to BU, and he heard even more incredible stories — enough that Alan felt he was missing out as the only non-Baylor member of his family.

This weekend, Alan and his youngest son, Robbie, will both walk the Ferrell Center stage at Commencement. Robbie (BA ’26) will receive his degree in communication, while Alan (EdD ’26) will receive his doctorate in education (learning and organizational change).

All year long, the Baylor Softball team challenged themselves by playing one of the nation’s toughest schedules, and they were rewarded for that effort by once again earning a selection into the NCAA Tournament — the program’s 17th in 23 seasons!

As Baylor University students prepare to move out of residence halls at the end of the spring semester, a campus-wide, student-led initiative is ensuring that usable items are not thrown away.

For a generation now, Baylor men’s tennis has set the standard for excellence in the Big 12 Conference. This year's Bears not only made the NCAA tournament, but have once again reached the Round of 16. Hosting NCAA early rounds for the 16th time in program history, No. 11-ranked Baylor swept Tulsa in the first round, then beat No. 22 Auburn 4-1 in the second round last week to advance.

In the Sweet 16, head coach Michael Woodson’s squad will host No. 27 Pepperdine on Friday (6 p.m.) at the Hurd Tennis Center. The winner will advance to the NCAA quarterfinals, hosted again this year by the University of Georgia.

On a campus of nearly 20,000 students — and with 160,000+ living alumni — there’s no shortage of great stories to tell from within the Baylor Family.

Baylor Magazine and BaylorProud share many of them in a written format, and Baylor Connections does the same in audio/video form. Now 19 episodes into its latest season, Connections this year has featured guests ranging from President Linda Livingstone and new Director of Athletics Doug McNamee to top Baylor researchers, student life leaders, and more.

Twelve Baylor professors have been honored with Outstanding Faculty Awards for exceptional teaching, scholarship and contributions to the academic community.

For nearly 30 years now, it’s become a theme that never gets old for Baylor’s Men’s and Women’s Tennis programs: a selection to the NCAA Tournament.

Once again this year, both teams are back in the NCAAs — the 28th straight appearance for the Baylor men, and 27th overall for the women — nearly three decades of excellence.

One of mainstream country music’s most popular live groups, Old Dominion is headed to Baylor University’s Foster Pavilion for an electrifying show on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.

Baylor anthropologist Duncan N.E. Stibbard-Hawkes, Ph.D., led a study of the Hadza and found that relatively equal outcomes are often maintained through “demand sharing.”

On Saturday, Baylor Acrobatics & Tumbling won its 11th — yes, ELEVENTH!!!!!!!!!!! — straight national title! The win extends a run that dates back to 2015 (there was no championship in 2020 due to COVID). Over those 12 seasons, head coach Felecia Mulkey’s squad has gone a mind-boggling 122-2, including a current 62-meet winning streak.

Last fall, Baylor launched its first varsity esports team, led by Baylor alum Adam Stanley (MDiv ’12). Just a few months later, the Bears have their first conference championship — and with eyes on even bigger prizes as they head to nationals.

It’s been almost 150 days — nearly five months — since we gathered at McLane Stadium around Baylor football.

That’s far too long.

This Saturday, the Baylor Family is invited back to McLane for “Baylor Fan Fest,” a festival-style celebration presented by McLane Children’s, featuring live music, local food trucks, interactive fan experiences, and a free open Baylor Football practice inside the stadium.

What if bacteria could be a tool to better deliver cancer drugs?

How would heart transplants be improved if hearts were better preserved while waiting for transplant?

These are just two of the many questions being addressed these days by Baylor researchers — professors and students alike — in departments across campus. It would take far more than this blog post to adequately capture the scope of Baylor research, but we can share a few examples of the latest work at BU:

What if bacteria could be a tool to better deliver cancer drugs?

How would heart transplants be improved if hearts were better preserved while waiting for transplant?

These are just two of the many questions being addressed these days by Baylor researchers — professors and students alike — in departments across campus. It would take far more than this blog post to adequately capture the scope of Baylor research, but we can share a few examples of the latest work at BU:

The Arctic Acclimatization & Sleep Optimization (ARKTOS) Research Center will advance collaborative research and testing on the impact of multi-stressor Arctic environments. 

