Presidential Perspective - June 6, 2024
Baylor Students, Faculty, Staff and Parents:
I trust your summer is off to a fantastic start! The First Gent and I are flying “across the pond” this week for some much-needed rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation. We look forward to some time away from campus to reflect on an incredible academic year with the Baylor Family and to explore new areas of God’s creation. The highlight of the trip will be Baylor-related, of course, as we will be connecting with several groups of Study Abroad students across Europe. We can’t wait to fling our green and gold afar!
Some updates for this week:
- GIVE LIGHT CLOSEOUT: With the recent close of the fiscal year, we also close our Give Light campaign, and what an amazing example it has been of the Baylor Family coming together to support our Christian mission and propel our University toward its bright future. More than 100,000 donors gave to priorities across Baylor’s academic areas and programs and to support student scholarships, faculty chairs, research growth, athletics and so much more. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped us not only meet our campaign goal, but exceed it by setting a new fundraising record with more than $1.5 billion raised. You can see the impact of giving across the University in our online report. This milestone is certainly one to celebrate!
- TOP 100 UNIVERSITY FOR PATENTS: For the third year in a row, Baylor has been ranked among elite research institutions on the National Academy of Inventors list of Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted Utility Patents in 2023. This annual ranking highlights U.S. universities – like Baylor – that play a large role in advancing innovation and invention in our country. As a Christian Research 1 university, Baylor faculty are at the forefront of advancing human knowledge, contributing to their disciplines and creating solutions to some of the world’s most meaningful challenges. Through the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, the Office of Innovation and Economic Development manages all intellectual property generated by Baylor and works alongside Baylor inventors throughout the technology transfer process to protect, market and commercialize their inventions. By participating in this process, inventors advance the transfer of scientific achievements to broader society and promote a competitive economy of innovation.
- FACULTY FULBRIGHT: For the past month, we’ve been celebrating our record-breaking 18 student Fulbright recipients – and for good reason! Today we applaud our latest faculty Fulbright U.S. Scholar, Sungseek Moon, Ph.D., professor of social work and The Lindner Endowed Chair of Global Studies. Dr. Moon continues Baylor’s rich Fulbright tradition as our fifth faculty recipient since 2022 and second in 2024. Dr. Moon’s commitment is two-fold: addressing global health challenges and fostering intercultural understanding. His Fulbright year conducting research and teaching at the University of Nairobi's College of Health Sciences will give him the perfect opportunity to apply both his social work and public health expertise to tackle the pressing issue of adolescent substance use in Kenya.
- DEAN’S LIST HONOREES: Congratulations to the more than 5,200 Baylor undergraduates named to the Spring 2024 Dean’s Academic Honor List in recognition of their outstanding academic work during the semester. Students honored on the Dean’s List earned a minimum semester grade-point average of 3.70, with no grade lower than a “C” while enrolled in at least 12 graded semester hours. I’m proud of our students’ exemplary work in the classroom, and I extend my gratitude to the dedication of our world-class faculty, who deeply value teaching and mentoring, a true hallmark of a Baylor education.
- SOFTBALL SUCCESS: I am extremely proud of the run from Coach Glenn Moore and the Baylor softball team, who went on the road to claim the NCAA Lafayette Regional and advanced to the NCAA Gainesville Super Regional against No. 4 Florida. The Bears were just a play or two away against the Gators from advancing to their fifth College World Series and showed a never-quit attitude of which the Baylor Family can be proud. Congratulations on an outstanding season!
Don’t forget to thank God daily for the immense blessings He provides to us as His children!
Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
President
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Orientation and Line Camp for #BU28 is off and running!