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Baylor basketball’s losses Sunday — both the men and women fell in the NCAA second round — still sting. But if you listened to the student-athletes talk after the game about their Baylor experience, you’ll understand what makes BU special, and what “Preparing Champions for Life” really means.

In their own words:

Believe it or not, it was 20 years ago today — March 24, 2005 — that America first visited the offices of the Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company. To put that in context, current Baylor freshmen had not yet been born. Yet here in 2025, thanks to reruns and online streaming, today’s college students (and millions upon millions of other people) have visited those offices again and again, to laugh (or cringe) at the antics of Michael Scott, Dwight Schrute, Jim and Pam, and of course, Angela Martin, played by cherished Baylor alumna Angela Kinsey, BA ’93.

In the two decades since the premiere of NBC’s The Office, the show and its characters have become American pop culture touchstones. But don’t get the impression that Angela Martin and Angela Kinsey are the same person.

Before he was topping the charts as a GRAMMY-nominee, winning two Dove Awards, and achieving massive success for his 2024 national tour, Forrest Frank (BBA ’17) was a typical student leaning into his Baylor experience.

From participating in All University Sing to donning a suit and tie for the professional sales program in Hankamer School of Business, Frank embraced his experience and thrived at Baylor.

Baylor graduate John Dillon (BBA ’93) has earned national attention as an innovator in the restaurant industry, and when La Madeleine was looking for a leader to drive growth and expansion, they called on the Baylor grad (who spent the last year serving Hankamer School of Business students in a meaningful way — more on that in a minute).

La Madeleine, a Dallas-based French café and bakery with 80+ locations nationwide (including one just down I-35 from Baylor’s campus), named Dillon president in January. The Baylor grad, who most recently served as founder and principal lead at HMS Growth Partners, previously spent over 16 years with Denny’s, first in marketing and then as the chain’s president. At Denny’s, he built a reputation for innovation, shaping the brand’s voice and elevating the diner chain’s perception through humorous social media posts and a re-brand as “America’s Diner.”

For the 10th time in the last 11 postseasons, both the Baylor men’s and women’s basketball teams are going dancing!

The Baylor women will begin NCAA tournament play on Friday (2:30 p.m., ESPNU) — their 21st straight appearance! — and for the first time, will get to do so at Foster Pavilion! The Baylor men will start their NCAA tournament run Friday in Raleigh, N.C. (11:15 a.m., CBS) as a No. 9 seed against No. 8 seed Mississippi State.

As Baylor University advances the frontiers of knowledge as an R1 research university, it holds fast to the Christian vision of its founders while cultivating a Christian worldview among its students and serving the surrounding world.

For many, “Baylor social work” and “Diana Garland” were virtually the same thing even before the school was named in her honor in 2015. Almost 10 years after her passing, Dr. Garland remains a titan in the world of social work — at Baylor, and beyond.

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 2024, Baylor jumped to 18 Fulbright student honorees.

Such success now ranks Baylor among the top 20 colleges and universities nationally, earning BU recognition this spring as a Fulbright Top Producing Institution for the third straight year. In the latest totals, Baylor ranks No. 1 in both Texas and the Big 12 for most Fulbright student awards.

What is it like to live with your family in community with hundreds of college students? How do living-learning communities (LLC) at Baylor support students as they strive for excellence in pursuit of their calling? Karenna Malavanti, senior lecturer in psychology and neuroscience at Baylor, is also faculty-in-residence at Earle Hall, where she leads the Science & Health LLC. She takes listeners inside Baylor’s nationally recognized learning communities and describes the joys of intentional life on campus.

Earning recognition as a Master Teacher at Baylor is a rare honor — the highest a BU professor can receive for his/her teaching. In January, President Linda Livingstone announced the lifetime designation for four Baylor professors, increasing the roll of Master Teachers to 33 since the honor was first bestowed more than 40 years ago.

Among the newest honorees is Dr. Andrew Hogue (MA ’05, PhD ’09), a two-time Baylor graduate who returned to join the faculty of his alma mater in 2011. Over the last 15 years, he has taught various political science courses, led what is now Baylor’s Philanthropy & Public Service Program, served as associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and led Baylor’s Office of Engaged Learning.

Higher education isn’t cheap — but it’s not as astronomical as many people believe. Recent studies show that even as sticker prices have gone up nationwide, the price most families actually pay has been dropping for years.

Since 2019, Baylor’s median out-of-pocket cost has decreased or remained constant for students and families with household incomes of $300,000 or less. Nine out of 10 Baylor students receive some form of financial aid, and for families with demonstrated need and an adjusted household income below $50,000, tuition is covered by the university, thanks to the Baylor Benefit Scholarship.