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, have fun with friends, and make memories on campus that will last a lifetime.

Gray skies threatened to dampen the Dia activities, but thankfully the rain held off, allowing for all the usual festivities to continue as planned. Traditional Dia activities like games, inflatables and a petting zoo were mixed with newer favorites like axe throwing, Nerf gun battles and a rock climbing wall — all served up in the heart of campus on Fountain Mall.

It may just be the biggest stage in sports sales for a student. Representing their schools at an NBA or NHL arena, students step up to the table with industry professionals (who may someday be their colleagues) and make their pitch. If it feels like an NCAA competition, that’s intentional — and it’s Baylor that makes it possible.

Baylor’s Center for Sales Strategy in Sports and Entertainment (commonly known as “S3E”) is the driving force behind the National Collegiate Business Championships. This series of sales competitions brings together college students from across North America to help them sharpen their skills and test themselves in front of industry leaders. Numerous in-person and virtual competitions comprise the championships in both the U.S. and Canada.

In just one year, Baylor has gone from hosting no major concerts to offering a full slate of live music and entertainment events, placing both Baylor and the City of Waco on the radar of national touring artists.

On March 9, 1954, Baylor University admitted a student from a small town near Waco — just in time to start the spring term. His name was Willie Nelson.

Now, some 72 years later, the University is welcoming Willie back to campus to celebrate his Baylor ties and his legendary career in music and public service. Highlighting the reunion will be an outdoor concert by Willie Nelson & Family on Thursday, May 14, at Magnolia Field at Baylor Ballpark, just a few weeks after his 93rd birthday.

When it comes to speeches with an impact, TED Talks are the big leagues — and through their TEDx series, they allow grassroots voices to share their stories of overcoming obstacles, lessons learned, innovation and more.

Last fall, Baylor faculty, staff, students and alumni took the stage at the inaugural TEDxBaylor University event, where they presented speeches based on the theme of “Innovation in Deeds,” connecting to the University’s strategic plan through their own personal stories. (Those stories are now available online for a global audience.)

The first two waves of data from the Global Flourishing Study, the most comprehensive empirical investigation of human flourishing ever undertaken, is now publicly available through the Center for Open Science at no cost and without pre-registration. 

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.

Last week, thousands of Baylor students again gathered in Jesus’ name for FM72, an annual 72-hour on-campus prayer and worship event coordinated by Baylor’s Office of Spiritual Life in conjunction with local churches and campus ministries.

Legendary Texas country music singer-songwriter Willie Nelson is coming home to his alma mater on Thursday, May 14, for an outdoor “Willie Nelson & Family” concert at Magnolia Field at Baylor Ballpark.

Looking for one of the top college experiences in the nation? Then you’ve come to the right place.

Looking for a great education? Baylor ranks among the top 20% of national universities (U.S. News). It also ranks among the top 10 nationally in Fulbright qualifiers (U.S. Department of State), the top 40 nationally for best undergraduate teaching and research (U.S. News), and the top 40 nationally for “Most Innovative Schools” (U.S. News).

Yes, the calendar just turned to spring… But these 85+ degree days we’re having say summer will be here before we know it, and fall right on its heels.

Time to go ahead and put some important fall dates on your calendars (and possibly even start making plans):

One of Baylor’s own is now commander of the service’s oldest continuously serving numbered Air Force, the 5th Air Force, based in Japan.

Lt. Gen. Joel Carey (BA ’92), recently promoted to a three-star general, took command earlier this week at a ceremony in Tokyo. The move was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in January, the latest promotion in Carey’s distinguished career since he got his start at Baylor more than 30 years ago.

Baylor researchers Corey P. Carbonara, Ph.D., and Michael Korpi, Ph.D., led university-industry team to develop 6P’s revolutionary Full Color Range display system

Dwayne D. Simmons, Ph.D., and Samuel S. Urlacher, Ph.D., have been elected to the rank of 2025 AAAS Fellow, a lifetime honor announced today by the Council of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Baylor University is ranked No. 81 among the Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted Utility Patents in 2025, a list published by the National Academy of Inventors.

She’s been called the “Mother Teresa of Bangalore,” and her lifetime of service is the subject of two books — a biography published in 2008, and a children’s book published in 2021.

