Season 4

Baylor University is now an R1 research institution. The end of 2021 brought this exciting news, as this long-pursued goal became a reality. Additionally, the University celebrates the announcement of an agreement with the City of Waco to locate Baylor’s new basketball facility along the Brazos River near downtown Waco. In this Baylor Connections, President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., discusses these major benchmarks and their impact going forward.

What is game theory and how can it shape our understanding of economics, business, politics and more? Baylor’s expert in game theory, Jameson Graber, recently earned a prestigious CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation to conduct interdisciplinary research that seeks answers to important societal questions. In this Baylor Connections, Graber, an assistant professor of math, gives listeners a lesson in “Game Theory 101” and shares more about his research.

Brian Raines wears numerous hats at Baylor as he teaches students, serves his fellow faculty and sits on the Board of Regents. On this Baylor Connections, Dr. Raines, professor of mathematics, associate dean for research and strategic planning in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences and faculty regent, talks about those roles and the threads that tie them together in service to students and the Baylor mission.

Amidst the joy of the holiday season, many dealing with loss or trauma in their own life feel grief. Angela Gorrell, assistant professor of practical theology, has experienced that type of dichotomy. While studying joy at the Yale Center for Faith and Culture, her family suffered a string of tragedies that led to her to question what it means to find joy in the midst of suffering. Her book, The Gravity of Joy: A Story of Being Lost and Found, walks readers through those struggles and what she learned in the process. She takes listeners inside that journey and offers insights on joy in this Baylor Connections.

Sarah Kienle is the world’s top expert on the craniofacial anatomy of pinnipeds. In this Baylor Connections, Dr. Kienle, assistant professor of biology, explains what that means and provides a broader understanding of this little-studied area. Pinnipeds are a group of animals that includes seals, sea lions and walruses. They feed underwater, and Dr. Kienle’s foundational study of their facial muscles in Journal of Anatomy deepens understanding of the role those muscles play in feeding and more.

As a young social worker in the 1990s, Danielle Parrish noticed significant gaps in the support provided to young women in the juvenile justice system. She’s since dedicated her career to changing that. Dr. Parrish today serves as a professor at the Houston campus of Baylor’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work. In this Baylor Connections, she shares the needs faced by this at-risk population and how advancing beyond siloed care can lead to better outcomes for their future.

The Baylor Family’s generosity has spurred exciting growth throughout the University. From new faculty chairs and student scholarships to major capital projects like a welcome center, basketball pavilion and football operations center, it’s an exciting season in the life of the University. In this Baylor Connections, Dave Rosselli, Vice President for Advancement, takes listeners inside these projects and shares how Baylor alumni and friends across the nation are driving a dynamic vision to become reality.

The Global Flourishing Study represents the largest initiative of its kind to investigate the determinants of human flourishing. In this week’s Baylor Connections, Dr. Byron Johnson, Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences and Director of the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor, takes listeners inside the massive project that will survey over 240,000 individuals in 22 countries over five years. With $43 million in funding, it’s also the largest funded research project in Baylor history, with a scope that will impact numerous disciplines through scientific, longitudinal data on a variety of factors that influence human thriving.

As the son of refugees, Jonathan Tran says the refugee experience is formative to each aspect of a person’s life. Tran serves as associate professor of philosophical theology and is the George W. Baines Chair of Religion at Baylor. In this Baylor Connections, he shares his family’s story, unpacks scholarship in ethics, religion, language and more and examines lessons from his new book Asian Americans and the Spirit of Racial Capitalism.

Baylor has celebrated substantial growth in research marked by quality, visibility and impact since the 2018 launch of Illuminate. This summer, the University shared metrics that position Baylor to reach R1 benchmarks ahead of schedule—as early as 2024. In this Baylor Connections, Vice Provost for Research Kevin Chambliss unpacks those numbers and shares how the research they represent addresses significant challenges, benefits Baylor students and advances Baylor’s Christian mission.

