News

Baylor University faculty member Dr. Stanley Wilfong was reminded of "what a blessing it is" to serve as a professor to his students when they showed him that faculty and staff aren't the only members of the Baylor community with a caring Christian commitment.

One Baylor University faculty member in Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences is celebrating a big win. Debra Harris, PhD, Professor of Interior Design in the Department of Human Sciences and Design, assisted in the planning and execution of evidence-based design for the new Waco Family Medicine facility—which recently won the Center for Health Design’s 2025 Gold Level Touchstone Award.

As part of Baylor University’s dedicated focus on civil discourse, 12 faculty members joined the inaugural cohort of Bridgebuilding Fellows in 2024. One member is Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences’ very own, Samantha Dvorak, SLPD, CCC-SLP, Associate Chair for Residential Academic Programs, Undergraduate Program Director, and Clinical Associate Professor, for the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD).

Currently, six students majoring in Nutrition Sciences with a Pre-Dietetics concentration are serving as Peer Nutrition Advisors, providing the Baylor University community with nutrition education, guidance, and personalized plans through one-on-one partnerships. The Peer Nutrition Advisement Program, assisted by the Department of Human Sciences and Design (HSD) in Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, is a free resource open to all Baylor students, staff, and faculty. 

Jessica Feda, PT, DPT, DSc, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy in Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, has received a $200,000, two-year Paris Patla Manual Therapy Research Grant from the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research to study how to best identify patients with neck pain likely to benefit from cervical spinal manipulation.

In today’s world—when toddlers can use a smartphone before they can tie their shoes—understanding how mobile media impacts child development has become increasingly vital. Mickey Langlais, PhD, CFLE, Assistant Professor of Child and Family Studies (CFS) in Baylor University’s Department of Human Sciences and Design, is leading research to discover the effects of technology use on young children’s cognitive abilities.

Cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy treatment are exposed to an array of toxic side effects that can negatively impact their hearts. Baylor University researcher Savannah Rauschendorfer, PhD, Assistant Professor of Exercise Physiology in the Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation is researching the effects of chemotherapy on the heart in adolescent and young adult cancer patients and how exercise can lead to overall survivorship. 

Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences is pleased to announce the appointment of Jacques Baillargeon, PhD, as Chair of the Department of Public Health. Effective August 1, 2025, Baillargeon will succeed Leigh Greathouse, PhD, Associate Professor of Nutrition Sciences, who has served as Interim Chair of the Department of Public Health since June 1, 2024.

Trailblazer Paola Medina López is the first Puerto Rican resident to pursue Baylor University’s hybrid Entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree. From her home in Puerto Rico, she balances the academic demands of the program with a focus on “maintaining her essence as a Puerto Rican.” 

Pelvic floor therapy is a relatively new topic within the occupational therapy profession, and as a result, the two are not often heard in the same sentence. Lindsey Sutton, OTR, OTD ‘23, PhD, C-IAYT, 500 RYT, would love to change this narrative. 

Parkinson’s disease is chronic and persistent, and individuals living with Parkinson’s often have trouble controlling the movement of their bodies due to tremors, and can experience impaired balance, slowness of reflexes, and stiffness in their body. The Department of Occupational Therapy in Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences is contributing to novel research in neurological conditions like Parkinson’s, as Barbara Doucet, PhD, OTR, Clinical Associate Professor, Program Director of the Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program, and Director of Faculty Development and Scholarship, gains national recognition as an expert in Parkinson’s scholarship. 

Recently, seven of Baylor University’s Entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) students participated in a pilot global collaboration project between students from eight countries to exchange knowledge across cultures and understand various experiences in clinical education. Students from Australia, Canada, Greece, India, Ireland, Scotland, South Africa, and the United States participated in the six-week asynchronous project, which exposed Baylor OTD students to a multitude of occupational therapy practices globally and gave them the opportunity to grow in their cultural competence, critical thinking, and international networks. 

To earn a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree from Baylor University’s Department of Occupational Therapy—and then return to the Department to serve as an adjunct professor—is something special. Anne Bradley, OTD, OTR, did just that and is currently mentoring six students through their capstone experience for the Entry-level OTD program. 

