News

A look at the University’s commitments to its founding faith, a caring community for all students and the pursuit of knowledge grounded in God’s truth

Class notes for the Spring 2026 edition.

Jeff Dorrill, B.B.A. ’83, J.D. ’85, is a testament to boundless curiosity and dedication. His life embodies the spirit of a true Baylor Renaissance man.

Currently serving as the president and CEO of TIAA, Thasunda Brown Duckett, M.B.A. ’01, is the company’s first female CEO and only the third Black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company, earning Baylor’s 2022 Alumna of the Year honor. 

The fourth annual reunion of the Baylor Black Alumni Alliance was held in September. Participants honored distinguished alumni and enjoyed opportunities to connect throughout the weekend events. 

Joseph DeWoody, B.B.A. ’05, M.B.A. ’06, was named Energy Services and Technology Executive of the Year in the D CEO 2025 Energy Awards. The Awards honor excellence and innovation in oil, gas and renewable energy in North Texas.

Ashley Killough, B.A. ’09, calls herself a storyteller. Through journalism and international studies, she has always been a curious person — curious about the world, the people in it and how they interact with each other across divides. 

Obituary of William Eugene Ballou, B.A. ’60, who passed on August 30, 2025.

Obituary of John “Jack” Williams, B.A. ’60, who passed on June 28, 2025.

Obituary for Brett James Cornelius, who passed on September 18, 2025.

Obituary for Jayson S. Baldridge, who passed on August 18th.

Obituary for Walter L. Bradley, who passed on July 2, 2025. 

Obituary for John Daniel Russell, who passed on November 15, 2025. 

Obituary for Professor David W. Schlueter, who passed on November 4, 2025. 

Obituary for Ann Reed, who passed on July 4, 2025. 

Baylor University has long been known for its success in preparing students for accomplished careers in the sciences.

A summary regarding the 2026 election process for alumni-elected regents. 

Baylor University announced the hiring of Doug McNamee, B.A. ’03, M.S.Ed. ’05, as the Bears’ next vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics. 

Baylor baseball Hall of Famer and 2020 Young Alumnus of the Year Max Muncy helped lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a repeat, winning the 2025 World Series.

Baylor women’s basketball legend NaLyssa Smith has added a third championship ring to her collection, capping off a season of change with a 2025 WNBA title.

United under the 2025 Baylor football team’s theme — Ball. Brotherhood. Battle. — the Bears have added a new level to their bond: Brothers in Christ. 

Clyde Hart, B.B.A. ’56, the man who built Baylor track and field into “Quarter Miler U.” in his 56 years with the program, passed away Nov. 1, 2025, in Waco after a lengthy bout with cancer.

An incredible Baylor soccer season came to an end in the NCAA Tournament Round of 16 as the Bears fell to Ohio State 2-1 in double overtime.

Two of the nation’s top teams, in the nation’s best basketball conference, playing at one of the country’s top basketball facilities: It’s a great combination for Baylor fans that kicks into higher gear when Big 12 play begins. Here are 12 games — nine at Foster, three on the road — for fans to circle on their calendars:

From the development of new technologies to the creation of new health interventions, Baylor’s world-class researchers consistently display creativity and innovation.

In partnership with Waco Family Medicine, students conduct research on real-world use of artificial intelligence software used by doctors and patients. AIMS students learn interdisciplinary research skills at the intersection of health, technology and communication.

Vice Provost for Research Kevin Chambliss, Ph.D., shares his thoughts on the expansion of Baylor's mission. 

On every continent, Baylor faculty conduct research that serves, innovates and enlightens in fields like human health, business and the humanities.

Problem-solving is at the core of Mary Lauren Benton’s educational philosophy. A 2015 Baylor graduate who returned to her alma mater to build her teaching and research career.

Baylor Magazine asked Lorin Swint Matthews, B.S. '94, Ph.D. '98, to share some insight into the “why” behind her research in astrophysics.  

Like our peers in Christian higher education, Baylor continues to be very intentional about making a Baylor degree within the financial reach of students from a multitude of backgrounds.

Baylor has ushered in a new era of live entertainment in Waco with the Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion hosting an impressive lineup of artists and entertainers.

