Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.

Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., is the 15th president of Baylor University, having served in that capacity since 2017. During her tenure as president, Dr. Livingstone oversaw the development and implementation of two strategic plans—Illuminate (2018-2023) and Baylor in Deeds (2024-present). These strategic plans have provided a foundation for Baylor’s aspiration to become America’s preeminent Christian research university. In addition, she led Give Light, the most successful comprehensive fundraising campaign in Baylor history. The campaign reached its fundraising goals well before its conclusion and raised over $1.5 billion for Baylor University.

Enhancing the University’s academic enterprise while strengthening its Christian mission has been a key priority for Dr. Livingstone. As a result of her dynamic and collaborative leadership, Baylor was designated a Research 1 university in December 2021. Baylor is one of only a few R1 institutions with an explicit, primary identity as a Christian university. 

Since Dr. Livingstone’s arrival, the University expanded its motto by adding Pro Mundo (For the World) to Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana (For the Church, For Texas). The change reflects a reinvigorated and explicit emphasis on Baylor’s global impact. Through the generosity of the Baylor Family, Baylor has added more than 45 new endowed chairs to the faculty. The University has also renovated historic academic buildings and residence halls and built new facilities — including the Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion and the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center — that have provided warm and inviting spaces for people to gather and deepen their connections to the University. 

President Livingstone has championed important initiatives to ensure a Baylor education remains accessible and affordable for both current and prospective students. These include the Extend the Line campaign, which aims to provide $250 million in new scholarships for Baylor students by the end of 2030. In 2025, Baylor's four-year graduation rate reached an all-time high of 77.3%, which is a testimony to the University's attention to affordability and student success.

During Dr. Livingstone’s presidency, Baylor has cultivated an increasingly welcoming and nurturing community.  Baylor was named one of the country’s top 10 Most Trusted Universities in consecutive surveys from 2022 and 2023 by national research firm Morning Consult. Morning Consult also named Baylor the second-most trusted university by parents and employers. In addition, Dr. Livingstone has led the implementation of recommendations from the Commission on Historic Campus Representations designed to create a physical environment on campus that tells the complete Baylor story.

During Dr. Livingstone’s tenure as president, Baylor has been named the top academic school in the Big 12 Conference, one of the top five universities in Texas, and one of the top 50 private universities in U.S. News & World Report’s annual college rankings. Each year since 2022, Baylor has been one of only a handful of schools ranked in the top 40 for both undergraduate teaching and undergraduate research. Baylor has also risen in such categories as Learning Communities (#9) and First-year Experience (#4). 

One of Dr. Livingstone’s deepest commitments is to strengthen Baylor’s Christian mission while maintaining the University’s historic Baptist roots. Data from the longitudinal Baylor Faith and Character Study have informed a number of changes on campus, including a redesign of our University Chapel program. Dr. Livingstone also commissioned a Spiritual Wellbeing Task Force that has developed new opportunities to nurture the faith of faculty and staff.

As an extension of her leadership on the Baylor campus, Dr. Livingstone previously chaired the NCAA Board of Governors and the American Council on Education Board. Currently, she is the lead independent director of the Board of Capital Southwest Industrials and serves on the Big 12 Conference Board of Directors, the Baylor College of Medicine Board of Trustees, the North American Baptist Fellowship Executive Committee, and the Board of the International Association of Baptist Colleges & Universities.

Dr. Livingstone previously served as dean and professor of management at The George Washington University School of Business, as dean and professor of management at Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management, and as a tenured faculty member and associate dean of graduate programs at Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business.

A native of Perkins, Oklahoma, Dr. Livingstone played basketball at Oklahoma State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in economics and management, a Master of Business Administration, and a Doctor of Philosophy in management and organizational behavior.  Her husband, Brad, a high school history teacher at Vanguard College Preparatory School, also played basketball at Oklahoma State. They have one daughter, Shelby, a former student-athlete at Rice University and graduate of Baylor’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary. Shelby serves as an Assistant Volleyball Coach at Baylor. She is married to Kyle Anema, head volleyball coach at McLennan Community College in Waco.