Presidential Perspective - June 29, 2017

Baylor Students, Faculty and Staff:

These have been busy and fulfilling weeks at Baylor University. It's hard to believe that my first month as your President is coming to a close. I continue to be inspired by our remarkable students, faculty and staff. Here are a few items of interest for this week:

• I look forward to working with Michael K. McLendon, Ph.D., as Baylor's interim provost. No stranger to the Baylor campus, Dr. McLendon earned his undergraduate degree in political science from the University and has served as Dean of the School of Education since July 2015. I plan to continue visiting with members of the faculty, deans and others through the fall semester to develop a profile that will inform our search for Baylor's incoming provost. We will engage an external firm to assist in the process and constitute a search committee to commence a national search later in the year.

• One of the many benefits of Baylor's status as a Christian research university is the opportunity for our undergraduates to participate in scholarly work alongside our faculty. Recent graduate Mima Fondong, B.S.Ed. (Health Science Studies/Pre-med) '17, has said faculty members Bruce E. Hodson, Ph.D., senior lecturer in chemistry and biochemistry; Paul W. Zinke, Ph.D., lecturer in chemistry and biochemistry; and Yunsuk Koh, Ph.D., assistant professor of health, human performance and recreation, played a key role in her recent receipt of a Global Grant Scholarship from the trustees of The Rotary Foundation. Mima will attend the University of Westminster in London, England, this fall to pursue a master's degree in global public health and nutrition. A special thank-you to our faculty for investing in our students.

• Joel Gregory, Ph.D., professor of preaching and the George W. Truett Chair of Preaching and Evangelism at Truett Seminary, spoke at an ecumenical memorial service for the nine church members who were murdered two years ago at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. Dr. Gregory said the second anniversary was a day when "pain and hope, treachery and triumph, awful and awesome, come together."

• Earlier this year, Baylor announced a new adoption assistance benefit for faculty and staff. Many have already expanded the Baylor Family through this benefit, which is provided by only a handful of universities across the country. More Green and Gold is always better!

• I will make the trek to Baylor's original campus in Independence on July 12 to participate in a cherished tradition that's a part of Line Camp. I am looking forward to being a part of this moving experience with many of our incoming freshmen, the Class of 2021! If you've never experienced Independence, here's a story and video that captures the anticipation and emotion of walking through the historic columns and becoming part of the Baylor Family.

• You may have seen a few headlines earlier this week concerning ongoing investigations and lawsuits related to past issues of sexual violence within the Baylor community. Please know that our legal responses to the many allegations within these cases do not change the University's position that any violence within our campus community is reprehensible and inexcusable. You can read more about "Our Commitment. Our Response. Our Progress." at www.baylor.edu/TheFacts.

Thank you for your commitment to Baylor,

Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
President