News

Over the summer and into the fall, Academic Affairs will engage in several "retooling" efforts to better align our resources with the priorities of Baylor in Deeds and current fiscal realities. 

I have been genuinely overwhelmed by your kind and thoughtful messages as I prepare to return to the faculty at the end of this summer. Thank you for your wonderful partnership these past seven years and for your continued commitment to Baylor’s mission.

Faculty and Teachers of Record, as you prepare for Thursday’s exams, please consider using these resources.

Baylor will restore access to the Canvas system at 1:00 p.m. CT today (Friday, May 8). Instructure restored the Canvas system for Baylor and other colleges and universities nationwide to operating condition overnight. Final exams currently scheduled for today will be conducted on Thursday, May 14, and all will be administered online. (Clarification: Final exams originally scheduled for today will be conducted online on Thursday, May 14. All remaining exams will continue as scheduled.) Please pay close attention to the information and instructions below. 

After careful consideration of the circumstances, we have decided to delay final exams tomorrow, Friday, May 8th. 

Canvas is currently unavailable university-wide. This is a nationwide issue. Users should not attempt to engage with or respond within the Canvas system until further notice. Our teams are actively monitoring the situation and working with the vendor toward resolution. Additional updates and communications will be shared as more information becomes available. Visit systemstatus.baylor.edu for updates.

I am pleased to share with you that Rishi R. Sriram, Ph.D., Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Success and Associate Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs in the Moody School of Education, has been selected to serve as Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education for the Office of the Provost, beginning June 1, 2026.

My Grandfather loved Sunday family gatherings. As the clock approached supper time, he would announce, “All good things must come to an end.” And so it goes. I’ve had a great seven years as Baylor University’s Provost, and it is now time to bring it to an end.

I am pleased to announce the creation of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, effective June 1. The new School will bring together faculty currently housed in the Department of Environmental Science and the Department of Geosciences within the College of Arts and Sciences. 

We would like to share important information regarding previously announcedchanges to faculty contract periods and the implementation of a new semi-monthly pay structure for the University. Our goal is to ensure clarity and transparency as we move through this transition.

Thank you for your dedication to our students, especially as you adapted quickly during the recent winter weather. I’m grateful for the spirit of care and resilience that continues to define our community.

Baylor University has announced a $30 million gift from the Moody Foundation of Galveston, Texas, to the University’s School of Education, now known as the Moody School of Education at Baylor.

Baylor Provost Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D., has announced James R. Brockmole, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Psychology at the University of Notre Dame, as the next Dean of Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences.

Happy New Year! I hope you and your loved ones enjoyed a peaceful holiday season.

I am pleased to announce that Tanya M. Sudia, Ph.D., R.N., FNAP, FAAN, has been selected as Dean of Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing, effective June 1. Dr. Sudia will succeed Linda Plank, Ph.D. R.N., NEA-BC, who will retire this summer.

As we close the semester, I’m encouraged by Baylor’s intentional approach to Artificial Intelligence (AI) — a topic shaping our future as a Christian R1 research institution. Under the leadership of Dr. Gary Carini, vice provost for AI and institutional research, we view AI not merely as a technological challenge but as an opportunity to advance academic excellence and principled scholarship.

It seems fitting that in November, National Veterans and Military Families Month, we should pause to consider how well we are serving this important community at Baylor. 

Due to the increasing number of undergraduate students we have, the University, in 2023, expanded the school day by adding additional class meeting times beginning at 7:00 p.m. That new meeting time led to adding an extra time slot for final exams, at 7:00 p.m., beginning in fall 2024. In addition, the Registrar’s Office has worked diligently over the past several years to rotate final exam periods so as not to have a specific course (and faculty) with a consistently early or late final exam slot.

The heart of the Baylor experience is developed on campus in the union of shared experiences and relationships. In keeping with the University's strategic plan, Baylor University continues to increase the percentage of undergraduates living on campus and improve the quality of Baylor’s residential communities. Central to this effort is Campus Living & Learning (CL&L)’s goal to further enhance engagement between students and faculty within the residential communities. 

I am delighted to share that Baylor has reached a significant milestone: the highest four-year graduation rate in our history! This remarkable achievement is a direct reflection of your dedication, innovation, and unwavering support for our students.

Earlier this week, Jon Singletary, Ph.D., Dean of the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work, informed me of his decision to step down from his leadership role of the School, effective October 15, 2025. 

Baylor University seeks an inspirational and visionary academic leader to serve as its next Dean for the College of Arts & Sciences. The Dean will be expected to advance the College's national and international prominence in research, education, and engagement activities. The Dean will be expected to understand, promote, and make a significant contribution to the University's distinctive Christian academic mission.

Ten Baylor faculty members have been selected as 2025-2026 Baylor Fellows for their excellence in teaching and desire to advance the University’s commitment to transformational education.

