Presidential Perspective - September 19, 2024

Baylor Students, Faculty, Staff and Parents:

One of the great joys of this exciting time at Baylor is to see the incredible ways our faculty and students demonstrate God-given gifts and passions through research. Their work and its impact exemplify the Baylor mission in action, and they truly are “Baylor in Deeds” to a world in need of solutions to so many great challenges.

Next Wednesday is National Research Administrator Day. This has become an annual opportunity to celebrate all who play a role in Baylor research — administrators who provide invaluable support behind the scenes, and our research faculty, staff and students themselves. Matthew 5:16 reminds us that as we celebrate their good deeds, what we truly celebrate is the chance to participate in God’s redemptive work around the world and to point people toward our Father in heaven.

On the first National Research Administrator Day since the launch of our new strategic plan, Baylor in Deeds, we will highlight just a few of the many faculty whose work captures this spirit. Be on the lookout for social media posts, billboards in the Waco, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston areas and ads with the Texas Tribune on Wednesday showcasing Baylor research. I hope you’ll consider sharing research stories and posts on your own social networks as well.

Some updates for this week:

• CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE: Hispanic Heritage Month is observed each year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, and we are celebrating the rich culture, history and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans across our campus. I encourage you to explore the calendar of events hosted by different academic departments, student organizations and faculty groups over the next month. Together, we can develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of others in ways that strengthen our Baylor Family.
• INNOVATION GARAGE: Are you an innovator, entrepreneur or designer but need time and tools to design, build and test new products or work on research and class projects? Today from 3 to 7 p.m., we will celebrate the grand opening of the Innovation Garage, an exclusive workspace in the BRIC (Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative), sponsored by the Office of Innovation and Economic Development and powered by Baylor Libraries Experiential Learning team. Whether your project is academic, research-driven or personal, students, faculty and staff are encouraged to come to the BRIC to innovate. The Innovation Garage is outfitted with a wide variety of making tools, including 3D printers, a laser, sewing and embroidery, soldering and more, and the dedicated workspace allows for creating on a larger scale and over an extended duration. The BRIC is where innovation happens!
• GRATITUDE MATTERS: Caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and other progressive neurocognitive diseases can bring with it a range of emotions and challenges, but a team of interdisciplinary researchers led by School of Social Work assistant professor Jocelyn Shealy McGee, Ph.D., has found that caregivers who embrace gratitude will experience greater well-being and resilience. It really exemplifies Commitment II in our new Baylor in Deeds strategic plan about broadening interdisciplinary research and impact. Dr. McGee and her team joined together across disciplines with research that directly impacts the well-being of a growing population of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and the loved ones who care for them.
• HOME ATHLETICS EVENTS: With our football team on the road this Saturday at Colorado, it’s a great time to support our Bears competing in other sports over the next several days. Soccer, women’s tennis, equestrian and volleyball are all in action at home – beginning tonight with soccer hosting new Big 12 foe Arizona at 7 p.m. at the Betty Lou Mays Soccer Field. Find the complete schedule of home athletics events here.

It was so good to see so many new faces at Family Weekend just over a week ago. We are blessed as a Baylor Family!

Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
President

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

We’ve had some incredible views of God’s splendor across the evening Waco skies this week. #NoFilter