In a recent podcast episode of “Baylor Connections,” Sharra Hynes, Ph.D., vice president of student life, spoke with host Derek Smith, M.A. ’05, outlining 10 distinctives of the  Baylor student experience.

With more than 430 student organizations, and new ones added every year, students enhance their academic pursuits through special interest groups that offer leadership roles, organizational planning experience and interpersonal relationship skills that translate to real-world applications and often help lead to post-graduate opportunities. 

The Memorial to Enslaved Persons, dedicated on Nov. 7, honors the enslaved persons who were instrumental in constructing the original campus where Baylor University began its journey in Independence, Texas.

Drawing on insights from Baylor faculty, here are five resolutions rooted in research to cultivate a well-lived life. 

For the eighth year in a row, Baylor University attained elite Honor Roll status as one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to the Great Colleges to Work For survey. 

When students enroll in American Sign Language (ASL) courses through the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) in Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, they may not realize they’re about to learn more than just a new language and culture.

Baylor is once again among the nation’s top 50 private universities and top 100 national universities, according to U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Colleges rankings. 

The University supports and prepares students preparing for missions trips and times of service in an annual commissioning ceremony, following the disciples’ example in gathering to send these short-term missionaries off with prayer and encouragement. 

The thousands of students who call Baylor University home have access to a multitude of services and opportunities to enhance their academic experience and ground them in success and connection throughout their Baylor journey. 

Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business (HSB) established the Center for Christian Leadership and Ethics (CL&E), led by Associate Dean for Values-Based Leadership Matt Quade, Ph.D.

This fall, Baylor unveiled the newly renovated Allen and Dawson residence halls, marking the latest milestone in the University’s effort to refresh its historic, on-campus housing. 

McLennan County Adoption Day, hosted by Baylor Law School, celebrated 10 children and their families as they finalized their adoptions. 

During the week leading up to National STEM Day, faculty and their Baylor students engaged with students in Mart Elementary School, McGregor Middle School and Midway High School to encourage an affinity for STEM fields while demystifying careers in these fields. 

As fraternity and sorority life at Baylor continues to grow, the impact of the organizations ripples beyond students into the community.

The most wonderful time of the year is officially here!

Last Thursday night, Baylor kicked off the Christmas season with the beloved tradition Christmas on 5th Street. From lights and snow to musical performances to pictures with Santa to photo opps and, of course, the live nativity, the heart of campus was filled with Baylor students, faculty/staff, their families — and plenty of Christmas spirit.

Notice of passing for Spring 2026.

Baylor has named experienced media and brand executive and former athletics administrator Doug McNamee as the Bears’ next Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Gray Media Group and KWTX Television will present a nationwide encore of “A Baylor Christmas,” with the annual School of Music concert airing on all Gray TV stations in the U.S.

We almost let 2025 slip by without recognizing it as the 25th anniversary of a VERY important Baylor milestone… Yes, it has now been a quarter-century since Where the Heart Is was released in theaters, starring Baylor’s beautiful campus (and also Natalie Portman and Ashley Judd).

If you weren’t a student at the time, this might be a little piece of BU trivia for you… But Baylor’s campus is very clearly the setting for the film’s climactic scene, in which (spoiler alert) Portman’s character confesses her love for her boyfriend, setting the stage for the pair to live happily ever after. 

For the 10th year in a row, Baylor Volleyball is in the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Ryan McGuyre has led the best decade in program history, with a high program standard that this year’s squad, with significant contributions from numerous freshmen, has extended.

The Bears enter the postseason on a high note, having closed out the regular season with a top-20 win at TCU. Their 17-9 record and No. 22 overall ranking were buoyed by a strong close to the season that saw the Bears win four of their final five matches. That earned them a spot in the tournament as a No. 6 seed. They’ll begin their postseason journey in West Lafayette, Ind., taking on Arkansas State this Thursday afternoon at 3:30 p.m (ESPN+).

Baylor experts share practical strategies to help donors support the causes they love with intention, confidence and lasting impact.

An incredible Baylor soccer season came to an end Sunday in the NCAA tournament’s Sweet 16, as the Bears fell to Ohio State, 2-1 in double overtime.

