Letter from Dean Carter
Each year, as we compile this annual publication, I am reminded again of the incredible students, faculty, staff, supporters, and alumni who continue to shape Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences at Baylor University. Our commitment to advancing global health outcomes through interdisciplinary research is stronger than ever, and this year’s magazine demonstrates this mission being put into action across the College, particularly through growth and advancements in our graduate programs.
Within these pages, you will read articles that highlight the transformative work happening across our college, including groundbreaking cancer research, academic projects making real-world impact, and undergraduate researchers learning alongside faculty experts. We also are thrilled to showcase our new Clinical Simulation & Skills Facility, a state-of-the-art space designed to elevate hands-on learning and prepare students for excellence in clinical practice.
Through the Baylor in Deeds strategic plan, Robbins College remains strongly aligned with the priorities of the University—from our preparation of future health professionals to our faculty’s transformational research focused on improving health and quality of life.
As you explore this magazine, we thank you for your continued support of our college. Ultimately, we are in pursuit of Baylor’s mission: to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community. May the stories you read encourage you and affirm the vital role of Robbins College not only at Baylor but also in shaping a healthier, more compassionate world.
JASON R. CARTER, PhD
Dean and Professor
Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences
Baylor University
Informed by faculty and practitioner expertise, Baylor University’s Clinical Simulation & Skills Facility replicates the aesthetic of contemporary healthcare design and offers students in graduate health professional programs the opportunity to immerse themselves in a realistic medical setting where they can practice skills safely and effectively.
When Peyton Gill was 14 years old, she never imagined she would begin a fight to survive Stage 4 ovarian cancer. She was scheduled for immediate abdominal surgery, and then had her first encounter with a spirited physical therapist—today, Gill is a second-year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) student at Baylor University.
When designing her Occupational Therapy doctoral capstone, recent graduate Shandy Simpson, OTD, OTR, had wanted to explore a topic both personally meaningful to her and underrepresented in occupational therapy research. She chose to partner with Project Healing Waters, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting American veterans through the therapeutic practice of fly fishing.
Communication Sciences and Disorders alumna Katherine A. Hutcheson, PhD, BCS-S, SLP-CCC, is a nationally known expert in head and neck cancer dysphagia. Through her current research at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, she focuses on two core survivorship areas: communication abilities and eating abilities.
The Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program will offer students a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of faith and therapeutic practice. In this Q&A, inaugural Program Director Matthew Brosi, PhD, LMFT, speaks into designing an intentional degree that will set Baylor University apart from other programs.
In Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, faculty are pursuing innovative research aimed at making a positive impact across the cancer journey—from prevention to treatment to survivorship. Driven by a calling to make a difference through their skills and expertise, these researchers are transforming lives, one study at a time.
Located within the Clinical Simulation & Skills Facility are several state-of-the-art manikins, two of which are affectionately referred to as “Uncle Bill” and “Dr. Wilson” and were provided through the generosity of Mary Jo Robbins. The manikins will enable the highest quality educational experience for graduate students in Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences.
In the heart of Dallas, Texas, Master of Public Health in Epidemiology alumna Natalie Noreen, MPH, works directly with individuals who are currently living at the edges of America’s healthcare system. She says Baylor professors helped to shape how she sees people—not as diagnoses or datasets, but as whole human beings.
In Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, undergraduate students step into the research environment—labs, field sites, creative studios, and data projects—and find themselves reshaping how they think and learn. For many, their undergraduate research experience is a turning point in their academic journeys and personal lives.
When it was time to choose her practicum experience for the Master of Public Health (MPH) program, Serena Enriquez was connected to The Neighborhood & Health Study that examines public health outcomes in agriculturally focused neighborhoods, or “agrihoods.” Through this opportunity, Enriquez gained experience in the intersection of agriculture and health.
In 2025, Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences researchers published more than 200 articles in peer-reviewed journals and publications. View examples from across the College, as well as a selection of grant-funded projects.
Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences celebrates its 2025 Gold Standard recipients and Pure Gold award winners. These honors recognize faculty and staff for their exceptional contributions to the College through research achievement, teaching excellence, effective service, and/or contributions to building a positive culture.