Now, a new effort is in the works to even better support students. Late last month, the university launched the “Extend the Line” Scholarship Initiative, aiming to raise $250 million for student scholarships. The goal: ensuring a Baylor education remains accessible and affordable for both current and future Bears.

Ash Wednesday: The first day of Lent – which begins a season of repentance, fasting and awaiting Christ’s resurrection.

After countless hours of planning, practicing and performing, All University Sing 2025 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 Chi Omega, which won first place this year for their act, “Back on Track” (pictured above). Alpha Tau Omega took second for their act, “Underneath the Tree,” followed by Delta Delta Delta in third for “When Pigs Fly.”

Lent may be unfamiliar to some in the Baylor family, particularly those of Baptist heritage. But the themes sounded during this season are ecumenical, grounded in shared Christian tradition and teaching.

Baylor students will compete this weekend in the first officially sanctioned Big 12 Conference esports tournament.

Teams from six other conference schools will join Oso Esports for the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (SSBU) tournament, which will take place virtually March 1, and serve as the conference qualifier for the prestigious Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup (CECC), to be held this May in Arlington.

Baylor has long taken pride in how it supports student veterans on campus, and it shows. BU annually ranks among the nation’s best colleges for veterans; this year, Baylor is ranked No. 1 in the Big 12 and No. 3 in Texas.

Further evidence: Veterans of Baylor (VoB), a student organization that supports student veterans on campus and in their community, has been named the 2024 Student Veterans of America Chapter of the Year from among nearly 1,600 SVA chapters nationwide.

Renée Umstattd Meyer, a public health professor at Baylor, has built a nationally recognized reputation through helping communities better support the health of their residents. With a focus on active living, she walks alongside communities as they strive to encourage walking, exercise, play and more. Learn how her research connects with practical pathways for children and adults to engage in activities that are healthy and fun.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has recognized Baylor as one of only 56 doctoral universities with the highest number of students selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

Jarrell McCracken’s innovative fusion of faith and storytelling launched Word Records, shaping the contemporary Christian music industry and leaving a lasting legacy.

Meet the Baylor alumna whose discoveries still impact industry and our daily lives.

In the early 1990s, a Baylor student pitched the idea of a coffee shop just off campus as a class project. Fast forward three decades, and that classroom pitch is now a campus community staple.

Happy 30th birthday, Common Grounds!

From a distinct Christian mission to a history of innovation, Baylor has long served as a light in higher education—as its motto says, Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana, Pro Mundo. February 2025 marks the University’s 180th birthday. Stephen Sloan, Professor of History and Director of Baylor’s Institute for Oral History, takes listeners inside a few of the threads that connect Baylor through the decades.

Baylor University today officially launched the Extend the Line Scholarship Initiative, which aims to raise $250 million by 2030 for student scholarships to help ensure a Baylor education remains accessible and affordable for both current and prospective students.

A team of interdisciplinary researchers at Baylor University and three other U.S. universities are set to begin a longitudinal study on what can be learned about patience for parents of adolescents who experience adversity.

Charles Baylis, Ph.D., professor of electrical and computer engineering and director of Baylor’s SMART Hub, testified on spectrum technology before a hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

From Baylor to wartime research and industry, Anderson's groundbreaking work shaped the modern science Baylor researchers advance today.

Research rooted in Baylor’s Christian mission is more than a catchphrase — it’s a commitment to global impact to serve neighbors around the world.

President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., was the “right leader at the right time” for Baylor. Now she’s elevated her leadership — and Baylor by extension — into the national sphere.

College traditions are beloved on college campuses across the country. At Baylor, traditions are rooted in connection and community, giving students a lifelong tie to the University.

Discover how Baylor leaders have helped widen access to higher education across Texas and beyond.

In 2023, Baylor introduced a new high honor for faculty — the title of “University Distinguished Professor,” an accolade 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 and international recognition in their discipline, and mentorship of colleagues and students.

Earlier this month, Dr. John L. Wood, Baylor’s Robert A. Welch Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, became the second BU professor to receive this high honor. Wood joined Dr. Mikeal Parsons as Baylor’s second University Distinguished Professor, recognized for his groundbreaking research using natural products.

Zero to 60? That’s kids’ stuff. Try 0 to 632 mph in five seconds — then decelerating back to zero in another 1.4 seconds. Such a ride puts the body through 40+ G’s of force. “My eyeballs pushed against the upper lids, pulling at their attachments with a searing pain like a dental extraction without anesthetic,” recalled the test pilot.

