'Why I Give': Lynda and Robert Copple's Philanthropy Creates New Resources

A calling. At Baylor, students are often described as finding the calling on their lives. For some, it’s a profession. For others, it’s a cause that will inform their service.

For Lynda and Robert Copple, their calling will shape the School of Education for generations to come.

Lynda and Robert have long been supporters of education. From Lynda’s career as a public school teacher to their many years supporting and volunteering on the board of their children’s private Christian school, the Copples have felt called to support Christian teachers and to improve their resources.

Through conversations with Baylor administrators, the Copples realized that their burden for educators matched with the University’s vision for a top-tier, research-focused graduate program in Christian leadership education.

“I think that Baylor, because it is an institution, it has an accumulated power that is greater than that of any individual,” Lynda (BSED ’79), who also serves with Robert on the Give Light National Campaign Steering Committee, said.“And to my core, I believe that Baylor was established to be a light to our world. I do think that we can make a difference, all of us individually can make a difference, but when we come together with an institution like Baylor there’s so much more impact we can make.”

From these talks, the Lynda and Robert Copple Chair in Christian School Leadership was born.

“It’s a very precious thing to be able to connect with Baylor in a way that we then have a greater ability to impact the world for good,” Lynda said.