Baylor Connections

A new academic year brings new opportunities, new students, and renewed momentum across Baylor University. In the Season 10 premiere of Baylor Connections, President Livingstone shares a wide-ranging conversation about the year ahead.

From record-breaking philanthropy and student support to research growth, campus improvements, and the excitement of a new athletics season, President Livingstone shares what she's anticipating in the 2026-27 school year. Along the way, she reflects on the enduring strength of Baylor's Christian mission, the importance of a caring community, and the experiences that make a Baylor education distinctive for students and families. 

Concert season is almost here at Baylor and across Waco, with nationally known artists and rising stars taking the stage at venues like Foster Pavilion. Go inside the concert scene with Jason Cook, Baylor Vice President for Marketing and Communications, in a conversation at the historic Texas Music Cafe.

Cook examines how the community has become a destination for artists and fans alike, the partnerships helping grow Waco's music ecosystem, and the work that goes into creating memorable experiences both on stage and behind the scenes. From family-friendly concerts and football weekend performances to major touring acts and emerging artists, discover how live music is helping shape the cultural life on campus and in Central Texas.

How does the undergraduate research experience impact students at Baylor? Go inside a research lab with a student and his faculty mentor, a nationally renowned cancer researcher. Dr. Kevin Pinney, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, and Devin Guedry, a rising junior from Frisco, Texas, together explore the collaborative culture that defines undergraduate research at Baylor.

From developing potential cancer therapies to navigating the challenges and rewards of scientific discovery, Pinney and Guedry share how faculty mentorship, student curiosity, and hands-on learning create opportunities for growth both inside and outside the laboratory.

What happens when a Baylor geologist makes a career pivot to build an apparel and lifestyle brand? Hunter Harlow, a 2010 Baylor graduate did just that, shaping Sendero into a brand rooted in the culture, landscapes and stories of the American West. 

Harlow shares how his Baylor experience shaped his approach to creativity, problem-solving, and leadership, and why Waco proved to be the ideal place to launch and grow Sendero. From its early days as a passion project to its emergence as a nationally recognized brand, the conversation explores how a love for the outdoors, authentic storytelling, and a strong sense of place helped turn an idea into a thriving business. Along the way, Harlow reflects on the unique culture of Baylor and Waco, and how both continue to influence the company's identity and success.

Each summer, Baylor Line Camp welcomes hundreds of incoming students to campus and introduces them to the traditions, friendships and experiences that shape life at Baylor. From small-group connections and campus immersion to the historic Independence experience, Line Camp helps students discover what it means to be part of the Baylor family.

On this Baylor Connections, Baylor Line Camp student leaders Olivia Knapp and Matthew Peterson share how Line Camp helped them feel at home as out-of-state students, why they chose to serve future Baylor Bears and how Baylor's culture of hospitality and belonging comes to life through one of the University's most cherished traditions.

Each year, Baylor students travel around the world on mission trips that combine service, learning, and calling. Baylor nursing faculty member Katy Vogelaar and Baylor student Julia Pitts recently returned from missions trips in Kenya and Peru. They join the program to immerse viewers and listeners in their experiences.

On the program, they share what it looked like to serve alongside Baylor's global partners, apply what they’ve learned in the classroom, and grow through experiences that challenged their perspectives. Along the way, the conversation highlights what makes Baylor Missions distinctive.

Even in the summer months, Baylor’s campus is full of energy, thanks in part to a wide range of camps that bring pre-college students to Waco. In this episode of Baylor Connections, hear about two of those camps with Todd Kettler of the Moody School of Education's Talent Identification Program and Mary Lauren Benton from Engineering and Computer Science’s Innovate camp to explore how these experiences shape young learners.

From hands-on academic challenges to the chance to live in the residence halls and connect with faculty and students, these camps offer more than just a preview of college—they build curiosity, confidence, and a sense of belonging that can last well beyond the summer.

Baylor continues to be one of the nation’s top Fulbright-producing institutions, and in this episode of Baylor Connections, two students who recently earned the prestigious opportunity to become a Fulbright scholar share that experience. Ella Carlile, who just earned her bachelor’s degree in linguistics, will be headed to South Korea, while Alan Koroluk, also a 2026 graduate with a political science major and entrepreneurship minor, is going to Mexico City. On the program, they recount how Baylor helped prepare them for the experience, and what they’re hoping to learn as they step into new cultures, experiences and communities around the world.