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Division of Student Life

Message from Kevin:

In This Issue: Anchored in Our Faith and Resolute in Our Commitment At our Kickoff Luncheon, I shared the story (and a picture) of how Pete Peterson was rescued from the deadly grip of a ripe current by over 25 people grasping hands to form a human chain—a chain that made its way into the pounding surf to Leadership 2 retrieve Pete as well as a first respondent. My message at the Meeting luncheon was a simple one: We are stronger than me and with Thee we are strongest of all. Recent events Postcards 2 around the world, and particularly in our nation, continue to rip at the very fabric of our society. Devas- New BSM Director 2 tating hurricanes, protests that turn into acts of hate and violence, deep concerns about changes in domes- MOVE2BU 2017 3 tic policy, an unfathomable mass shooting in Las Vegas, all weigh heavily on the collective consciousness Move-In Numbers 3 of our campus community as we seek to find ways to make sense out of the senseless and bring hope and healing to a hurting world. In times like these, I am reminded of the image of Pete Peterson’s rescuers. New Staff 4 No one of them had the answer; yet, together, hand-in-hand, they were able to make a difference in the New Staff Cont. 5 life of another. This may well be the image we hold onto as the Baylor community; anchored in our faith

HESA Students 5 and resolute in our commitment to link arms and work together to treat others as Christ would—with care and compassion and dignity and respect. Yes, given the recent events that have profoundly affected our country, my observation is our work to this end is as important now as it has ever been. As such, please know that I value your colleagueship and appreciate your dedication to help make this a better world, one student at a time. Grateful for you,

Fall 2017 Newsletter Division of Student Life

UT Male Student Leadership Summit

Eleven Members of the Baylor community, seven students and four staff/advisors traveled to UT for their Annual Male Student Leader- ship Summit. This dynamic Leadership Summit, is designed to address some issues Men of Color face in junior high, high school, and . Student participants and advisors alike from ISDs, community , and four-year universities engaged in a meaningful and intentional two- day leadership development experience. The core themes of the Male Student Leadership Summit are Brotherhood, Leadership, College & Career Readiness, and Health & Wellness. Over the course of the two- day experience, they engaged in large keynote sessions that addressed topics like leadership and resiliency, finding your passion/calling in life, and the art of respecting yourself and others. The breakout sessions were broken into the following tracks: professional, brotherhood, leadership, and career. Within each respective track, there were sessions offered that covered several topics including networking, financial literacy and money management, cultural identity, and marketing and branding. Overall, it was a really great experience!

Postcards from Students on a Mission

Our final group of students has recently returned to campus after a summer of serving others, rounding out a year of Baylor Missions service opportunities throughout the world. During the 2016-17 academic year, Baylor Missions sent 35 teams of 648 Baylor students, faculty, staff, and alumni to 15 different coun- tries: Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Kenya, Nicaragua, Peru, Uganda, Zambia, and to five domestic sites: Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Washington, DC. Each with a discipline- specific or social justice issue focus, the teams actively integrated their faith with service and learning. The missions experience is captured best by student participants, like Guillermo Gonzalez, a student in Instrumental Music Education and member of the Kenya Men’s Choir team, who shared the following reflection: "Through this Baylor mission trip, I realized that I want to improve the lives of those around me. We can't go on missions trip every weekend, but we can surely do the same work back home. As a future teacher, I am even more passionate about education and giving a voice to those who otherwise might not be heard." If you’d like to see more pictures and stories from this past year’s teams, check out http://www.baylor.edu/missions/postcard If you’d like to learn more about how Student Life staff can create and lead trips in 2018, check outhttp://www.baylor.edu/missions/partnerships .

New BSM Director Dr. Charles (Charley please!) Ramsey is the new Director for Baptist Student Ministries at Baylor. In a new model and as a Baptist General Convention employee, Charley will be leading a reconstituted BSM student organization as their campus minister. He is passion- ate about seeing Jesus, more and more, in the eyes of Baylor’s students, faculty, and staff. “I love to teach, write, eat Milo biscuits and mountain bike in Cameron Park. I’m back to Baylor -- from Pakistan and India -- after nearly 20 years, and I am here to help the Bears fling their green and gold afar and light the ways of time.”