Thank you to those of you who attended the Fall Faculty Meeting on September 4! As the semester gets underway, it’s been a joy to see our campus come alive again with the energy of faculty, staff, and students reconnecting and engaging with the work we love.

Detailed information you need to know to plan ahead for Friday, Aug. 29, including parking lot and garage closures, campus operations and more.

As we begin the fall semester, J. Wesley (Wes) Null, Ph.D., who has served more than 14 years as our Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Academic Affairs, asked that I share his plans to return to his tenured faculty appointment as Professor of Curriculum & Foundations of Education at the conclusion of the Spring 2026 semester.  At that time, he will conclude 15 years of service as a Vice Provost.

As we prepare for the beginning of the Fall semester, we also are looking ahead to Baylor Football kicking off the 2025 season vs. Auburn in a nationally televised game on Friday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. at McLane Stadium.

The Office of the Provost is pleased to announce the launch of a newly redesigned Faculty Handbook website, a comprehensive and user-friendly resource for faculty across all departments. The updated stand-alone website offers streamlined navigation, enhanced search capabilities, and mobile accessibility, making it easier than ever to find policies, procedures, and guidance relevant to academic life.

Welcome to the start of the new fall semester! I hope you had a restorative summer and are returning with renewed energy and inspiration.

On August 7, 2025, Provost Brickhouse announced her selections for the annual Readers Meet the Author series that recognizes recent single-author faculty book publications and invites shared reflection and collegial conversation about big ideas.

I wanted to share with you the news that Lee C. Nordt, Ph.D., the longest-serving Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences –our largest academic unit – has announced his plan to step down from his role as Dean and return to the Department of Geosciences at the conclusion of the Spring 2026 semester.

The heart of the Baylor experience is developed on-campus in the union of shared experiences and relationships. In keeping with the university's strategic plan, Baylor University continues to increase the percentage of undergraduates living on campus and improve the quality of Baylor’s residential communities. Central to this effort is Campus Living & Learning (CL&L)’s goal to further enhance engagement between students and faculty within the residential communities. 

Integration of the Graduate School and GPE, Carini Appointed Vice Provost for AI and Institutional Research

Happy (belated) Fourth of July! As our nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, individuals and institutions across the country are preparing to mark this historic milestone in meaningful and memorable ways--including right here at Baylor.

Happy June! I hope you all are enjoying your summer. As minds begin to turn to the upcoming 2025-2026 academic year, I wanted to share a brief update on faculty hiring as we celebrate the good work of deans, dean’s assistants, vice provosts, search chairs, and search committees bringing great pools of faculty candidates to campus. 

David M. Szymanski, Ph.D., will join Baylor University on May 27 as The William E. Crenshaw Endowed Dean of the nationally ranked Hankamer School of Business.

Michael E. Young, Ph.D., professor of psychological sciences and graduate program director at Kansas State, has been selected as Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School.

As we close out the spring semester, I thank you all for the many ways you have contributed to Baylor’s mission as a Christian R1 university, dedicated to educating our students for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community.

I am writing today to inform you that Linda Plank, Ph.D., Dean of the Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) since 2021, announced today during a faculty meeting in Dallas that she plans to retire in Summer 2026. 

Lenten blessings to you all. As we prepare our hearts for Good Friday and Easter Sunday, I pray you all will make the time to reflect on Christ’s journey to the cross and the meaning of his life and teachings. For our Jewish colleagues, chag Pesach sameach.

I am pleased to share with you that Coretta M. Pittman, Ph.D., associate professor of English and associate dean in the College of Arts & Sciences, has been selected to serve as Vice Provost for Community Engagement and Belonging for the Office of the Provost, beginning July 1. 

With all the uncertainty surrounding federal research, I wanted to take a moment to reassure you how carefully Baylor’s administration is monitoring this ever-changing situation – not only do we have staff on campus dedicated to this task, but we also have people in Washington and Austin representing Baylor University. 

As we move into the spring, we are excited to kick off the faculty awards season! This time of year is particularly special to me and my staff, as it allows us to share the wonderful news with our faculty members who have distinguished themselves in various ways and to express our gratitude for their exceptional service to Baylor.

Welcome to 2025 and a new semester! 

As we wrap up the fall semester, let us reflect upon Baylor’s remarkable achievements this fall. 

Starting in the spring 2025 semester, the University is introducing one day of asynchronous instruction to ensure all students receive the full academic experience required by higher education accreditation standards. This spring, the asynchronous day will fall on Saturday, April 26

I am opening today’s newsletter with the news that Sandeep Mazumder, Ph.D., the William E. Crenshaw Endowed Dean of the Hankamer School of Business, has been named President of Berry College, private institution based in Georgia.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Fall Faculty Meeting on September 4, where we launched our new strategic plan, Baylor in Deeds. For those unable to join us, a meeting recording is available for your review.