Few people have led a city’s Final Four efforts and served in leadership for a program that played in a Final Four, but Dawn Rogers has done both. In this Baylor Connections, Rogers shares more about her role as Baylor’s deputy athletics director and as a sport administrator for multiple sports, including the reigning national champion men’s basketball team. As she provides leadership to Baylor’s sport administrators, she takes listeners inside their importance in the success of across all 19 Baylor sports teams, and shares insights from leading Phoenix’s Final Four Local Organizing Committee prior to coming to Baylor.

A nanometer measures just 1/100,000 the width of a human hair, but the chemical reactions that take place at that level bear significant implications for scientists, engineers, medical practitioners and more. Dr. Zhenrong Zhang, associate professor of physics, is illuminating the nanoscale through the development of a powerful nanoscale microscope. In this Baylor Connections, she shares how the invention can lead to more accurate medical diagnoses, cleaner sources of energy and more.

Dr. Sandeep Mazumder was named last spring as The William E. Crenshaw Endowed Dean of Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business after an extensive national search. Meet Dr. Mazumder in this Baylor Connections as he shares his journey from London to Waco, which included stops at some of the world’s most prestigious institutions. He further examines his philosophy on faith and scholarship and highlights the experiences that guided him into a new season of leadership at Baylor.

Baylor’s Center for Academic Success and Engagement (CASE) is a newly formed center bridging a variety of resources to help students thrive. In this Baylor Connections, Whitney Jones, senior director of CASE, shares the center’s approach and the resources available for academics and engagement, and examines how these services fill needed gaps and help students find a sense of belonging and purpose.

COVID-19 has further highlighted need for nurses who fill a critical care role in a public health crisis. Dr. Linda Plank is a 30-year nursing veteran and longtime educator who was named Dean of Baylor’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) this spring. In this Baylor Connections, Dr. Plank discusses the impact of the pandemic on nursing and nursing education, examines the growth of Baylor nursing and shares what makes LHSON distinct in higher education.

On the 700th anniversary of his death, Dante still resonates, providing timeless insight into the challenges people face and a guide to navigate those trials. In this Baylor Connections, Douglas Henry, Dean of the Honors College, shares why the Honors College is leading the world’s largest Dante reading group, called “100 Days of Dante,” and takes listeners inside the Honors College’s approach to transformative education.

The start of a new semester heralds much to celebrate. In this Baylor Connections, President Linda A. Livingstone Ph.D., shares the excitement of a new year, and discusses a variety of important topics with the Baylor Family, including the University’s record incoming class, R1 research momentum and ongoing conference realignment developments.

A lot goes into promoting student success. At Baylor, a coordinated campus effort provides resources and relationships to serve students and enhance their college experience. Sinda Vanderpool serves associate vice provost for academic enrollment management—Baylor’s chief student success officer. In this Baylor Connections, she shares practical and philosophical insights and examines programs that build engagement, resilience and retention.

A new semester is here at Baylor University and with it comes opportunities to connect students to Baylor’s caring community, share in longstanding traditions together and tell the Baylor story. In this Baylor Connections, Jason Cook, vice president for marketing and communications and chief marketing officer, shares how the University communicates with Baylor Family members and friends both on and off campus and highlights the strength of the Baylor brand.

If you’ve ever enjoyed a message or advertisement, but were unable to fully express exactly why it was appealing, then you can see the value of JaeHwan Kwon’s research. Kwon, associate professor of marketing in Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business, utilizes eye-tracking technology to determine attention and physiological responses to messages. In this Baylor Connections, he examines the role of psychology and physiology in uncovering clues to what draws and keeps our attention.

Few professors have a resume quite like that of Dr. Sparky Matthews, clinical professor in Baylor’s Honors Program. Dr. Matthews is a retired Air Force flight surgeon who served as the first surgeon general of the United States Space Force. In this Baylor Connections, he shares how a Baylor mentor shaped his career journey and how returning to teach at his alma mater represents a personal mission.