In her fourth year leading the Bears, head coach Michelle Lenard’s squad finished the year 14-5-4 overall, 7-3-1 in Big 12 play, and back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since back-to-back runs in 2017-18.

For the third consecutive year, Baylor University has been named to TIME's list of Best Colleges for Future Leaders for nurturing the career trajectories of the nation’s most highly influential leaders.

Baylor University positive psychology researchers explain how three science-based mechanisms of gratitude can increase feelings of gratitude and well-being. 

Only a relative handful of schools nationwide rank among U.S. News‘ top 40 for both undergraduate teaching and undergraduate research. That short list is filled with schools like Duke, Michigan, Princeton, Stanford, Yale — and Baylor.

For the seventh straight year, U.S. News‘ rankings placed Baylor right alongside such prestigious peers, as BU was ranked No. 27 nationally for undergraduate teaching and No. 40 for undergraduate research/creative projects. No other Big 12 schools (and only one other Texas school: Rice) made the top 40 in both categories.

The research being done at Baylor impacts lives on multiple levels. There are the people who benefit directly from the research itself — the people served by improved water quality, or mental health care, or autism care, etc. Then there are the Baylor students, who benefit from their professors bringing what they learn in the lab or in the field into the classroom.

You can also add Waco-area high school, middle school and elementary students to that list. Over the course of the last year, Baylor faculty have taken their research directly to schoolkids in seven local school districts in the form of hands-on projects tailored to their grade level. The programming is designed to encourage student interest in science, technology and math, and to encourage them to think about college for themselves.

Baylor is well-represented with 44 faculty on a prestigious list of the world's top 2% most-cited researchers.

According to a recent study, 44% of Gen Z Americans (ages 13-28) regularly watch anime. The animation style, which largely originates from Japan but has found a worldwide following, features a unique animation style and complex storylines. With anime becoming more mainstream in the last decade, more streaming services are adding titles to their libraries in order to cater to such audiences.

Anime-focused streaming service Crunchyroll, headquartered in the Dallas area, is among those leading the charge when it comes to providing the most robust collection of anime — and one of the people helping guide Crunchyroll is a Baylor alum.

Commemorating its 20th anniversary with Wave 7 results, the Baylor Religion Survey has evolved into the most comprehensive national survey studying the role of faith in American life.

Baylor Soccer‘s 2025 season has been a special one, with the No. 23-ranked Bears emerging as a force to be reckoned with nationally. On the heels of their best regular season in seven years, they’ve earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament — and they will begin their postseason journey at home.

For the seventh time in program history, Baylor Soccer is into the postseason. They’ll host Texas State Friday night at Betty Lou Mays Field, where they went 7-1 on the home pitch this season. It marks the eighth time Baylor will have hosted an NCAA Tournament match, and it’s easy to see why this year’s squad earned that honor.

A new clinical trial led by Baylor's Gary R. Elkins, Ph.D., demonstrates that self-guided hypnosis can decrease hot flash frequency and intensity by over 50%, offering a nonhormonal option for the millions of women.

During its regular fall meeting, the Baylor University Board of Regents received a progress report on the University’s Baylor in Deeds strategic plan from Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., including the plan’s “Bold Pursuits.”

A new study by Baylor University social media researchers reveals that TikTok's short-form video design fuels engagement - and addiction - through ease, accuracy and surprise.

Baylor University is partnering with local schools leading up to this week’s National STEM Day to provide engaging science presentations for area students and teachers and connect Baylor researchers in the community.

Clyde Hart (BBA ’56) came to Baylor in 1952 as a student-athlete, then returned in 1963 as the Bears’ head track and field coach — a role he would hold for the next 42 years, followed by another 14 in another role with the program.

That’s 60 years wearing the green and gold as a student and coach — fully two-thirds of his life, after his passing on Saturday at age 91.

Every Saturday at McLane is like a Baylor Family reunion — but Homecoming weekend is THE annual family reunion, the one you don’t want to miss.