We are truly into the semester now—that sense of renewal is in the air, and having students back on campus brings excitement (and parking adventures) wherever they go!

Baylor Provost Nancy Brickhouse recently announced author selections for this academic year’s “Readers Meet the Author Series.” Selections include faculty publications on American history and religion, contemporary Christian music, the Supreme Court, and the ethics of architecture.

The Baylor University Office of the President and the Office of the Provost are looking forward to hosting David Brooks on September 10 at 6:30 p.m. for a special event in Waco Hall.

It’s time to ring in a new academic year. There will be new faces on campus and new opportunities to engage with one another in fulfilling Baylor’s mission to “educate young men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community.” 

The 2023-2024 academic year has been another very productive season for faculty hiring. In all, we have hired 111 new full-time faculty. 

Happy summer! I hope you are finding time and space for rest and rejuvenation. 

The end of an academic year comes with the opportunity to celebrate the success of our students. This May, we anticipate that nearly 2,800 undergraduate and over 700 graduate students will be awarded their degrees. 

Baylor University Provost Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D., announced today the appointment of Elisabeth R. Kincaid, J.D., Ph.D., as director of the Institute for Faith and Learning (IFL), effective Aug. 1.  She also will serve as associate professor of ethics, faith and culture in Baylor’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary and affiliate faculty member in the Department of Management in the Hankamer School of Business.

Stephen Sloan, Ph.D., professor of history and the director of the Institute for Oral History at Baylor University, was honored as the 2024 Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of the Year at the annual Academic Honors Convocation on April 19. 

Twelve Baylor University professors have been honored with Outstanding Faculty Awards for teaching, scholarship and contributions to the academic community for the 2023-2024 academic year.

As we celebrated Women's History Month, I was delighted to listen to and share about the incredible contributions of the women in our Baylor family- faculty, staff, students, and alumni.

Baylor has long been known for its excellent undergraduate educational experience. We are also increasingly gaining recognition for our innovative hybrid and online graduate professional programs. These programs have grown to more than 3,000 students in 20+ degree programs in the past five years. Many are well-known nationally. 

Special thanks to those of you who attended the Spring Faculty Meeting on January 23 and to the people behind the scenes who ensured a well-run meeting with lots of good information.

Graduate Professional Education (GPE) is working in collaboration with Baylor’s colleges and schools to expand the portfolio of offerings and increase enrollment. It is our goal to bring quality Baylor offerings rich in Christian values to professionals from across the nation by providing courses through various mediums. Through Baylor’s academic rigor, professionals will gain skills they can put into practice immediately and graduate from our programs with the knowledge to become leaders in their industry.

This week, you will be invited to participate in an important faculty survey that will help us better understand faculty job satisfaction – areas of faculty concern, areas of success and challenges facing our faculty as a whole. 

Happy New Year! A new start to the semester always seems like a good time to celebrate our faculty and their accomplishments.

Baylor University will participate in Harvard’s Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) Faculty Satisfaction Survey beginning the week of February 5, 2024. Completion of the web-based survey is expected to take approximately 25 minutes. Survey participation and responses are confidential and managed by Harvard’s COACHE team.

There is no time of the year that I enjoy more than Advent – and that is particularly the case here at Baylor. 

WACO, Texas (Dec. 4, 2023) – Following a nationwide search, Baylor University Provost Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D., announced today that Kevin Sanders, D.M.A., director of the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music at the University of Memphis, has been selected as dean of the Baylor University School of Music. His appointment is effective July 1, 2024.

Here at Baylor University, we aspire to provide all our faculty and staff opportunities to grow their talents and reach their highest aspirations. We welcome your input in that process and have made changes based on your feedback.

WACO, Texas (Nov. 9, 2023) – Following a nationwide search, Baylor University Provost Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D., announced today that Jeremy Counseller, J.D., The Abner V. McCall Chair of Evidence Law at Baylor, has been selected as dean of the University’s nationally ranked Baylor Law School. His appointment is effective July 1, 2024.

Thanks so much to those who attended the Fall Faculty Meeting on September 20 at the new Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center. I hope you enjoyed the warm and engaging "welcome" provided by Baylor's newest building just off Interstate 35.

Every fall, I am excited as new faculty arrive and current faculty return. Students move into residence halls, off-campus houses, and apartments and find their way through a new schedule of classes, clubs, and other activities. There is a rhythm to the academic year that I find rejuvenating.

Fall 2023 is here! Let me give you a bit of a preview of what you can expect for this forthcoming fall semester. 

The COACHE Committee, which is comprised of faculty from across the University’s schools and colleges, will be instrumental in preparing for the survey, recommending supplemental questions that further assess and build upon findings in 2020, and communicating with peers regarding the survey timeline and importance of participation.