That was the last of 29 rocket sleds Dr. John Paul Stapp (BA ’31, MA ’32) would ride in the mid 1950s, part of U.S. Air Force safety testing that would lead to improved pilot helmets, better seatbelts and shoulder harnesses, improved escape mechanisms, and stronger cockpit frames.

From John Hill Westbrook’s trailblazing impact through today’s character development program, Baylor Athletics prepares Champions for Life.

For more than 100 years, Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business has integrated ethics and innovation with strong business practices.

Raise your hand if this has happened to you: You’re walking through the grocery store (or the airport, or Disney World, or the Great Wall of China…), and you spot that unmistakable Baylor green and gold on a shirt or cap. Then comes the universal nod of acknowledgement, if not the all-out “SIC ‘EM!” and “You went to Baylor too?!”

Those don’t have to be the only times you meet fellow Bears. Baylor Alumni hosts hundreds of events across the country each year, where alumni (and others) meet old and new friends, network, discuss Baylor news, and of course, cheer on the Bears. Naturally, the more Baylor people live in an area, the more events like these that city is likely to host — and not surprisingly, the top five metropolitan areas for Baylor alumni are all in Texas:

Ruth Parker Graves is a shining example of Baylor’s mission in action — a Baylor grad who saw a need and applied her calling to make a difference.

Earning recognition as a Master Teacher at Baylor is a rare honor — the highest a BU professor can receive for his/her teaching. In January, President Linda Livingstone announced the lifetime designation for four Baylor professors, increasing the roll of Master Teachers to 33 since the honor was first bestowed more than 40 years ago.

Among the newest honorees is Dr. Kevin Dougherty, an award-winning Baylor sociology teacher and researcher. Since coming to BU in 2005, he has twice won Baylor’s Outstanding Professor Award (2010 & 2015), and he now serves as committee chair for the Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching, an award program designed to honor great teachers in higher ed.

For more than 175 years, Baylor Law School has prepared students for the practice of law while embracing innovation to meet the needs of an evolving profession.

A new study reveals a sobering paradox for the very platform designed to bring us together – the more time we spend interacting online, the lonelier we may feel.

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

Baylor once again ranks among TIME‘s 2025 list of the 100 Best Colleges for Future Leaders, coming in at No. 61 nationally (No. 3 in Texas, No. 4 in the Big 12). The publication studied the resumes of 4,000 U.S. leaders — pulling from business, government, sports and more — to find where today’s leaders got their start, with Baylor standing out among the nation’s best.

Research by first-year biology students has the potential to advance the scientific understanding of bacteriophages and their role in combating antibiotic-resistant infections.

When Baylor Softball last took the field in the 2024 Super Regional, they were pushing the nation’s No. 4 seed, the Florida Gators, to the brink despite entering the postseason dramatically shorthanded due to injuries. Those challenges failed to break the 2024 Bears, and the program enters 2025 poised to build on that experience in the new season.

With a roster featuring two preseason All-Big 12 selections, lauded newcomers and a number of stars returning from that 2024 campaign, head coach Glenn Moore’s squad begins his 25th season at Baylor nationally ranked: No. 19 in the ESPN/USA Softball poll and No. 21 in the D1Softball preseason poll. In a stacked Big 12 Conference, they’re picked 4th in the preseason poll. Such recognition is a sign of what experts believe Baylor can do when healthy.

John L. Wood, Ph.D., has been designated as University Distinguished Professor, the highest honor bestowed on Baylor faculty. 

Heidi J. Hornik, Ph.D., has been selected as the 2025 Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of the Year for her superlative contribution to the learning environment at Baylor.

Dr. Vivienne Malone-Mayes exemplifies Baylor’s commitment to faculty-student engagement.

The U.S. Census is mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution, as the data it collects is the basis for determining representation in the House of Representatives. Early efforts were understandably difficult, given 18th-century limitations on travel and what we now call data processing.

Those efforts took a big leap forward in 1941. With World War II on the horizon, President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941 named James Clyde “J.C.” Capt director of the U.S. Census Bureau — making a Baylor Bear the leader of the largest fact-finding agency in the world. Under Capt’s leadership, the Census Bureau took significant steps toward modernization, including establishing a permanent field staff for better surveying and taking the first steps toward introducing computers into the process for better statistical analysis.

The upcoming Alumni-Elected Regent vote, scheduled for Feb. 10-18, will be the 10th since the position was added to Baylor’s Board — and it’s hard to remember a more impressive pool of candidates.