Amber Knoernschild, a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) student from Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, was selected to represent the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) in advocating for policy changes on Capitol Hill. This prestigious opportunity allowed her to promote critical healthcare issues during Capitol Hill Advocacy Day in April 2024.

Megan Flores, PhD, PT, Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy in Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, has received a two-year, National Institutes of Health (NIH) subaward in partnership with Sandra Vanegas, PhD, Research Assistant Professor in the Texas Center for Disability Studies in the University of Texas at Austin’s Steve Hicks School of Social Work. Baylor received $74,063 from the $275,000 award, and Flores will serve as Baylor’s principal investigator (PI).

In Spring 2025, MetroHealth's Old Brooklyn Campus in Cleveland, Ohio will open two new and unique food and beverage options for hospital visitors, patients, and employees, providing a space for community members with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) to participate in upcoming research projects while volunteering and rehabilitating. To bring this project to life, Cole Galloway, PT, PhD, FAPTA, Clinical Professor in Baylor University’s Department of Physical Therapy, has partnered with James Sulzer, PhD, Staff Scientist in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) and Associate Professor of PM&R at Case Western Reserve University, who serves as principal investigator on the pair’s recently awarded two-year $434,438 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

In the coming weeks, we can expect around three in ten Americans to make a New Year’s resolution. It’s the time of year to make a commitment to making life improvements. But how many of these determined resolution-makers will actually keep the promises they’ve made? We’ve asked some of the experts in Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences for their thoughts and advice around making and keeping a few popular New Year’s resolutions. 

Cory Smith, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation in Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Services, has received a $149,683 award from Horses and Humans Research Foundation for his proposal, “Measurement of brain activation responses to equine interactions in youth with autism during a 10-week manual based therapeutic horseback riding intervention.”

As the Christmas season inspires a spirit of generosity, Kathryn Janda-Thomte, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health, shares information about food insecurity mitigation and advice for those interested in improving healthy food access to promote health equity in underserved communities. 

With the New Year in sight, it is time to reflect back on the significant developments and exciting happenings from the past year for Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences. In no particular order, check out these 10 highlights from Robbins College’s 2024 year in review.

Inspired by the University’s mission and Christian commitments, Baylor’s Department of Physical Therapy in Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences includes “Faith” as one of its core values. This emphasis shines through in many ways, but one particularly unique outcome is an optional course offering called Faith Prescriptions. 

The holiday season brings warmth and joy – as well as excess clutter, waste and energy consumption. Baylor interior design expert, Elise King, M.I.D., M.A., shares simple and creative ways to decorate sustainably without sacrificing the festive spirit.

For well over a decade, Jerilyn Callen, OTD, OTR, Clinical Associate Professor for the Department of Occupational Therapy in Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, has had an interest in mental health. In 2024, she completed the prestigious UC Davis CPE Napa Infant-Parent & Early Childhood Mental Health Fellowship—an intense, 15-month transdisciplinary program for clinical and educational professionals working closely with infants, their families, and caregivers. This specialty training program has been honored with state and national awards.

With Christmas shopping, holiday meals, traveling, and more—the season can be a very trying time when it comes to finances. An expert in family resource management and individual and household finances, Nicole McAninch, PhD, CFLE, Clinical Associate Professor of Child and Family Studies, shares valuable advice on how to financially navigate the holiday season.

The hype around the holiday season is quickly growing—and so is our appetite for those classic holiday meals. But with all the options for holiday foods, how do we enjoy a taste of everything without feeling that post-meal misery? Baylor University’s Nutrition Sciences faculty provided their top five meal tips to relish in the flavor of the holidays while maintaining a well-balanced, nutritious plate.

Health Science Studies senior Thomas Statz is pursuing his calling at the intersection of the military and medicine by serving as an undergraduate researcher in the Human & Environmental Physiology Laboratory with Assistant Professor Cory Smith, PhD. 

In an ever-evolving educational world, hybrid learning is reshaping how students approach physical therapy programs. The Department of Physical Therapy in Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program that blends online courses, on-campus lab immersions, and local clinical experiences. 

Meet this year’s Outstanding Graduate Student Award honorees for excellence in research, teaching and dissertation.