Olympic competition is rarified air reached by few athletes in the world—among them, a Baylor professor. In this Baylor Connections, meet Alex Yokochi, professor of mechanical engineering and a swimmer for his native Portugal in the 1984, 1988 and 1992 games. Yokochi shares his Olympic journey, training regimen and memories, and examines similarities between high-level athletic competition and academics.

How does urban pollution impact thunderstorm activity? It’s a question of interest to the Department of Energy, which turned to two Baylor professors to investigate. In this Baylor Connections, Rebecca Sheesley and Sascha Usenko, professors of environmental science at Baylor, discuss research that can uncover clues about thunderstorms in urban areas and lead to improvements in public health in Texas and beyond.

A banner year for Baylor Athletics included the University’s first men’s basketball national championship, record highs in student-athlete graduation and GPA, new coaching hires and more. That success drew national attention, with Mack Rhoades, Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, earning Sports Business Journal’s 2021 Athletics Director of the Year honors. In this Baylor Connections, Rhoades reflects on the impact of the past year, looks ahead to normal operations in the 2021-22 sports season and extolls an Athletics staff that thrived amidst COVID-19’s challenges.

Dr. Gary Sheppard is Baylor’s 2021 Alumnus of the Year. An internal medicine physician in private practice in Houston, he provides professional leadership in a number of roles, including as president of the Harris County Medical Society. In this Baylor Connections, Dr. Sheppard shares insights on the practice of medicine and service and examines philosophies and values that carried him and his patients through the challenges of COVID-19.

Baylor is thrilled to welcome incoming students and families back to campus this summer for Orientation and Line Camp. In this Baylor Connections, Sharra Hynes, vice president and dean of students in Baylor’s Division of Student Life, talks about the impact of student experiences on campus long before classes begin, and shares what makes these events so special for attendees.

Jessica Cope co-founded The Hopeful Theatre Project in Dallas/Fort Worth, a nonprofit theatre group that donates 100 percent of ticket proceeds to charity. A 2015 Baylor graduate, Cope was named the University’s 2021 Young Alumna of the Year. In this Baylor Connections, Cope shares the story behind The Hopeful Theatre Project and the calling to use her passion for the stage to support other organizations that make the community and world a better place.

Corey Carbonara and Michael Korpi are developing a system that could revolutionize color display on high-definition screens. 6P has drawn the attention of NASA, the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers and a variety of media organizations. In this Baylor Connections, Dr. Carbonara and Dr. Korpi, professors of film & digital media at Baylor, share the story behind a system designed to display a greater range of colors that God created the human eye to see.

It’s a “summer of hope” in Waco, with events returning and businesses moving towards more traditional experiences. What can residents and visitors anticipate this summer? Jeremy Vickers, associate vice president for external affairs, explains on this Baylor Connections. From major summer events to new business and dining opportunities, discover ways to make the most of Summer 2021 in Waco.

The Baylor Family’s generosity is astounding. Last month, the University’s Give Light philanthropic campaign crossed the $1 billion mark, providing transformational funding across the University—from academics to athletics, student life to global engagement. In this Baylor Connections, Dave Rosselli, vice president for advancement, provides an update on the campaign and how tangible outcomes will soon be visible across campus. He further delves into each campaign priority and how each will benefit through Give Light’s comprehensive approach.

Baylor is regularly mentioned among the top 50 “Best Colleges for Veterans” by U.S. News & World Report, and the VETS Program is a big part of the reason for that ranking. Veteran Education and Transition Services (VETS) is a Baylor program that promotes the academic success of veterans at Baylor, providing a variety of resources to help them successfully transition to college life. In this Baylor Connections, Kevin Davis, VETS Program Manager and a Marine Corps veteran, and Brittany Rothrock, a rising senior engineering major and Navy veteran, take listeners inside the veteran experience at Baylor, sharing both the challenges and the meaningful ways veterans contribute to the Baylor student body.