Page Charley Ramsey 2 Division of Student Life MOVE2BU 2017 MOVE2BU 2017 was the 15th time that the Baylor Family helped the newest members move their stuff into the dorms. Wednesday, the first day, saw close to 1,000 Baylor faculty, staff, and current students help over 1,900 new students get settled. Thursday, the second day, recorded over 1,500 volunteers assist almost 1,500 new students find their new home on campus. President Livingstone and the “First Gent” did not stop for photo op, but instead they pitched in and carried boxes, crates, bags, and clothing. The sustainability effort had over 200 volunteers recycling just over 15 tons (exactly 31,200 lbs), which surpasses last year by over three tons. This is a campus collaboration among many departments all contributing their expertise and working toward a common goal: to make the first impression for students and parents one that reminds them why they chose Baylor. Campus departments include Baylor Police Department, Campus Recreation, Campus Living & Learning, Emergency Management, Parking Services, Sustainability, Aramark Grounds, Aramark Physical Plant, and Aramark Dining Services.

One interesting side note about the t-shirt design this year: it has the initials of JK for Janet Knox. Janet, from Telephone Services, served as a “snack patrol” for the past 10 years. She brought smiles, laughs and light to every- thing she did. She truly lived life as an adventure.

Move-In Numbers

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Move-In Numbers, Cont.

*We also set a new record for recycling during Move In with 31,200 pounds (just over 15 tons) compared to last year’s 25, 038 pounds.

New Staff Meghan considers Waco home after living here for 18 years. She completed a Bachelor of Arts in Gerontology from Stephen A. Austin and went on to get a Master’s of Divinity from Truett Seminary. She has worked in different areas of higher education for about 16 years. She is returning to the division of Student Life after working at McLennan Community College for five years, where she served as the Associate Director of the Completion Center. Meghan has two daughters, Ellie (14) and Sarah (10), who keep her very busy when she is not working. Meghan is excited to be back at Baylor and working closely with students as the Senior Case Manager, and looks forward to making an impact on the Baylor community.

Meghan Becker Virginia is the new staff RN for the Health Center. She was born and raised in Hillsboro, where she currently resides. She received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Tarleton State University in May. She is an active member of Church on the Hill where she serves as an usher, kindergarten teacher assistant, and lead a group in the Snack Pack ministry. She enjoys running and spending time with my family. She is excited to be a part of Baylor University. The staff have been so friendly and encouraging.

Virginia Castile

Laura Conner serves as the Crisis Care Counselor for Counseling Serves. She received her bachelor’s in Psychology and Journalism from Texas University, and her master’s in Counseling and Counselor Education from Indiana University. Laura joins us after working with IU’s Counseling and Psychological Services for the past two-and-a-half years, and is ex- cited to return to the Big 12. To you she writes, “I’m thankful to be part of the caring commu- nity Baylor and its counseling center provides to its students. I’m looking forward to making new connections on campus, serving our students, and continuing to enhance their quality of life.” Page Laura Conner 4 Division of Student Life

New Staff Cont.

Returning to Waco after 20 years gallivanting around Texas and Oklahoma, Jill Hatcher is thrilled to join Baylor Missions as her calling and expertise beautifully collide together. Jill is a proud Baylor mom and alumnae. She met her husband, Kirk, on the steps of Martin, and he proposed in the midst of a Stephen Curtis Chapman concert during Welcome Week 1992. She is an amateur gardener, chocolate expert, and determined Spanish student. Jill aspires one day to knit with confidence.

Jill Hatcher

Christie Turnbull serves as the Administrative Assistant in Brooks College. Christie spent her childhood in the Willamette Valley of western Oregon, dreaming of the days when she could go to college and enter the university environment. She attended the University of Oregon where she pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management. Upon graduation, she invested the next nine years of her life serving college students on college campuses, helping them develop the spiritual dimension of their lives. Christie met her husband while doing campus ministry and has spent her recent years serving with him in the local church and educating their seven children. We are very excited to welcome her to Baylor and to Brooks College. To you she Christie Turnbull writes, “The vision of Baylor University and Brooks Residential College have already captured my affection. I anticipate with pleasure, the privilege of joining you in helping students con- sider and pursue the careful stewardship of their lives.”

Welcome HESA Students!

We continue to celebrate our incoming HESA Graduate Apprentices. This photo was taken of the 2017 Cohort during their HESA Orientation and Professional Semi- nar class August 9. If you haven’t already, take time to welcome them to the Division of Student Life!

Left to right: Alex Jantz, Megan Glover, Natalia Rubio, Jorge Viell- edent, Lacey Lehrmann , Daniel Adams, Sydney Skinner, Emmy Edwards, Jesse Pyle, Natalie McIntyre, Andre Baesa, Chelsea Sentell, Aly Vukelich, Allison Carruthers

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