Baylor in the News – Oct. 17-23, 2021

October 24, 2021

Baylor University campus

Media Contact: Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-710-1961

WACO, Texas (Oct. 24, 2021) – Baylor University researchers and faculty experts were featured in national and local media stories as they shared their thoughts and expertise on vampires, food insecurity, prison ministry and fashion.

Oct. 17, 2021

Coast to Coast AM: Vampire Legends / Haunted Houses
J. Gordon Melton, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of American Religious History at Baylor's Institute for Studies in Religion, explains the role of the vampire and its portrayal in books, films, TV and pop culture.

Oct. 18, 2021

Paste Magazine: Taking a Stab at Understanding the “Stupid Teens” Horror Trope
James Kendrick, Ph.D., professor of film and digital media, explains why teenagers are drawn to horror films despite their negative portrayal of young adults and teenagers.

Oct. 19, 2021

CNN: How to become more patient with everyday annoyances
Sarah Schnitker, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, explains how everyday annoyances cause dysregulation and how people can become more patient.

Baptist News Global: A spiritual calling to help the hungry brought Craig Gundersen to Baylor’s Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty
Craig Gundersen, Ph.D., Snee Family Endowed Chair at the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty and professor in the Department of Economics, explains how his Catholic faith has informed his work and addresses ways society can minimize food insecurity.

Baptist Standard: Truett program tackles emerging issues facing churches
This article explains the vision of Truett Theological Seminary’s Program for the Future Church, directed by Angela Gorrell, Ph.D., assistant professor of practical theology, and Dustin Benac, Th.D., Louisville Institute Postdoctoral Fellow and visiting assistant professor of practical theology.

Religion News Service: Can anyone lead the Southern Baptist Convention forward?
Barry G. Hankins, Ph.D., professor and department chair of history, explains that Southern Baptists and evangelicals have grown conflicted as their religious identity has melded with their political and social identities.

Physician’s Weekly: SNAP Linked to Lower Health Care Use in Adults on Medicaid/Medicare
Craig Gundersen, Ph.D., Snee Family Endowed Chair at the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty and a professor in the Department of Economics, is quoted in this article explaining the benefits of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and how to improve rates its enrollment.

Fox 44 News: Baylor students spend fall break serving in Louisiana
Baylor students spent their fall break serving in Houma and Laplace, La., home to Baylor student Brandon Dillon. Rebecca Kennedy, assistant dean for spiritual life and missions, explained the motivation to work in Dillon’s community following Hurricane Ida.

Christianity Today: The New Prison Ministry Lies in Bible Education
Byron Johnson, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences and founding director of the Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion, co-authored this article examining the positive impacts of prison ministry.

Oct. 20, 2021

National Geographic: American solar storm pinpoints Viking settlement in Americas exactly 1,000 years ago
Davide Zori, Ph.D., associate professor of history and archaeology, is quoted in this article, remarking on the impacts an unusual solar storm 1,000 years ago will have on further discoveries concerning Viking settlements.

Baptist News Global: Loving my neighbor in the Global South
Juan Carlos Esparza Ochoa, Ph.D., research assistant professor in the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work and director of the program on Religion and Latin America Studies in the Institute for Studies on Religion, explains the importance of treating others as family, especially for the Global South.

Oct. 21, 2021

Yahoo! Finance: 'Strikes are contagious’: Wave of labor unrest signals crisis in tight job market
Peter Klein, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Entrepreneurship and W.W. Caruth Chair of Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation, explains the implications of strikes in the labor industry.

Creative Studio: Email Is Useful, but Texting is Transforming College Campuses
Morgan Strehlow, Masters of Social Work program manager, explains the growing needs of college students during the COVID-19 pandemic and how using text messaging services will make communication easier and less formal than emails.

Share America: Makers of modest clothes find a niche in U.S. fashion
Lorynn Divita, Ph.D., associate professor in apparel design and merchandising, explains that the increase in modest fashion reflects the fashion industry’s understanding that diverse fashion choices will increase profit. ShareAmerica is the U.S. Department of State’s platform for communicating American foreign policy worldwide.

Oct. 22, 2021

Baylor Connections: Kevin Chambliss, Ph.D.
AUDIO: 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, Ph.D., unpacks those numbers and shares how the research they represent addresses significant challenges, benefits Baylor students and advances Baylor’s Christian mission.

Fox 44 News: Baylor plans extension in LA for film and digital media students
Baylor University has received a $2 million gift from Baylor alumnus, Matthew B. Linder of the class of 2012. The Lindner Endowment for Film and Digital Media will be used towards the Baylor in L.A. program.

ABOUT BAYLOR MEDIA & PUBLIC RELATIONS

Baylor's Office of Media and Public Relations (M&PR) supports the University's Illuminate strategic plan as a top Christian research university by focusing on faculty research and expert opinions, innovative teaching, major awards and recognition, and community involvement. Through its media training workshops, the Baylor M&PR team develops faculty experts to effectively communicate the impact of their research or speak as subject-matter experts into national trends and conversations with media outlets, through Hot Topics and on the Baylor Connections podcast. Our faculty expert directory is available on the M&PR website at www.baylor.edu/news/experts.

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 20,000 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.