But before the books, before the recognition, before the lifetime of service, Rebekah Ann Naylor (BA ’67) was a Baylor Bear.

Only one school in Texas was named among the nation’s most beautiful college campuses by U.S. News, Architectural Digest, and Condé Nast Traveler.

That school would be Baylor University.

For the 22nd straight year (!!), Baylor women’s basketball is headed to the NCAA tournament!

To put that in perspective, only one player on the team — graduate student Jana Van Gytenbeek — was even born the last time the Baylor women missed the NCAA tournament. (That came in March 2003, when BU finished as WNIT runners-up; two years later, the program won its first national championship.)

When researchers complete a study and share their work, they hope it will have impact: to help people, advance understanding, develop technologies and more. 

Such impact is important — but can be hard to measure. There’s no one way to do it, but Stanford University has annually compiled a prestigious list that captures one important measure of impact: citations. And Baylor researchers do very well there.

There’s a lot to like about Baylor’s home here in Waco, the heart of Central Texas. A city recently recognized by Southern Living as undergoing a “creative renaissance,” Waco anchors a growing metro with over 300,000 people who enjoy the area’s outdoor activities, history and culture, job market and more.

While such factors alone have long drawn people to the area, there’s a growing focus on the burgeoning megaregion Waco calls home: the Texas Triangle.

New research shows how a natural plant compound flips a built-in “avoid” switch in the mosquito brain and why that could lead to better repellents

When you think of the greatest moments in Baylor women’s athletics history, you likely think of highlights like Women’s Basketball’s three national championships, Acrobatics & Tumbling’s decade of dominance, and softball’s six Women’s College World Series appearances.

Not surprisingly, many of those moments have come in the last quarter-century, as Baylor’s increased investment in women’s sports has set a high bar for excellence. The story of women’s sports at Baylor, however, goes back more than a century.

Three months ago, Baylor Director of Athletics Doug McNamee (BA ’03, MSED ’05) made it clear at his introduction as AD that improving the fan experience would be an immediate priority.

True to his word, McNamee and Baylor Athletics this spring have rolled out a series of “Fan First” announcements aimed at “making the fan experience more vibrant and gamedays more accessible.” Baylor football fans this fall will find significant changes to the gameday experience, including:

After countless hours of planning, practicing and performing, All University Sing 2026 is in the books. Over the last two weeks, hundreds of Baylor students put their hard work on display performing for thousands of Baylor students, alumni and friends in Waco Hall (plus a streaming audience online for Saturday’s finale).

Congratulations to Beta Upsilon Chi, which won first place this year for their act, “Grill of Rights” (pictured above). Phi Kappa Chi took second for their act, “Cold as Ice,” followed by Delta Delta Delta in third for “When A Mouse Eats A Cookie.”

For a quarter of a century now, the Lake Waco Wetlands have provided a rich home for countless species of birds, deer, amphibians, and other animals, plus a wide variety of plants and trees indigenous to Central Texas.

From the wetlands’ very beginning, Baylor’s Dr. Robert Doyle (BS ’81, MS ’85) has played a key role — first in helping establish it, then in helping study, enhance and expand it. For his longstanding service, the City of Waco proclaimed Feb. 17, 2026, as “Robert Doyle Day.”

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, incredible student experience, etc.) while growing and improving across the board (Exhibit A: R1 status).

Higher ed leaders across the country are noticing Baylor’s efforts — and that shows up in lists like U.S. News‘ “Most Innovative Schools,” where Baylor ranks among the nation’s top 40 national universities. That puts Baylor well inside the top 10% nationally when it comes to innovation.

If one goal of college is to get you a job in your chosen profession, then the Baylor men’s basketball program is one of the best job training programs in the nation.

For the second straight year, Baylor ranks among the top 10 universities with the most players currently in the NBA, one behind Kansas and ahead of such programs as North Carolina, Villanova and Texas. A school-record 11 Baylor alumni played in the NBA last year; this year, 10 Bears have seen time on NBA rosters.

It's National Engineers Week, and Baylor University is celebrating a significant honor for electrical engineering professor Emmanuel Agamloh, Ph.D., – his election as a member of the prestigious IEEE Fellow Class of 2026.

