Bear Briefs

President Livingstone Elected to American Council on Education Board of Directors

Baylor University President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., was elected to serve a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the American Council on Education (ACE), the major coordinating body for the nation’s colleges and universities.

ACE represents nearly 1,700 college and university presidents and the executives at related associations, and is the only major higher education association to represent all types of U.S. accredited, degree-granting institutions: two-year and four-year, public and private. ACE members represent two out of every three students in all accredited, degree-granting institutions.

A strong voice for the role of faith-based institutions in American higher education, Dr. Livingstone has established herself as a scholar in organizational behavior, leadership and creativity with deep expertise in university accreditation.

Baylor University Partners with McLennan Community College to Offer Cybersecurity Training Program

Baylor University’s Department of Public Safety and the Office of the Vice Provost for Research has partnered with McLennan Community College and the U.S. Department of Justice to offer a cybersecurity program to law enforcement officers to help combat cyber-related threats.

The Cyber-Security Operational Research and Training (CSORT) Program is a cyber-security focused research, training and education program that links law enforcement, industry and academia. The program is aimed at equipping law enforcement officers to thwart efforts to compromise Internet-connected devices that are critical for financial, business and government operations.

“The goal of CSORT is to partner with MCC utilizing their world-class facilities along with the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as Baylor’s subject matter experts in cybersecurity to provide high-level, applicable cybersecurity training for law enforcement,” said Mark G. Childers, associate vice president of Baylor’s Department of Public Safety. “Ultimately, one of the medium- to long-term plans of CSORT is establishing key partnerships with industry professionals for research opportunities as well as to develop advanced degree opportunities at Baylor in cybersecurity, which is in line with Baylor’s strategic plan, Illuminate.”

MCC will provide access to its regional multi-faceted training complex that addresses all levels of law enforcement and first responder education and training. This facility supports the combination of research and development, training, and instructional resources to offer a capacity-building structure in cyber training.

Gift to Support Baylor Built Program Will Benefit Student-Athletes

Baylor University celebrates generous philanthropic support for the recently launched Baylor Built program, a key component of the “Preparing Champions for Life” vision of Baylor Athletics. The gift coincides with the public launch of Give Light, a $1.1 billion comprehensive philanthropic campaign inaugurated under the leadership of Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.

Begun during the fall 2018 semester for the University’s more than 500 student-athletes, Baylor Built represents a collaborative effort between departments across campus and the Baylor Student-Athlete Center for Excellence. The initiative adds a new component to the student-athlete experience through participation in specifically designed programming that elevates their development and character formation alongside academic and on-field success.

Baylor Built promotes character formation through workshops and seminars that focus on such topics as spiritual growth, money management, healthy relationships and career goals. By the time a student-athlete graduates, he or she will have completed 48 hours of intentionally designed programs to prepare them for citizenship in post-college life. The Baylor Student-Athlete Center for Excellence, led by Marcus Sedberry, senior associate athletic director for student-athlete success, serves the holistic needs of student-athletes through academic services, sports ministry and student-athlete development.

Senior Lecturer in Japanese Receives National Association Teaching Award

The American Association of Teachers of Japanese honored Yuko Prefume, Ed.D., senior lecturer in Japanese in Baylor University’s College of Arts & Sciences, with the association’s annual Teacher Award, presented at the AATJ Fall National Conference Nov. 16-18 in New Orleans.

“I could not have reached where I am without the support from many people I am blessed to have in my life: they are my family, my colleagues from Baylor University as well as the JTAT (Japanese Teachers Association of Texas) and beyond. Most importantly, my current and former students have inspired me and challenged me to be a better teacher,” Prefume said. “I truly appreciate this honor and privilege of being able to serve my students, my school and my community as a Japanese teacher.”

Prefume teaches in the department of modern languages and cultures, which prepares students for the challenges and opportunities of global citizenship by fostering both linguistic proficiency and intercultural awareness within a nurturing community of scholars.

Each summer since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011, Prefume has taken students to the towns devastated by the tsunami to engage in community outreach and see transformative learning in action.

“Throughout my career involving such experiences, I have learned that being a Japanese teacher is not only about teaching the language but also helping students to be global citizens, who respect and understand the value of diversity and cultural empathy,” Prefume said. “I am very grateful that Baylor, especially being a Christian institution, allows me to incorporate teaching of such human values to language teaching and learning.”