These are the three outstanding candidates on this year’s ballot:

Celebrating a tradition of community impact and service

Legendary Baylor football coach Grant Teaff has earned a lot of honors in his career. The 1974 AFCA Coach of the Year remains the winningest coach in Baylor football history, and is a member of eight halls of fame (including the College Football Hall of Fame).

Add one more honor to the list: Earlier this month, Teaff was recognized with the Paul “Bear” Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award, given annually by the American Heart Association in honor of a college football coach’s “outstanding achievements and extraordinary contributions.”

The Buffalo Bills are playing this weekend for a spot in the Super Bowl — their first since 1994 — thanks in large part to a Baylor Bear.

Barely three years removed from winning Sugar Bowl MVP after Baylor beat Ole Miss, two-time Baylor graduate Terrel Bernard (BSED ’20, MSED ’21) is now the Bills’ starting middle linebacker. Before this season began, Bernard’s teammates voted him one of two team captains (alongside All-Pro quarterback Josh Allen) — a huge sign of respect for a young player.

Baylor University's Dr. Sara Jansen Perry outlines the challenges with Return-to-Office mandates and the important considerations that arise with remote/hybrid arrangements.

Baylor’s Moody and Jones libraries are among the university’s busiest buildings, with more than 3,500 students, faculty, staff and other visitors inside on any given day. That’s a lot of traffic, so Baylor Libraries sought out CPR training for staff in case there might one day be a need for such immediate life-saving measures.

Dozens of staff members took a basic CPR course, while 25 more — including John Lowe, associate director of learning systems — got fully certified through the American Heart Association’s Basic Life Support CPR class, hosted by American Medical Response (AMR).

What John didn’t know was that he would employ those newly learned skills only a few months later — to help save his wife, Angie (BSED ’00).

Long-running jokes about college life center around living off ramen noodles and cheap food, and never passing up a free meal. Unfortunately, such jokes mask a hard truth — that college students are two to four times as likely as the average American to experience food insecurity. Students at universities nationwide — yes, even at Baylor — are experiencing these issues.

In response, Baylor Student Success Initiatives has taken steps to alleviate this stress for BU students. Here are 5 ways Baylor works to help students access nourishing food:

New York City is the financial capital of the United States (and arguably, the world) — so it makes sense that Baylor finance alums might be gathered in the Big Apple.

Last month, the Baylor University Office of Investments — the folks who have managed the university’s endowment so well their success garnered national attention — brought together Baylor finance alums in the region for a special dinner, with plans to make the gathering an annual event.

Children and families who deal with chronic health challenges — and the psychological challenges that can come with them — have a friend in Dr. Christine Limbers, a Baylor professor whose influential research in these areas has impacted her field as a whole.

Limbers, an associate professor of psychology at BU since 2010, leads Baylor’s Pediatric Psychology Lab. The main focus of the lab is in its name, but Limbers and her fellow researchers go deeper in areas like obesity, chronic health issues, and psychological treatments to support the mental health needs of children and teenagers who need them.

Baylor students living on campus have a wide variety of options. Some choose to live with other students their age; others, with students who have similar academic or extracurricular interests; still others, in faculty-led residential colleges.

Baylor takes these opportunities seriously, and it shows. Baylor’s learning communities once again rank among U.S. News‘ top 10 nationally — just behind schools like Yale and Vanderbilt, and ahead of, well, just about everyone else. (The honor ranked Baylor No. 1 in the Big 12, No. 1 in Texas, and No. 1 among large private universities.)

If last year made clear that this is a golden era for NBA Bears, this season just runs up the score — with Baylor moving into the top 10 among universities with players currently in the NBA, right there with schools like Kansas and Texas.

No fewer than 11 Bears are currently on league rosters; a school-record 10 Baylor alumni have played this year, and one more just signed a contract that should allow him to soon make his debut. (Consider that from 1949 to 2010, a total of 10 Baylor alumni played in the NBA. In 2024-25, we’ve seen that many in just three months!)

When Jason R. Carter, Ph.D., was announced as the new dean of Baylor’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences in May 2022, Baylor Provost Nancy Brickhouse, B.A. ’82, Ph.D., commended his remarkable research background alongside his Christian commitment.

Amid significant changes in the national collegiate athletics landscape, there remain a few constants at Baylor as we commit to “Preparing Champions for Life.”

Each December, Christianity Today announces the winners of its annual book awards, books CT deems “most likely to shape evangelical life, thought, and culture.” This year’s winners included a slew of Baylor alumni — especially in the “Culture, Poetry and the Arts” category.

Christianity Today recognized four books in this area — a winner, an award of merit, and two finalists — and three of the four honorees were written by a group of five Baylor English doctoral graduates.

