Presidential Perspective - October 23, 2025

Baylor Students, Faculty, Staff and Parents:

This year’s Homecoming promises to offer something for everyone, from first-year students to alumni who graduated from Baylor 50-plus years ago. The week-long schedule of activities kicks off with a worship service presented by Vertical ministries on Monday night, and then the First Gent and I will host thousands of students at the Allbritton House on Wednesday at 6 p.m. for a fun-filled “Dinner with the Livingstones.” We will line up the local food trucks – some owned by Baylor grads – and together enjoy an evening of fall fellowship with “family photos” on the front porch.

On Thursday, first-year students are invited to Mass Meeting and the bonfire build, and the entire Baylor Family can attend Homecoming at the Hurd on Friday. New this year and also on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. is the Fall Festival on Third Street. Kids of all ages will enjoy a fall festival environment with candy, games, prizes, photo ops, food and more. For Baylor students, I hope you make your way to the Sid Richardson Building facing Fountain Mall from 5 to 6 p.m. on Friday for our annual FULL-SIZE Halloween candy bar giveaway!

I encourage everyone to be sure and stop by a few of our tried-and-true Baylor Homecoming traditions as well, like Singspiration, Royal & Pure Homecoming Stroll-Off, Extravaganza, Pep Rally and Bonfire – not to mention the football game against UCF at McLane Stadium on Saturday. (We will announce the game time by Monday once we hear from the Big 12 Conference.)

I hope to see you around campus over the next several days … Happy Homecoming!

On to a few updates:

• PROSPECTIVE STUDENT PREMIERE: This Saturday the entire Baylor campus will host more than 5,500 prospective students and families during Fall Premiere. Guests will have the opportunity to take a campus tour, meet with academic departments, learn about the admissions process, tour residence halls and enjoy exciting activities and live performances. It is also a great time to explore everything Waco has to offer. Please join me in showing our guests a warm welcome as they consider Baylor for their academic endeavors and as their future home.
• FACULTY AND STAFF DEVOTIONAL: I am so pleased that faculty and staff continue to report Baylor is a place where they can authentically live out their faith and we actively support their spiritual growth. One new example of this support is the recently released “Blessing for a New School Year.” This devotional was developed by Baylor’s Office of Spiritual Life and it is a resource built around our motto – Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana, Pro Mundo. I hope you will find it helpful as we strive to unite our campus in activities of spiritual formation.
• FACULTY/STAFF OPEN ENROLLMENT: Benefits Open Enrollment for 2026 began Oct. 14 for faculty and staff and will end on Tuesday, Oct. 28. This is a once-a-year opportunity to review and update benefits elections, including health-related insurances. Please note that this year is an active enrollment, and faculty and staff must log into Benefitfocus to change or keep benefits elections. Learn more at 2026 Benefits Enrollment and see what new benefits are available to you and your family.
• GROUNDBREAKING DINOSAUR RESEARCH: Baylor geoscientists, along with colleagues at New Mexico State University, the Smithsonian Institution and a team of international researchers, are gaining worldwide attention for their groundbreaking research published today in the prestigious journal Science. The team discovered a hidden chapter of Earth’s history in layers of rock preserve in northwestern New Mexico, uncovering evidence of vibrant, regionally distinct dinosaur ecosystems from 66 million years ago. Although an asteroid impact abruptly ended the age of dinosaurs, Daniel Peppe, Ph.D., associate professor of geosciences, and his former graduate student now NMSU professor Andrew Flynn, Ph.D. ’20, say the ecosystems dinosaurs left behind set the stage for what came next: mammals beginning to diversify rapidly, including new diets, body sizes and ecological roles.
• SIC ’EM SCIENCE AT MAYBORN: If you are looking for something to do this weekend, I hope you will discover the wonder of science at SIC ’EM Science Dayat the Mayborn Museum. This Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., families, students and science lovers of all ages are invited to enjoy hands-on experiments, meet Baylor researchers and explore topics ranging from sleep and memory to sustainable materials, aquatic ecosystems, Ice Age fossils and more. The always popular Chemistry Magic Show is back from 2 to 3 p.m., featuring crowd favorites like Elephant Toothpaste and Mentos Fountains.

Remember the first country music concert at Foster Pavilion is happening tonight as Baylor and Waco welcome CMA New Artist of the Year Nominee Tucker Wetmore. Tickets are available either online or at the door.

Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
President

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

So proud of these and all the Baylor students who participated in Steppin’ Out last Saturday – serving our neighbors at nearly 60 different sites throughout Waco.