Artificial intelligence (AI) will disrupt higher education.

ChatGPT told me so.

It must be true.

Much has happened at Baylor since I arrived here four years ago. Together we have navigated COVID-19, reached Carnegie’s highest research status of R1, and doubled graduate student enrollments – while also continuing to deepen our longstanding commitment to providing a transformative undergraduate education in a caring Christian community.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to work alongside you these past four years. We have done amazing work together under the direction of President Livingstone and our strategic plan, Illuminate. At the Spring Faculty Meeting, I summarized some of these accomplishments.

Spring is a time to honor those in the Baylor community with achievements that merit special regard. Promotions are being announced, and the outstanding faculty awards committee assesses nominations for awards that will be announced in the Fall Faculty Meeting (to be held in the new Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center!). The latest Cornelia Marshall Smith Award recipient will be named at the Academic Honors Convocation, and students vote for their selection for the Collins Outstanding Professor Award.

I am pleased to share with you that DeAnna Toten Beard, M.F.A., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Theatre Arts and professor of theatre history and dramaturgy, has been selected as Baylor University’s Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, effective July 1, 2023.

WACO, Texas (March 14, 2023) – Following a nationwide search, Baylor University Provost Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D., announced that Eduardo Contreras Jr., Ed.D., associate provost for international education, diversity and inclusion at the University of Portland, has been selected as Baylor University’s vice provost for global engagement, effective July 1, 2023.

It has been a banner year for Baylor students competing for national awards and fellowships —we have had 14 Fulbright awards, a Churchill Scholarship winner, a Marshall Scholarship winner, a Goldwater scholar, two Boren Scholarship winners, and a Truman Scholarship winner! Only one institution won the Churchill, Marshall, and Truman awards in 2022: Baylor. 

Spring on campus can often be one of transitions, and this year is no exception. 

WACO, Texas (Feb. 8, 2023) – Bradley J. B. Toben, J.D. ’77, has decided to transition as dean of Baylor Law School and return to the faculty, effective July 1, 2023, Baylor University Provost Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D., announced today.

WACO, Texas (Jan. 31, 2023) – Gary Mortenson, D.M.A., dean of the Baylor University School of Music since 2015, announced at a faculty meeting today that the 2023-2024 academic year will be his final year as dean, Provost Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D., wrote in an email to campus.

Welcome back to a new semester! I hope that you found the Christmas holiday season to be one of rest and rejuvenation.

WACO, Texas (Jan. 5, 2023) – Following a nationwide search, Baylor University Provost Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D., announced today that Daniel J. Pack, Ph.D., dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a 2005 Carnegie U.S. Professor of the Year, has been selected as dean of the Baylor School of Engineering and Computer Science. His appointment is effective June 1.

I hope the conclusion of the fall semester is going well for all of you.  A long break is right around the corner.  You’ve almost made it!

Last month, I was fortunate to take part in the very first Provost’s Conference Series event: Classics and Classical Education in the Black Community. This special gathering was sponsored by the Office of the Provost and the Department of Classics at Baylor.

This month, we kick off our annual United Way of McLennan County Giving Campaign. This is a great chance for our faculty and staff to invest in the Waco community. No one is a better reflection of the good work they do than my husband, Mark.

I am excited about our new cohort of faculty! You may have heard – this fall, we welcomed 110 new full-time faculty to campus. Half of these faculty hold tenured or tenure-track positions. Five of these are endowed chairs. This is one of, if not the most, diverse cohorts of faculty in Baylor’s history.

Baylor University announces the twentieth annual Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of the Year Award, to be awarded to a Baylor faculty member who makes a superlative contribution to the learning environment at Baylor, including teaching which is judged to be of the highest order of intellectual acumen and pedagogical effectiveness, research which is recognized as outstanding by the national and/or international as well as local community of scholars, and service which is regarded as exemplary in building the character of intellectual community at Baylor.

Welcome back to campus as we settle in after a busy first month of the academic year. I hope these first few weeks in Baylor’s classrooms and labs have been fruitful.

It’s hard to believe that fall 2022 is just around the corner. I hope your summer has offered new learning opportunities.

Our August commencement ceremony is a big event for our graduate students. On August 13th, nearly five hundred graduate students will be receiving their degrees. Baylor’s graduate programs have grown from 1,112 graduates annually in 2017 to 1,959 annual graduates in 2022.

I am pleased to announce faculty promotions for the 2021-22 academic year.

Sinda Vanderpool, Ph.D., Associate Vice Provost for Academic Enrollment Management, was announced yesterday as the next President and Vice Chancellor of St. Mary’s University in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 

I am pleased to share with you that Jason R. Carter, Ph.D., vice president for research, economic development and graduate education at Montana State University, has been selected as Baylor University’s Dean of the Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, effective August 8.