Presidential Perspective - March 6, 2025

Baylor Students, Faculty, Staff and Parents:

It’s hard to believe it’s already March and Spring Break is next week. I know many of you are looking forward to time away with family and friends and for rest and renewal during this busy time of year. In addition to vacations, more than 100 students and faculty and staff leaders will serve on seven Baylor mission trips in five countries during Spring Break. This year’s missions focus on food insecurity and houselessness, accounting, medicine and small business development. A strategic component of Baylor’s goal to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service, mission trips provide an opportunity for students to integrate their academic disciplines and skills with service to show Christ’s love to others. And, they are yet another tangible demonstration of the Pro Mundo in our University motto.

On to some campus news:

• SETTING THE STANDARD: Whether you are on a mission trip or vacationing, I encourage you to take the spirit of Baylor’s caring community with you by looking out for your friends and peers next week. Typically, after Spring Break through the end of the semester, colleges and universities across the country experience an increase in Title IX reporting. Please know that there are many resources on campus should you need help, such as Baylor’s Office of Equity, Civil Rights and Title IX, the Baylor Counseling Center and the University Chaplain. Let us continue to “set the standard” at Baylor.
• NEW BUDPS LEADER: I am pleased to announce DJ Rodman will lead the Baylor University Department of Public Safety as Senior Director of Public Safety and Security, effective March 10. DJ has more than 24 years of experience in higher education, including public safety roles with Northern Illinois University and here at Baylor, where he has served as Assistant Chief of Police and since November as Interim Senior Director. DJ will continue to provide leadership for five BUDPS departments, including BUPD, Emergency Management, Physical and Technical Security, Global Safety and Research Security, and Parking and Transportation. He is a strong, collaborative and highly respected leader and public servant who is fully committed to continuing Baylor’s gold standard in higher education safety, security and law enforcement for our students, faculty, staff and visitors.
• CELEBRATING SERVICE AT BAYLOR: Congratulations to the Baylor faculty and staff who were honored earlier this week during the Service Awards celebration, hosted by the Division of Human Resources. The annual luncheon recognizes the recipients’ years of loyal service and contributions in five-year increments, beginning with year five and following with milestones that this year went all the way up to 55 years of service! Baylor is so blessed by your dedication to the University and our mission.
• BLACK GOSPEL ARCHIVE NEWS: Baylor’s Black Gospel Archive continues to raise its national profile with three big media placements recently. Last Friday, a story on how the Black Gospel Archive fills gaps in gospel music history was highlighted on NPR’s “All Things Considered,” one of NPR’s flagship news programs. The story, which featured interviews with former Baylor faculty member Bob Darden and Dr. Stephen Newby, aired on more than 180 radio stations across the country. And the day before, on Thursday, CBS News Texas in Dallas-Fort Worth gave viewers “A look at the Black Gospel Archive at Baylor University.” Just yesterday NBC5 DFW interviewed Darryl Stuhr, Director of Digitization and Digital Collection Preservation Services, and others in the program about the significance of preserving history in sound. I hope you will take a few minutes to listen and watch these reports on one of the many amazing programs happening on our campus.
• WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: Baylor is joining others across nation in celebrating Women’s History Month throughout March with events that recognize the significant contributions women have made to our nation and our University. Activities began earlier this week and will continue with the Freedom of Womanhood webinar, the Learning from Women on the Margins lecture and Her Story: Celebrating Women Who Inspire Change, as well as several other programs. There are so many women to celebrate at Baylor and in Waco, and I want to congratulate our women students, faculty and staff for their many accomplishments.
• HAWAIIAN FALLS DISCOUNT: Even though Spring Break is next week, I know many of you are already thinking about the summer. If you’ve checked your campus mailbox, you might know that full-time Baylor employees have a limited-time offer waiting at Hawaiian Falls Waterpark. Using the promo code BAYLOR, faculty and staff can access a Baylor-exclusive season pass and a discounted family pass. This is one of the many opportunities available to students, faculty and staff through Waco Perks – as long as we use our Baylor IDs. There are plenty of discounts to enjoy throughout the city, from dining to entertainment and more.

I will pause my Thursday email next week because of Spring Break, but remember to be safe. We will see all our students back on Monday, March 17.

Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
President

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Introduction to Public and Population Health students under Assistant Professor Elizabeth Kwon, Ph.D., recently held a health fair at Church Under the Bridge, which meets Sundays across from the Baylor campus in Waco. Baylor students provided information on physical and mental health to those who attended.