A school year like no other has drawn to a conclusion at Baylor and, even amidst the challenges presented by COVID-19, it was a time with much to celebrate. In this Baylor Connections, President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., shares a top 10 list—the top 10 moments of the 2020-21 year (plus a few bonus points) highlighting the Baylor Family’s accomplishments in academics, research, athletics, health, giving and more.

Mosquitoes are massive global agents of the spread of diseases like malaria and the West Nile virus. Cheolho Sim, associate professor of biology, has dedicated his research towards suppressing mosquito populations and slowing the spread of disease, recently earning a grant from the National Science Foundation to advance those efforts. In this Baylor Connections, Sim shares how genomic research into a mosquito’s circadian rhythm could be key to slowing the spread of disease, and examines how his lab lives out its motto, “driven by science, guided by compassion.”

What goes into coordinating events like football games, commencement ceremonies, basketball games and more at venues like McLane Stadium and the Ferrell Center? As Associate Athletic Director for Event Management and Facilities, Drew Pittman works to coordinate a variety of people and resources into a concerted effort that ensures a safe and fun experience for student athletes and fans. In this Baylor Connections, Pittman examines how he and his team navigated the challenges of COVID-19, and shares a personal story of adoption, as he and his wife, Alyssa, opened their homes and hearts in a unique and meaningful way.

Baylor University’s Career Center helps students navigate each step of the career journey. Amidst the challenges of COVID-19, Baylor’s placement rate grew in the last year, reflecting the hard work of students and staff in the face of job market headwinds. In this Baylor Connections, Ken Buckley, assistant vice provost in the Baylor University Career Center, analyzes that growth and shares how the Career Center provides tailored support for the individual student.

As the Spring Semester winds down, Baylor University Provost Dr. Nancy Brickhouse reflects on how the Baylor Family came together to reach this point. In this Baylor Connections, Dr. Brickhouse shares how faculty, staff and students served during February’s snow and ice storm, examines how the University is building research infrastructure as it pursues the goals of Illuminate, and shares the excitement of the hiring of two new Baylor University deans.

It’s been called “the Marine Corps Boot Camp of lawyering” and ranked by Princeton Review as “arguably the best training ground in the nation for practical lawyering.” Baylor Law’s legendary Practice Court celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, and in this Baylor Connections, two Baylor Law faculty and graduates examine what make it so special. Brad Toben, Dean and M.C. & Mattie Caston Chair of Law and Gerald Powell, Abner V. McCall Professor of Evidence and a longtime director of the Practice Court, reflect on its impact and share stories to take listeners inside the experience.

Amidst the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, Baylor welcomed a record incoming class last fall. Baylor University Admissions navigated those challenges to connect students to Baylor and welcome them into the family. In this Baylor Connections, Jessica King Gereghty, assistant vice president of enrollment management, examines how it all came together, and shares how new programs like Summer of Discovery and Accelerate help students connect with Baylor before setting foot on campus.

After 24 years of leading Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business through incredible growth, Terry Maness is retiring this summer as dean of the business school. On this Baylor Connections, Dr. Maness discusses why the timing was right for a new season of life, shares key moments in his career as dean, and reflects on a period of distinction for the school.

This week, Baylor released the independent report of the University’s Commission on Historic Campus Representations. On this Baylor Connections, President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., examines the purpose and impact of their work for the University and shares how an excavation of the past can help Baylor more fully live out its mission today. On the sports stage, President Livingstone delves into the success of Baylor’s two Sweet 16-bound basketball teams and the cultures they have built.

Technologies like artificial intelligence, deep learning and machine impact our lives in countless ways, but how much do you know them? On this Baylor Connections, Pablo Rivas, assistant professor of computer science at Baylor, gives listeners a class on “Deep Learning 101.” The author of the book Deep Learning for Beginners, Rivas shares how it shapes services used by consumers, and analyzes ethical issues to be considered in that growth.

Baylor resident chaplains live in residence halls on campus, providing pastoral care, guidance and community to the students they serve. In this Baylor Connections, two resident chaplains–Kathryn Freeman and Elijah Tanner—unpack the joys and challenges of ministering to students through the normal ups and downs of college, circumstances like COVID-19, and more.