On a night when thousands of children are running around and begging for candy, their parents often only have one thing on their mind—ensuring their child is safe. In today’s society, many parents have taken to ensuring this safety is through the use of applications like Life360 and Find My Friends.  As this technology continues to evolve and parents know things now that they didn’t in the past, it begs the question: how does parental tracking impact the parent-child relationship? 

Baylor University faculty are well-represented in a Stanford University database that ranks the world's top 2% of the most-cited researchers.

As a sixth-generation Baylor Bear, freshman Caroline Gorham is not new to the deep-rooted Baylor University traditions. With Homecoming right around the corner, Caroline said that it will be “one big family reunion, but then again, it always is.” Six generations of her family have attended Baylor, and today, Caroline is blazing her own trail as a Baylor student pursuing a career in physical therapy.

The Department of Human Sciences and Design (HSD) may be the most programmatically diverse and unique unit of Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences. But it's this variety of expertise that allows the Department to take an exceptional approach to human flourishing through research, interdisciplinary cooperation, and translational impact. 

Baylor University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program in the Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences and Calvin University of Grand Rapids, Michigan, have announced a new partnership that will provide physical therapy education opportunities at Baylor for Calvin University students. 

Master of Public Health student Serena Enriquez shares about her journey to becoming an MPH student at Baylor University and how her hometown, background, and educational experiences are driving and preparing her for a future medical career—focused on serving the underserved.

National Play Outside Day encourages people to head outdoors to play together, enjoy nature and feel the multiple benefits of play.

After four years in the making, Baylor University's Piper Center for Family Studies and Child Development has earned recognition as a Certified Nature Explore Classroom for its infant, toddler, and preschool outdoor classrooms. The initiative recognizes programs that have committed to providing an education that encourages children to use nature-based play as an intuitive way of learning. 

Guadalupe Aguilar has always had a close connection to Baylor University, but her journey to become a graduate student in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders had plenty of twists and turns. Learn more about how this first-generation Mexican-American student hopes to make an impact as a speech-language pathologist.

In January 2023, Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences welcomed Alexis Davidson into a newly created staff position to work alongside Associate Dean for Research Renée Umstattd Meyer, PhD, in providing additional support to Robbins College researchers. Since Davidson’s hiring, research activity in Robbins College has skyrocketed. Alongside new events, workshops, and other research support activities initiated by Dr. Umstattd Meyer and Dean Jason R. Carter, PhD, Davidson’s work has greatly strengthened the grant proposals submitted by Robbins College researchers.

Cory Dungan, PhD, and Michael Wiggs, PhD, Assistant Professors in the Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation in Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, have received a $355,600 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award (R21) to study the impact that eliminating certain “zombie cells” can have on the muscle health of cancer patients who have received chemotherapy treatment. 

With summer coming to an end, most Baylor University students returned to campus after spending their vacation at home or with family. Others, however, took a different route and spent their summer exploring the world through Baylor’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences study abroad programs. Join us now, as we look back at a recap of the summer’s study abroad trips! 

Matt Asare, PhD, MPH, MBA, CHES, Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health, has received a five-year, $2.5 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cooperative Agreement Award (U01) award in partnership with Dorcas Obiri-Yeboah, PhD, Professor of Clinical Microbiology at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, and Nadia Sam-Agudu, MD, Professor in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

While a general link between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease is well known, Baylor University researchers are digging into the “why” behind this detrimental association – especially after a night of binge drinking – in a study published in the American Heart Association’s Hypertension journal.

Hannover, Germany is home to one of the top research schools for implantable medical devices in the world—Hannover Medical School—and within the school resides Deutsches HörZentrum Hannover, the largest auditory research center in Europe. There, Baylor University’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders researcher Yang-Soo Yoon, PhD, Associate Professor, had an opportunity to spend a semester abroad to expand upon his research in improving speech perception in noise. 

Baylor University’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) celebrated a new first—a Baylor Missions trip designed specifically for students enrolled in the online Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders program. 

Baylor faculty experts share practical strategies for fostering stronger holistic well-being for National Wellness Month in August.

