Presidential Perspective - Aug. 20, 2026

Baylor Students, Faculty, Staff and Parents:

It’s hard to believe, but this was move-in No. 10 for the First Gent and me. Even in the Texas heat, I never tire of this beautiful expression of who we are as a Baylor Family. We care deeply for each other, we bear one another’s burdens (in this case, boxes and belongings!) and we share in the joy of new beginnings. There aren’t enough words to thank the more than 2,800 student, faculty, staff, church and community volunteers who offered an enthusiastic Baylor and Waco welcome to #BU30.

This week we also got to introduce our hometown during the official “A Waco Welcome” at the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center. It was so fun to see all the local eateries, community partners and businesses show what truly makes Waco special – blessedly in the air conditioning!

Right on the heels of move-in, we formally kick off Welcome Week tonight on Fountain Mall and move into Academic Convocation on Friday morning before the Spirit Rally at the Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion that evening. Then, I love how students plug in with local churches and faith communities during Saturday’s Celebration of Community & Faith. There are so many wonderful activities happening right now, but if I had to choose, I’d say my favorite is the candlelight worship service Sunday evening – also on Fountain Mall – and I want to remind our faculty and staff that you are welcome to join alongside our students. 

When the boxes are unpacked and goodbyes said, know our goal for the week is simple: We want our students, new and returning, to feel cared for and loved at Baylor.

Here are a few updates for the week:

• FIRST DAY PHOTOS: Students, start the new school year right by taking a “First Day of School” photo for Mom and Dad! We will have six locations across campus this year. Stations with backdrops and “chalkboard” signs will be inside the Baylor Sciences Building, Foster Campus for Business and Innovation, Moody Memorial Library, Bill Daniel Student Center (SUB), Penland Dining Hall and East Village Dining Hall. Baylor staff will be available to take a picture with your cellphone so you can share it with your loved ones. If you decide to post on social media, be sure to tag @Baylor.
• FIRST DAY POPSICLES: Also, students, be sure to stop by the front of Allbritton House – where the First Gent and I live on campus – this Monday at 2 p.m. for FREE popsicles from Helados La Azteca. I can’t wait to see you on the first day of classes!
• WELCOME NEW FACULTY: As we warmly bring students to campus, I also want to offer a Baylor welcome to the 73 new full-time faculty members joining us this fall. Interim Provost Dr. Lee Nordt and I had the opportunity to greet them during the opening session of New Faculty Orientation earlier this week. I also look forward to seeing them at this year’s fall Faculty meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at the Foster Campus, the fall Staff meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the Hurd Welcome Center and at the annual welcome reception hosted by the Office of the Provost on Thursday, Sept. 17 at George W. Truett Theological Seminary. Be sure and save those dates.
• ANOTHER ETRUSCAN FIND: This summer, a team of Baylor faculty, study abroad students and international researchers, led by Baylor’s Dr. Davide Zori, uncovered a second intact Etruscan chamber tomb in central Italy. This is extraordinarily rare archaeological achievement comes just one year after their first intact tomb discovery drew global headlines. Beyond what this find will teach us about life and culture nearly 2,700 years ago, I am so grateful that Baylor students are working shoulder-to-shoulder with renowned scholars, contributing to research that is reshaping our understanding of the ancient world.
• WACO SYMPHONY DISCOUNT: The connection between Baylor and the Waco Symphony runs deep. Many of the Symphony’s principal musicians are Baylor School of Music faculty, and Baylor students gain paid professional orchestral experience through the Symphony Fellows program. And all Waco Symphony performances are at Waco Hall on the Baylor campus. The Symphony again invites Baylor faculty and staff to enjoy 20% off tickets to concerts throughout the new season with code BUFSA. This year’s season, Sounds of Joy, begins on Thursday, Sept. 24.
• BAYLOR ATHLETICS: Mark your calendar for several home Baylor Athletics events this weekend. On Saturday, join Baylor Football for Meet the Bears at the Allison Indoor Practice Facility. Doors open at 12:30 p.m., and admission is free. Meet the Bears wraps up at 2:30 p.m., but keep the day going at the Ferrell Center with a free Baylor Volleyball exhibition against UTSA at 3 p.m. The No. 21-ranked Bears are ready for another exciting season. Finally, Baylor Soccer is off to a 2-0 start, and has the highest ranking in program history, No. 6! The Bears will host Texas State at Betty Lou Mays Field on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free and the match will be streamed live on ESPN+.

I hope you will take some time to visit the new Baptist Student Ministries Center at the corner of Daughtrey Avenue and 4th Street. The ribbon cutting was yesterday, and I know the building will be another sacred gathering place for Baylor students to connect and grow in their faith.

Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
President

PHOTO OF THE WEEK