Baylor nursing students are serving on the front lines of COVID-19 vaccination efforts throughout Waco and Dallas/Fort Worth. In this Baylor Connections, Dr. Lyn Prater, clinical professor at Baylor’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing, takes listeners inside the school’s participation in vaccine distribution locations, with students administering the vaccine to thousands of their Texas neighbors.

What do dust bunnies and plasmas have to do with outer space? Dr. Lorin Matthews explains on this Baylor Connections. Matthews, professor of physics and associate director of Baylor’s Center for Astrophysics, Space Physics and Engineering Research (CASPER), is a leading researcher into processes that form planets and continue to shape our galaxy, and she explains the impact of these events while taking listeners inside Baylor space research.

Black History Month provides a meaningful time to study and consider the history and contributions of African Americans. In this Baylor Connections, Dr. Ronald Angelo Johnson, the Ralph and Bessie Mae Lynn Chair of History at Baylor, examines ways we can intentionally expand our study of, and appreciation for, the impact and history of African Americans, further enriching our understanding of what it means to be an American.

Research and teaching are not separate functions of the Baylor experience, but rather inform one another and enhance engaged learning for students. In this Baylor Connections, Dr. Rizalia Klausmeyer, director of the Office of Undergraduate Research in Baylor’s Office of Engaged Learning, describes the impact of research experiences for students and shares ways they can get involved in research across a variety of disciplines.

Baylor’s Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation department is one of the nation’s elite—ranked in the top 10 by U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review, and Entrepreneurship magazine for more than a decade. Peter Klein is the W. W. Caruth Chair and Professor of Entrepreneurship at Baylor. In this Baylor Connections, he examines the entrepreneurial mindset in a variety of settings, considers the impact of COVID-19 on business leaders, and shares how Baylor Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation has established itself as a top national program.

Baylor’s pioneering Medical Humanities program shapes medical practitioners who treat patients as a whole person as they care for them. Last fall, the DeBakey Medical Foundation made a significant investment in Baylor Medical Humanities that will grow the department and formed a chair position. In this Baylor Connections, Dr. Lauren Barren, the inaugural DeBakey Chair of Medical Humanities, shares how the program partners the humanities with science education to holistically prepare those going into the medical field.

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention month, highlighting a complex problem that challenges communities close to home and around the world. Stacie Petter, the Ben H. Williams Professor of Information Systems and Business Analytics, uniquely applies her discipline to combat trafficking and slavery. In this Baylor Connections, Petter shares information systems’ role in that fight and explains how a grant from the National Science Foundation will help equip law enforcement with resources to identify and prosecute trafficking in their area.

The CDC estimates that 1 in 54 U.S. children meets criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder, a figure which brings into clear focus the importance of autism research. Joaquin Lugo, associate professor of psychology and neuroscience, is a leading autism researcher focused on uncovering connections between autism and other genetic conditions. In this Baylor Connections, he shares how he follows the data in research in search of autism treatment and analyzes ways families seeking to support their children can sift through a vast array of information and rumor to find evidence-based ASD insights.

To over 50,000 Facebook followers, she’s known as “Your Friendly Neighbor Epidemiologist,” sharing accessible and actionable insights into the COVID-19 pandemic. Those followers, however, may not know that the Baylor professor behind that account is a leader in global health and an advocate for surgical care for children around the world. In this Baylor Connections, Emily Smith, assistant professor of epidemiology, shares the story behind her highly-regarded social media outreach and takes listeners into the halls of the United Nations to understand the need for increased access to surgical care for children and their families.

An expert in environmental health and disease, Benjamin Ryan, clinical associate professor of environmental science at Baylor, has been called on by organizations like the United Nations, World Health Organization and more to address disasters and disease. In this Baylor Connections, he shares what it means for communities to be resilient in the face of such challenges and explains a program he and other colleagues developed which has helped over 4,000 communities around the world equip and prepare.