Recently, five CSD clinical faculty have chosen to pursue additional education by enrolling in doctoral programs. These clinical faculty are compelled by the impact a doctoral education can provide them. For example, their studies might allow them to elevate the learning experience of their Baylor CSD students or improve outcomes for the individuals they serve in the Clinic.

Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences is pleased to announce the appointment of Savannah Rauschendorfer, PhD, as Assistant Professor in the Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation.

Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences is pleased to announce the appointment of Chelsi Hansen, CCC-SLP, as Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD).

Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences is pleased to announce the appointment of Gina M. Wright, CCC-SLP, as Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences is pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel Kim, PhD, as Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD).

Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences is pleased to announce the appointment of Lisa Monsisvais, CCC-SLP, as Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD).

Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana, Pro Mundo. The addition of those last two words to Baylor’s longstanding motto mirrors the university’s mission statement (“for worldwide leadership and service”), and highlights Baylor’s global impact as a Christian research university.

Baylor faculty have long conducted groundbreaking research with a worldwide bent, and that continues today. For a few examples, let’s take a trip across campus and around the globe:

As the world eagerly anticipates the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the fashion scene is buzzing with excitement over the latest team fashion trends set to make a statement to the world.

Novel intervention to be tested by Robbins College faculty could have a “substantial impact on the health and wellbeing of countless women service members”

Chemical Insights Research Institute (CIRI) has established the Protecting Community Health (PCH) Task Force—to be led by Baylor University's Debra Harris, PhD—to generate guidance for populations in the wildland urban interface (WUI). The guidance will inform on environmental health hazards associated with wildfires and outline strategies for reducing human health risks before, during, and after a fire.  

This summer, a Baylor University undergraduate team from the Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation brought home the gold. For the first time in university history, a Baylor team claimed the national championship for the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Annual Meeting Student Bowl competition held in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences is pleased to welcome two new faculty members to the Physician Assistant Studies program this May. Roland J. Paquette, PhD, PA-C, joins the Baylor PA team as Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Outcomes and Assessment, and Meghan E. Joyce, DSc, PA-C, as Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education.

Baylor University's Department of Occupational Therapy in Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences is pleased to announce that Ricardo Altahif OTD, OTR, CHT, Clinical Assistant Professor, has been appointed as President of the Texas Society for Hand Therapy (TSHT) for the 2024-2026 term. This prestigious role underscores his dedication to leadership and his ability to promote advancements in hand therapy that benefit both clients and practitioners.

With dreams of medical school on the horizon, applicants know that competitive advantages are incredibly important.

As Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences celebrates its 10-year anniversary, take a look back at its programs' histories, learn more about modern growth, and hear about the future of one of Baylor University’s fastest growing academic unit.

Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences Dean Jason R. Carter, PhD, is leading the way, both at Baylor and beyond, as an academic leader who conducts and leads high-level research while leaning into his relationship with Christ. Through his own research, his approach to mentorship, and his commitment to resourcing and fostering collaboration, Carter is defining what it means to be a Christian research dean.

Mike and Micki Maris have sown bountifully. They have sown with their time, with their prayers, and with their gifts—to benefit the growth and flourishing of their beloved Baylor University. Most recently, the Marises have directed their generosity toward Baylor’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences through the Dr. Mike and Mrs. Micki Maris Endowed Seed Fund for Student Research.

Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences established a set of high-level research initiatives to inform the prioritization of resources, including faculty hiring, infrastructure enhancements, and fundraising efforts. Here, we introduce the Robbins College Signature Research Initiatives to you by showcasing a current research project within each initiative. 

Twenty years ago, Camp Success was just an idea that originated from research. It has since evolved into a “life-changing experience.” Launched in 2003 with support from the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in Waco, this language and literacy intervention summer program has impacted the lives of 1,413 children to date. 

Since it was established in 2018, Baylor University’s Department of Occupational Therapy has successfully offered a hybrid program with virtual classes and in-person labs. As a result of this commitment to both innovation and excellence, Baylor has quickly become one of the prominent occupational therapy programs in the United States.

