Champions of Change Recognition Program to Honor Unsung Heroes of Baylor University's Past, Present

March 2, 2021
Champions of Change

Nominations sought for faculty, staff and alumni who embody ideals of equity, change, hope and service

Media Contact: Lori Fogleman, Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-709-5959
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WACO, Texas (March 2, 2021) – Baylor University will honor and celebrate unsung heroes of Baylor’s past and present through Champions of Change, a new program that recognizes and acknowledges the accomplishments of faculty, staff and alumni who have demonstrated efforts to foster greater appreciation and advancement of diversity, inclusiveness and equity for communities of color at Baylor and in Waco.

The inaugural Champions of Change will be honored at the annual Solid Gold Neighbor recognition ceremony, hosted in late April by Baylor's Office of External Affairs. By recognizing these leaders, the program will cement their legacy among other Baylor greats, firsts and champions.

"Celebrating and honoring past and present Champions of Change in our history is both an honor and privilege that we take seriously," said Malcolm Foley, special adviser to the president for equity and campus engagement. "Baylor University faculty, staff and alumni play an important role in embracing and advancing racial equity on our campus and in the community. By engaging a diverse committee of internal and external leaders, we seek to identify and highlight three select individuals each year who embody Baylor’s spirit of Christian leadership and service while advancing change in and around our campus community."

The Champions of Change volunteer committee is actively seeking nominations for faculty, staff and alumni who embody the ideals of equity, change, hope and service. A nomination form is available on the Champions of Change website. The deadline for nominations is March 15.

Nomination criteria for Champions of Change recognition includes demonstrated efforts that:

  • Significantly promote diversity, inclusion, and cultural responsiveness development among Baylor faculty, staff or students.
  • Address key areas of diversity, equity and inclusion, such as recruitment, retention, campus/department climate, research or community outreach.
  • Implement steps toward fostering diversity on campus through their role as a “Baylor First” or with programs that elevate communities of color on campus.
  • Take a proactive role in local diversity and minority issues, such as building relationships with diverse community groups or educating citizens on matters of racial disparities.
  • Encourage Baylor volunteerism in Waco with regard to cultural connections.
  • Significantly promote diversity, inclusion and equity within the Waco community.

Honorees will receive an engraved plaque, and a list of Champions of Change will be recognized permanently in the future at a public space on campus dedicated to honoring cultural wealth at Baylor.

For more information, visit the Champions of Change website at www.baylor.edu/externalaffairs/championsofchange.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 19,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.