The nostalgia factor was high for the thousands of Bears who made their way home to Waco this past weekend for Baylor Homecoming 2025. For those who couldn’t make it — or for those who want to relive it — we bring you a look back at the weekend:

Baylor has announced a gift from Michael and Jennifer Hillman of Waco, establishing The Kathy Robinson Hillman Endowed Chair in Communication in honor of Kathy Hillman, B.A. ’73, and her 50 years of service at Baylor. 

For so many in the Baylor Family, Homecoming is more than just a weekend — it’s the joy of showing loved ones that Baylor spirit, revisiting old stomping grounds, and reconnecting with the people and places that shaped their stories. Every October, that first glimpse of the bonfire signals that we’re home again.

For Scott Floyd (BA ’11, MDiv ’14) and his wife, Olivia (BS ’15), Homecoming has always carried extra meaning. The couple met in 2012 when Scott was in his second year at Truett Seminary and his future wife was a Baylor sophomore. Their friendship quickly blossomed into something more, and by the time Homecoming rolled around in October, they were officially dating.

“What school hosted the first collegiate homecoming?”

It’s a question that’s been long debated. But if you picture an alumni event centered around a varsity football game when you think of homecoming, then there’s no question that Baylor University hosted the first collegiate homecoming, all the way back in 1909.

College basketball season hasn’t yet arrived, and already Baylor basketball fans have had plenty to celebrate in recent weeks — from former BU All-American NaLyssa Smith earning a championship ring with the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, to former men’s standout VJ Edgecombe’s historic NBA debut.

Such success is a reminder that we again have the chance to cheer on some of the best in the sport at Foster Pavilion. This year, both the Baylor men’s and women’s teams begin with familiar expectations and goals, but different roster makeups.

Serving others is a principle that lies at the heart of the Christian faith. It is in the pursuit of this service that Baylor University places an emphasis on excellence in teaching and research that addresses the needs of the surrounding world. 

Fast-rising Texas country music star Hudson Westbrook, whose new album Texas Forever features hit songs like “House Again” and “Sober,” is coming to Baylor's Foster Pavilion Friday, April 24, 2026.

In 1909, Baylor hosted the first collegiate homecoming celebration in the nation. This week (Oct. 27-Nov. 1), we again renew that tradition, as the Baylor Family returns to campus to “catch that Baylor spirit again,” as President Samuel Palmer Brooks famously wrote more than a century ago.

At Homecoming, Baylor rolls out the red carpet to welcome you — alumni and friends — home. It’s the biggest Baylor Family reunion of the year — all about seeing old friends, recalling fond memories, sharing those stories with the next generation, and celebrating together as one.

Whether you’re a Homecoming regular or this is your first trip to campus in years, you’ll want to start your Baylor Homecoming experience this year at the Hurd Welcome Center.

The Hurd will serve as “Homecoming headquarters” for visitors, with Baylor staff on hand Friday and Saturday to answer questions and help you connect with school/college/campus events — plus a host of activities, photo ops, student performances and more for Bears of all ages.

Study challenges long-held assumptions, finding late-surviving dinosaurs lived in vibrant, regionally distinct communities.

For a decade now (!!), Baylor Traditions Ornaments have helped add a little green and gold to Christmas trees across the Baylor Family.

This year’s ornament features the cherished opening lyric from our school song: “That Good Old Baylor Line.” (And to celebrate the program’s 10th anniversary: If you missed one from the last few years, you can catch up — either with individual ornaments from the last five years, or a special Legacy Ornaments Set that includes past ornaments and a special display hanger.)

Looking for a great undergraduate experience? You can’t do much better than Baylor.

Baylor is one of just three colleges to rank among U.S. News‘ top 10 nationally for both first-year experience and learning communities, and the only one of those three to be either an R1 research institution or offer Power 4 athletics.

Launched with a $1.5M grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., Baylor’s Soundings Project brought together 12 Texas congregations over seven years to explore Christian vocation.

What is the best prescription for the challenges faced by communities and the individuals that comprise them? Dr. Tyshawn Gardner says the answer is “Christian proclamation” — the preaching that takes place in churches around the world. He has applied his scholarship and experiences toward resources that equip pastors to share the Good News in ways that are “faithful to God, faithful to the Biblical text and [done] in wisdom.”

Baylor is building upon a foundation of excellence in teaching and character development that has proven to be effective in cultivating leadership skills among its students. 