Anjelica Elizondo, who is on track to becoming a Baylor University graduate three times over, looks back on her life and her time at Baylor, reflecting on what swayed her choice to remain a Baylor Bear over the past eight years. She believes the answer lies with the people she has met along the way, both professors and peers within Baylor's Department of Public Health.  

Alumni of Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences are striving to improve health access and quality of life within their communities. While their professions differ, they all lead with a desire to “love thy neighbor” and to make an impact for those in need.

In 2023, Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences researchers published more than 150 articles in peer-reviewed journals and publications. Here we share examples of publications from across the College, as well as a selection of grant-funded projects from the last year—all supporting and strengthening the Robbins College Signature Research Initiatives. 

In his Fall 2022 semester kickoff address to College faculty and staff, Jason R. Carter, PhD, Dean of Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, described his vision for developing a culture within the College that emphasizes valuing employees and encouraging collaboration. One of the ways these priorities took shape was through the launch of the Robbins College Pure Gold initiative.

The J. Harry and Anna Jeanes Academic Honors Week is hosted each spring semester by the Baylor University Honors College and includes a special Academic Honors Convocation ceremony. During Convocation, outstanding students from departments across the University are recognized, including undergraduate students from Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences.

Clinical Associate Professor Heather Hudson, EdD, LAT, ATC, is persistently pursuing excellence, growth, and opportunity in the field of interprofessional education (IPE). Hudson serves as Program Director for the Master of Athletic Training program in the Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation and as IPE Committee Chair for Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences.

Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences is pleased to share that the U.S. Army-Baylor Entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) has been granted full accreditation for a period of seven years by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). 

Following a national search, Toby J. Brooks, Ph.D., assistant dean of faculty success, program director of athletic training and professor at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) in Lubbock, has been selected to serve as director of Baylor University’s Academy for Teaching and Learning (ATL), effective July 15, 2024. 

In this interview for Psychology Today, Mickey Langlais, PhD, CFLE, Assistant Professor of Child and Family Studies in the Department of Human Sciences and Design, shares his expertise on "situationships" and offers insights from his most recent research.

Matt Asare, PhD, MPH, MBA, CHES, Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health in Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, has received a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R21) award through the Fogarty International Center for his proposal, “Development of Implementation Toolkits to Promote HPV Self-sampling Behavior among Women Living with HIV in Ghana.”

Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian A. Young, PT, DSc, as Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy, effective May 1, 2024.

The Department of Occupational Therapy in Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences is pleased to introduce a new program offering—the Certificate in Hybrid Teaching for the Occupational Therapy Practitioner. The certificate program is structured to guide students' personal and professional growth to become educational innovators and professional leaders to meet the changing demands of occupational therapy education and the occupational therapy profession.

Rebecca Jones-Antwi, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Public Health in Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, has received a three-year Career Development Award from the American Heart Association for her project, “Stuck in the Middle: The Intersectionality of Multiracial Adults and Cardiovascular Health.” 

The Baylor Career Center reports that 100% of 2022 Nutrition Sciences graduates seeking employment secured a job within six months of graduation. Likewise, 100% of those seeking admission to graduate programs or internships were admitted. In 2023, once again, 100% of Nutrition Sciences students applying to internships or graduate programs were admitted and only one student was still seeking employment after six months. 

Baylor University researcher Megan Flores, PT, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, is working to improve the quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome. Flores is exploring whether an orthotic garment, called Hip Helpers®, could accelerate the acquisition of gross motor skills for infants with Down syndrome. 

The journey for Brynn Johnson (MAT '20) has not been without its challenges. However, with the training and experiences provided by her Baylor education and an unwavering faith in God's plan for her, Johnson has persevered—all the way to the Super Bowl.

Play Streets, which are temporary closures of streets or publicly accessible places for play, were originally implemented in urban areas to create a safe place for youth to be active near their homes. Researcher Renée Umstattd Meyer, PhD, MCHES, FAAHB, Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Public Health in Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, is writing the playbook for how to transform these place-based interventions to also serve underserved rural communities.

Baylor University is mourning the death of Jeff Forsse, Ph.D., clinical assistant professor in the Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation in Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences. Dr. Forsee died tragically in a farming accident on Feb. 24.

Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences is pleased to announce the appointment of Heather Delaney, MD, CHSE, FAAP, as Medical Director of the University’s new Physician Assistant Studies program. Delaney is a double Board-Certified Pediatrician and Neonatologist with over 20 years of broad experiences in the medical field.

Red roses, heart-shaped boxes filled with candy, pink and red hearts everywhere—these are some defining tangibles for a day meant to celebrate love in relationships. Today is Valentine’s Day. On this day, many couples go out to dinner and embrace the excuse to celebrate their undying love. However, there remains a group of people who are staring at the happy couples in disdain. Who is this group, you may ask? Well, this is a tale of ghosts and zombies—those who have been left in the dust without a trace, and those who have risen from the grave (metaphorically, of course). 

Jason R. Carter, PhD, Dean of Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, has announced two key leadership appointments related to transitions within the College. Effective June 1, 2024, Nadine Welch has been appointed Associate Dean for Undergraduate and International Studies and Leigh Greathouse, PhD, has been appointed Interim Chair of the Department of Public Health.

Jason R. Carter, PhD, Dean of Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, has been recognized as a 2024 Fellow of the American Physiological Society (FAPS) inductee. This is the highest honor the American Physiological Society (APS) bestows upon a member, recognizing distinguished leaders who have demonstrated scientific excellence, made significant contributions to physiological sciences and related disciplines, and actively served APS.

The interdepartmental collaboration, within Baylor University's Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, allows those holding a DPT degree to earn a PhD degree in Exercise and Nutrition Sciences. The Department of Physical Therapy hopes these PhD graduates will return as faculty.

Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences is pleased to announce the appointment of Tiffany King, PT, DPT, CCS, as Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy.

Each year, the Health Sciences Studies (HSS) program in the Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation (HHPR) offers a study abroad program in Belize, giving students the opportunity to gain real-world experiences in their field in a transformative environment beyond campus. Students worked alongside healthcare practitioners setting up field clinics in vulnerable communities, and also experienced the Belizean culture. 

The Department of Occupational Therapy utilizes virtual reality technology as an education tool, integrated within three courses. Students virtually engage patients at a hospital, during a home assessment, and in a community setting.

With the New Year in sight, it is time to reflect back on the significant developments and exciting happenings from the past year for Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences. Read more about 10 highlights from Robbins College’s 2023 year in review.

On the Baylor Connections podcast, Assistant Professor of Communications Sciences and Disorders Alison Prahl, PhD, discusses common misconceptions about literacy and disability, unpacks research designed to improve literacy and shares more about the opportunity to meet with families with IDD to address their needs.

Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences is pleased to announce the appointment of Regine Rossi, PT, DPT, PhD, CSCS, as Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy. Rossi is a 2020 graduate of the Department’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

When Jeremy Chiang was looking at Nutrition graduate programs, he knew he needed to be at a school with a high-performing Division 1 athletics program, and Baylor University fit the bill. Fast forward nearly a decade, and Chiang is now the Major League Performance Nutrition Coordinator for the New York Mets organization working full time with the major league roster.

Baylor University graduate Swinita Shah shares about her experience in the Online Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders program, including her inspiration for becoming a speech language pathologist and the aspects of the program that helped her reach her goals.

Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences is pleased to announce the appointment of Cole Galloway, PT, PhD, FAPTA, as Clinical Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy. Galloway, who officially joined the University in September 2023, is the first Robbins College faculty to be hired with focused duties and responsibilities related to the College research mission.

Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences is pleased to announce the appointment of Meredith Quinene, DHSc, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA, as the inaugural director of the University’s recently announced Physician Assistant Studies program.

Baylor University Nutrition Sciences in the Department of Human Sciences and Design will host the first annual Nutrition Mythbusters Discussion Series examining organic vs. conventional farming at the Hurd Welcome Center on November 6, 2023 from 5:30-7:00pm.

For Hispanic Heritage Month, Baylor's Robbins College is highlighting a few of our outstanding Hispanic and Latino Americans Bears. Connie Mendoza is a student in the Communication Sciences and Disorders master's degree program and a member of the inaugural cohort of Trailblazer Scholars. Mendoza is pursuing a calling of service and using her gifts to make an impact in the speech-pathology profession.