Alumni Make Impactful Gifts to Baylor

In September, the University announced a gift of $2 million from Sherri W. and Robert “Bobby” L. Patton Jr. of Fort Worth that will enhance the legal writing and pro bono programs in the nationally ranked Baylor Law School. Their gift will also provide student scholarship assistance.

Established in honor and in memory of Sherri Wallace Patton’s father, the Charles E. Wallace Endowed Fund for Legal Writing will support programming in Baylor Law School’s Legal Writing Center that encourages excellence in legal writing. The Sherri W. and Robert L. Patton Jr. Endowed Fund for Pro Bono Clinics and Programs will provide overall support for the award-winning pro bono clinics and initiatives at Baylor Law School.

“Bobby and I know the value of well-reasoned and persuasive writing to the effectiveness and fairness of our nation’s legal system,” said Sherri Patton, 1984 Baylor graduate. “We also believe in the importance of pro bono work and law students’ exposure to it.”

The Pattons’ gift also will enable Baylor Law School to convert and repurpose the former Baylor Law Review offices into a larger Pro Bono Clinic that is needed in order to serve a growing list of clients.

School of Education

In November, Baylor announced a gift of $2.5 million from Lynda and Robert Copple of Frisco that will create the Lynda and Robert Copple Endowed Chair in Christian School Leadership within Baylor University’s School of Education. The gift will enable Baylor to attract a visionary Christian leader to lay the academic and intellectual foundations of the Center for Christian Education (CCE) and establish the Center as the preeminent provider of professional development for leaders of Christian schools and for Christian leaders in non-sectarian school settings.

“Our vision is to provide an avenue to assist Christian educators in realizing their full potential,” said Lynda Copple, a 1979 Baylor graduate.

The Copple Chair will collaborate with the dean of the School of Education and the CCE’s executive director to develop both a research agenda focused around leadership in Christian school settings and a programmatic agenda for the CCE’s expanded activities.

“Lynda and I have a passion for strengthening Christian leadership throughout educational institutions,” said Robert Copple, who earned a BBA in 1980 and an MPA in 1981 from Baylor.

Garland School of Social Work and Truett Seminary

In early December, Baylor announced a gift from David and Shirley Lake of Tyler to create the Lake Family Endowed Chair in Congregational and Community Health. The gift will create a unique joint venture between the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work and George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor by supporting the work of a distinguished faculty member who will develop and implement a strategic initiative related to congregational and community health and will teach in both academic units.

“Shirley and I have become increasingly aware of the growing need for churches to offer congregational and community health services, which is often currently being unmet,” said David Lake, a 1960 Baylor graduate.

The inaugural holder of the Chair will be Dr. Gaynor Yancey, professor and director of the Center for Church and Community Impact in the Garland School of Social Work. In addition to providing leadership on campus, Yancey will be a leading voice for congregational and community health within the local community and in churches near and far through teaching and applied research.