Baylor’s Black Gospel Music Preservation Project is drawing national media attention by expanding the ways it preserves and promotes decades of this historic music. 

During its regular February meeting, the Baylor University Board of Regents took several actions that will continue to strategically position the University for the future in areas related to academics and research and value and affordability.

In 2019, Baylor set a school-record with seven Fulbright scholarship recipients — part of the nation’s most prestigious international education exchange program. Just three years later, Baylor doubled that total, with 14 Fulbrights. And in 2025, Baylor jumped to 24 Fulbright student honorees.

Such success has catapulted Baylor up to No. 10 nationally in Fulbright qualifiers — No. 1 in Texas, and among Big 12 schools. Baylor also earned recognition this spring as a Fulbright Top Producing Institution for the fourth straight year.

Baylor-Waco Family Medicine research finds affordable interpreter training model for heritage Spanish speakers can improve patient care, restore dignity in health communication

Lent is observed annually by Christians across the globe and in multiple denominational traditions. It spans the forty-day period before Easter, excluding Sundays. The season begins on Ash Wednesday, a day Christians are reminded they are mortal and instructed to confess sin, repent, take up their cross, and follow Christ. The season concludes on Holy Saturday, the day we remember Jesus’ burial, a day of rest before the day of Resurrection.

Baylor’s mission has long been to “educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service” — and for the third straight year, a survey by TIME magazine confirms Baylor’s doing exactly that.

Baylor once again ranks among TIME‘s list of the 100 Best Colleges for Future Leaders, coming in at No. 70 nationally for 2026 (No. 4 in Texas, No. 5 in the Big 12). This year, the publication studied the resumes of almost 5,000 U.S. leaders — pulling from business, government, academia and more — to find where today’s leaders got their start, with Baylor continuing to stand out among the nation’s best.

“The Whole Body Project” will showcase stories of mutual flourishing in faith communities that embrace individuals with and without disabilities and mental health challenges.

Among the many ways to measure the impact of a college education is a practical accounting: Are students finding opportunities to work or further their education after graduation? At Baylor, the answer is a resounding “yes.”

With the most recent numbers just released (covering Summer 2024 through Spring 2025), Baylor’s placement rate is 92%, and its success rate is 94% — numbers well above the national average, and emblematic of steady growth in this area at BU.

Few Christian programs have garnered the level of critical acclaim and multi-platform viewership as The Chosen. The show — a historical drama of the life of Christ through the eyes of those around him — has appeared on the IMDb Top 250 list, and reviewers have lauded the program’s storytelling and production. Such success made the chance to serve in professional roles on the show all the more appealing to Baylor Film & Digital Media (FDM) students.

Baylor University’s Black Gospel Archive (BGA) is one of the world’s most significant programs dedicated to preserving Black sacred music and cultural history.  

As the 2026 Baylor Acrobatics & Tumbling season begins Friday, the Bears find themselves in a familiar position — ranked as the nation’s No. 1 team in the preseason poll for the 11th straight season.

For a program and coach accustomed to celebrating national titles, it’s hard to imagine that anything could match what’s become an annual thrill, but everyone involved — especially Coach Fee, as she’s called by her athletes — got just that last month.

Baylor researchers have published a novel approach to fight colorectal cancer, using modified bacteria as a courier to deliver potent cancer-killing proteins into tumor cells. 

When Dr. Jamie Rankin talks about great teaching, he doesn’t start with expertise or accolades. He starts with caring.

That philosophy has guided Rankin’s work for more than three decades — and it’s a large part of why Baylor named him as the 2026 recipient of the Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching.

The Fulbright Program today recognized Baylor University as one of the nation’s elite top 10 producers of students and recent alumni selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

If you’re a Baylor fan who loves life with your earbuds popped in, or who can’t make a drive without connecting your phone for your favorite podcast, then you’re in luck: the University offers multiple podcasts to keep you connected to all things Baylor, from athletics to academics, theology to history.

Here are 10 podcasts from Baylor faculty, schools and more to add to your subscription list:

Chartered by the Republic of Texas on February 1, 1845, Baylor University began with a bold vision—to educate leaders who would shape a young and rapidly changing state. Today, Baylor stands as the oldest continuously operating university in Texas, a distinction earned through generations of innovation, service, and faithful leadership.