Baylor Connections

Alex Yokochi

Olympic competition is rarified air reached by few athletes in the world—among them, a Baylor professor. In this Baylor Connections, meet Alex Yokochi, professor of mechanical engineering and a swimmer for his native Portugal in the 1984, 1988 and 1992 games. Yokochi shares his Olympic journey, training regimen and memories, and examines similarities between high-level athletic competition and academics.

Rebecca Sheesley and Sascha Usenko

How does urban pollution impact thunderstorm activity? It’s a question of interest to the Department of Energy, which turned to two Baylor professors to investigate. In this Baylor Connections, Rebecca Sheesley and Sascha Usenko, professors of environmental science at Baylor, discuss research that can uncover clues about thunderstorms in urban areas and lead to improvements in public health in Texas and beyond.

Mack Rhoades

A banner year for Baylor Athletics included the University’s first men’s basketball national championship, record highs in student-athlete graduation and GPA, new coaching hires and more. That success drew national attention, with Mack Rhoades, Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, earning Sports Business Journal’s 2021 Athletics Director of the Year honors. In this Baylor Connections, Rhoades reflects on the impact of the past year, looks ahead to normal operations in the 2021-22 sports season and extolls an Athletics staff that thrived amidst COVID-19’s challenges.

Gary Sheppard

Dr. Gary Sheppard is Baylor’s 2021 Alumnus of the Year. An internal medicine physician in private practice in Houston, he provides professional leadership in a number of roles, including as president of the Harris County Medical Society. In this Baylor Connections, Dr. Sheppard shares insights on the practice of medicine and service and examines philosophies and values that carried him and his patients through the challenges of COVID-19.

Sharra Hynes

Baylor is thrilled to welcome incoming students and families back to campus this summer for Orientation and Line Camp. In this Baylor Connections, Sharra Hynes, vice president and dean of students in Baylor’s Division of Student Life, talks about the impact of student experiences on campus long before classes begin, and shares what makes these events so special for attendees.

Jessica Cope

Jessica Cope co-founded The Hopeful Theatre Project in Dallas/Fort Worth, a nonprofit theatre group that donates 100 percent of ticket proceeds to charity. A 2015 Baylor graduate, Cope was named the University’s 2021 Young Alumna of the Year. In this Baylor Connections, Cope shares the story behind The Hopeful Theatre Project and the calling to use her passion for the stage to support other organizations that make the community and world a better place.

Corey Carbonara and Michael Korpi

Corey Carbonara and Michael Korpi are developing a system that could revolutionize color display on high-definition screens. 6P has drawn the attention of NASA, the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers and a variety of media organizations. In this Baylor Connections, Dr. Carbonara and Dr. Korpi, professors of film & digital media at Baylor, share the story behind a system designed to display a greater range of colors that God created the human eye to see.

Jeremy Vickers

It’s a “summer of hope” in Waco, with events returning and businesses moving towards more traditional experiences. What can residents and visitors anticipate this summer? Jeremy Vickers, associate vice president for external affairs, explains on this Baylor Connections. From major summer events to new business and dining opportunities, discover ways to make the most of Summer 2021 in Waco.