In recognition of National STEM Day, Baylor researchers and their students shared the benefits of innovation and discovery with elementary, middle and high school students in the Waco area through hands-on STEM projects.

The third annual reunion of the Baylor Black Alumni Alliance in Fall 2024 centered around nurturing connection, celebrating distinguished alumni and investing in the next generation of students. 

For Dan, B.B.A. ’66, M.B.A. ’73, and Nancy Russel Chapman, B.A. ’69, M.S.Ed. ’73, philanthropy is an inspired act. As alumni, former Baylor parents and grandparents, longtime volunteers and donors, their support took many forms over the years as their reasons for connecting to Baylor University changed and evolved.

Former Baylor professor Carol Perry was honored by Waco Mayor Jim Holmes and the City of Waco, declaring Aug. 20, 2024, to be “Carol Perry Day.” 

Adriana Hernandez, BSEd ’17, didn’t expect a change in major while a Baylor student to cause a ripple of influence as far-reaching as Lagos, Nigeria, when she began studies in elementary education. Now, she is in her fifth year teaching elementary and middle school students in a community she has embraced and calls home.

David Dwumah, MSIS ’01, is planting the seeds of financial equity as the founder and CEO of OurBanc, a financial technology company dedicated to reducing the racial wealth gap by providing equitable, sustainable and inclusive financial products and services. 

Baylor alumna Pamela Tremont, BA ’90, MA ’92, joins the ranks of the United States’ highest-ranking representatives abroad after being sworn in as the United States ambassador to Zimbabwe earlier this year. 

For more than 30 years, John Morris, B.A. ’80, has been the voice and heart of Baylor Athletics, integrating his passion for storytelling into every broadcast. 

Baylor football wrapped up its 2024 campaign with remarkable momentum, completing its longest winning streak to end a regular season in program history.

Baylor earned the distinction of hosting the inaugural fall NCAA Men’s and Women’s Individual Championships at the Hurd Tennis Center in November 2024.

In a historic moment for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Baylor baseball legend and 2020 Young Alumnus of the Year Max Muncy played a key role in the team’s 2024 World Series championship.

When Ryan McGuyre took over as head coach of the Baylor volleyball team in 2015, he inherited a program that earned four total NCAA postseason appearances over the program’s prior 37-year history. 

Baylor Researchers are on a trajectory toward greater global impact as faculty at a Christian Research 1 university. 

Families impacted by cancer can share stories of both the blessings and challenges of chemotherapy. 

When it comes to creating leads for cancer-fighting drugs, Liela Romero, B.S. ’11, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, describes herself as a chef — mixing individual elements together to create a stronger finished product.

Matt Asare, Ph.D., is putting cervical cancer screening research into practice in low- and middle-income countries, where women are six times more likely to develop cervical cancer than in other nations. 

There’s little question that technology is rapidly changing the way people interact with the world around them — and the way that industries can interact with people. 

From welcoming our incoming class of first-year students to Baylor and moving residents into the newly renovated Honors Residential College to birthday bears and future Bears, the past year was filled with memories worth capturing. 

As Tidwell enters its eighth decade serving Baylor students, it continues to represent the University’s Christian foundation and commitment to Christian education.

Baylor Connections is a weekly podcast that introduces the people behind Baylor’s teaching, research and distinct role in higher education. Here are some episodes you shouldn’t miss!

A Baylor expert on reimagining school literacy practices researches how children and youth engage with literacy across diverse contexts and the implications for literacy development and well-being.

The list of schools to make U.S. News’ top 30 for both undergraduate teaching and undergraduate research is a short (and impressive one), filled with schools like Duke, Michigan, Princeton, Stanford, Yale — and Baylor.

Intentionally practicing gratitude encourages us to regularly recognize and appreciate the positive aspects of our lives.

Baylor’s mission to prepare graduates who lead and serve in the world together with a new strategic plan designed to increase the impact of the University served as the nexus of a new brand campaign — Baylor In Deed — launched Fall 2024.

For the third time in six years, a Baylor Bear also is the national student-teacher of the year.

Alumni can rediscover their college home, visit familiar sights and see the new additions to Baylor’s campus on campus tours tailored just for them.

From hosting Adoption Day in McLennan County to offering programs and benefits to Baylor faculty and staff who foster or adopt, Baylor University is committed to family flourishing. 

A distinct component of a Baylor education is the development of vital skills necessary to effectively lead and serve in complex, diverse and sometimes challenging environments. 

Future Women in Service is a student-founded, student-led organization that builds leadership skills and fosters community among women in ROTC at Baylor. 

The Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences earned national recognition for its outdoor classroom.