Baylor University: A Legacy of Notable Alumni
Baylor University, chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas, stands as the oldest continuously operating university in the state and one of the first educational institutions west of the Mississippi River. With a rich history and a commitment to academic excellence, Baylor has produced a diverse array of accomplished alumni who have made significant contributions in various fields. This article aims to highlight some of the most notable graduates and former students who have left their mark on the world.
Academic Excellence and Notable Programs
Baylor University is divided into twelve degree-granting academic units, offering a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including doctoral and professional degrees. As of Fall 2023, the university boasts a total enrollment of 20,824 students, with 15,155 undergraduates and 5,669 graduate students.
The university has been classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities - Very High Research Activity", and its commitment to academic rigor is further exemplified by the Robert Foster Cherry Award, a prestigious prize awarded biennially for "great teaching."
Alumni in Arts, Entertainment, and Media
Baylor University has a strong presence in the arts, entertainment, and media industries, with numerous alumni achieving recognition in these fields.
Willie Nelson: A legendary figure in country music, Willie Nelson attended Baylor for approximately two years, studying agriculture. Although he dropped out to pursue his musical career, Nelson has become a prominent face in country music and the film industry.
Read also: Baylor's Notable Alumni
Angela Kinsey: Best known for her role as Angela Martin in the sitcom The Office, Angela Kinsey graduated from Baylor in 1993 with a degree in English. Before her successful acting career, she was an active member of the Chi Omega sorority and the theater scene at Baylor University.
Jeff Dunham: A successful ventriloquist and stand-up comedian, Jeff Dunham majored in Communications at Baylor, graduating in 1986. By the time he was at Baylor, he was already earning $70,000 a year. Dunham has performed on sold-out tours worldwide.
Chip and Joanna Gaines: The dynamic duo behind HGTV's Fixer Upper, Chip and Joanna Gaines both graduated from Baylor University. Chip graduated in 1998, and Joanna graduated in 2001. Currently, they began their business, Magnolia Market, and they opened several businesses under the Magnolia name.
David Crowder: A Christian singer and songwriter, David Crowder is best known as the lead singer of the band "Crowder," which consists of members who are all from Waco, Texas.
Alan Murray '73 believes that journalists should gain an appreciation for language and knowledge of the world rather than attend journalism school.
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Francis Fesmire's '78 book, "Nashville Skyline is a moving story of human weakness and redemption.
Brandon Stansell '05 was already acquainted with the stage and well on his way to fulfilling a lifelong dream to be an entertainer when he was selected as a backup dancer for Taylor Swift's Fearless Tour.
Alumni in Politics and Law
Baylor University has a long tradition of producing leaders in the fields of politics and law, with many alumni serving in prominent positions at the state and national levels.
Ann Richards: Served as the 45th Governor of Texas from 1991 to 1995. A Democrat, she first came to national attention as the Texas State Treasurer, when she gave the keynote address at the 1988 Democratic National Convention.
Rand Paul: An American politician serving as the junior United States senator from Kentucky since 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he has described himself as a constitutional conservative and a supporter of the Tea Party movement.
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Louie Gohmert: representative from Texas's 1st congressional district from 2005 to 2023. Gohmert is a Republican and was part of the Tea Party movement.
Ken Paxton: Warren Kenneth Paxton Jr. is an American politician and lawyer who has served as the attorney general of Texas since 2015.
Trey Gowdy: A former politician and federal prosecutor who graduated from Baylor in 1986. During his time as a prosecutor, he was appointed as an assistant United States attorney.
Senator Andy Berke '86 and his best friend and Baylor classmate, Chad Waldorf '86, debated about politics when they were Baylor students, and they still do today.
Tom Jolly '73 was in one of the hottest of the hot seats on Election Night 2000.
Alumni in Athletics
Baylor University has a strong athletic tradition, with numerous alumni achieving success in professional sports.
Robert Griffin III: An American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons. He played college football for the Baylor Bears, winning the Heisman Trophy as a senior.
Brittney Griner: An American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
Michael Johnson: An American retired sprinter who became Olympic Champion four times, and World Champion eight times in the span of his career.
Max Muncy: An American professional baseball infielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Baylor Bears.
Xavien Howard: An American professional football cornerback. He played college football for the Baylor Bears and was selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins, where he spent eight seasons with the team.
Davion Mitchell: An American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Auburn Tigers and the Baylor Bears.
Luke List was a four-time All-State golfer during his years at Baylor.
Armond Willis ’05 was determined that he would someday play college football in Division 1.
Alumni in Other Fields
Baylor University alumni have also made significant contributions in a variety of other fields, including business, science, and education.
Mark Hurd: An American technology executive who was CEO of Oracle Corporation. He had been chairman, chief executive officer, and president of Hewlett-Packard, before his forced resignation in 2010.
Jo Jorgensen: An American libertarian political activist and academic. Jorgensen was the Libertarian Party's nominee for president of the United States in the 2020 election. She is a full-time lecturer of psychology at Clemson University.
Ebrahim Yazdi: An Iranian politician, pharmacist, and diplomat who served as deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs in the interim government of Mehdi Bazargan.
Dr. Heather Suzanne Woods, MA '13 | Assistant Professor (Kansas State University) and co-author of Make America Meme Again (with Dr. Leslie Hahner)
Laura Stewart, MA '07 | Communications Manager, Lockheed Martin’s Energy and Engineering and Technology division
Kayde Givens, MA '15 | Director of Revenue Enablement, Chorus.ai. and co-author of “Understanding what happens on the other side of the door: Emotional labor, coworker communication, and motivation in door-to-door sales” (Journal of Ethnographic and Qualitative Research, with, Dr. Lacy McNamee)
Randall Fowler, MA '16 | Ph.D. Candidate (University of Maryland) and the author of More than a Doctrine: The Eisenhower Era in the Middle East
For Ashley Smith '04, "DJ Smash" is an identity-in-waiting. She currently serves as associate head of school at Valor College Prep, a charter school affiliated with Valor Collegiate Academies that she helped co-found.
Michael Johnson ’02 was always drawn to technology and problem solving, but credits Baylor as an important influence on his career.
Caroline Hensley Doster ’09 excelled in math and science at Baylor and later at the University of Alabama, where she graduated summa cum laude.
Keely Lusk Woods ’08 decided to major in electrical engineering at the University of Tennessee for two reasons - she liked science and there was a scholarship available.
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