New Baylor research shows the right kind of support during pregnancy can make all the difference for new mothers returning to work after maternity leave. 

One of the goals of a college degree, especially a graduate degree, is to help land a job. Few MBA programs are better at that than Baylor’s.

Baylor’s full-time MBA program ranks No. 6 in the nation for helping graduates find employment after graduation, according to U.S. News‘ most recent data. Last year’s class saw 92% of graduates employed within three months of graduation — one of just nine programs nationally to top 90%, and the only one in Texas.

Amid rising antibiotic resistance, the MIGHTY initiative unites top academic and industry partners to develop a rapid, AI-powered platform for precision phage therapies – starting with oral health and expanding to chronic diseases

It all started in 1942, when Mary Allen English (BA ’42), a young Baylor graduate, stepped into the halls of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. At the time, pediatric cardiology wasn’t a specialty; in fact, it barely existed. But under the mentorship of groundbreaking physician Helen Taussig, English finished first in her class and helped define an entirely new field. (She also married a classmate on her graduation day, becoming Dr. Mary Allen Engle.)

By the 1950s, Engle was leading the charge to treat congenital heart defects in infants — without invasive surgery. After completing fellowships at both Johns Hopkins and Cornell, she joined the faculty at New York Hospital–Cornell University Medical Center, where she founded and led the Division of Pediatric Cardiology. The innovations coming out of her lab would save countless children’s lives.

Baylor is filled with great stories to tell, and for the last eight years, Baylor Connections has been a key place where Bears share their stories in their own voices. After nearly 400 audio episodes, Baylor Connections has expanded — now offering both audio and video formats!

As the world’s largest Baptist university, Baylor stands as a beacon within the landscape of Christian higher education. 

For many Baylor students, summer is a chance for special experiences — whether through internships, study abroad or or mission trips, or research opportunities.

Baylor senior Greatness Adewumi is an example of that last group — a psychology/neuroscience major on the pre-med track whose experience this past summer in Houston has only fueled her desire to delve into medical research.

Baylor volunteers with the BearAid disaster relief organization served with Texans on Mission to rebuild homes damaged during the catastrophic July 4 flooding in the Texas Hill Country.

About a decade ago, Baylor set out to complete major renovations of each of its legacy residence halls. Each would go offline for a year, during which time it would receive a head-to-toe update.

Penland went first, followed by North Russell, South Russell, Martin, Collins, Memorial and Alexander — and now, newly completed in time for the 2025-26 school year, Allen and Dawson. (Work is already underway on Kokernot, which should reopen in 2026 to welcome the next class of Bears.)

Research led by Baylor biology assistant professor Jake Minich, Ph.D., followed over 1000 children in the African nation of Malawi to reveal how gut bacteria play a critical role in childhood undernutrition.

When Tiffany Jones‑Smith (BA ’95) graduated from Baylor, she couldn’t have known that her future would involve leading a statewide health initiative. Still, her heart for service and community was already clear. Today, as president and CEO of the Texas Kidney Foundation and chair of the Texas Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force, she’s become a fierce advocate for health equity, early screening, and life-saving policy. Her work reaches thousands of Texans each year, especially in communities where access to care has been historically limited.

Helping each student to thrive and grow during his or her time on campus lies at the heart of the University’s mission of preparing students for worldwide leadership and service.

For well over a decade, Baylor has been a staple among the universities recognized as a “Great College to Work For” — appearing on the elite annual list’s honor roll for 14 of the last 16 years. And while that alone makes for a good headline (and is emblematic of a BaylorProud faculty and staff), it’s far from the only honor that Baylor has earned this year for being an elite workplace.

October is designated as Christian Higher Education Month. For more than 180 years, Baylor has been pursuing excellence in academics and fostering a vibrant campus community grounded in Christian faith.

It all started in 1951, when Jarrell McCracken (BA ’50, MA ’53), then a Baylor student, reimagined the Gospel with a twist: as a play‑by‑play radio game featuring two teams, Jesus vs. Satan, refereed by God. He dubbed it “The Game of Life,” pressed a mere 100 vinyl records — and changed the course of contemporary Christian music forever.