Dear Division Colleagues,   

In celebration of National Zucchini Bread Day, we’re hosting a Zucchini Bread Cookoff in the VPSL office from 9-10 a.m. on Friday, April 25! Come enjoy a variety of delicious zucchini bread entries, cast your vote for your favorite, and connect with colleagues over a shared snack. Come out for a gourd time and prepare to fall in loaf at first bite—you won’t want to miss this zucchini bread celebration! 

Add to Your Calendar (Outlook Online) 

Cast your vote for you favorite Zucchini Haiku 

Green garden treasure, 
Zucchini bread in the oven, 
Bake-off dreams arise. 

Zucchini in bread? 
Who looked at that squash and said, 
“Dessert!” in their head? 

Veggie in disguise, 
Masquerading as a treat. 
Lies I gladly eat. 

Zucchini said “Wait— 
You thought I was for salad? 
Bake me, fools. I’m bread.” 

Spring Premiere, April 12 – A little over a week ago, we welcomed 1,374 prospective students and 4,235 total guests to campus. Events like this require all-hands-on-deck, and we'd like to say a big THANK YOU to Baylor Student Life staff who spent their Saturday here on campus.

Premiere included: 

Next Year's Class: 

Staff Development, April 17 – Our final Student Life Staff Development Event was held last Thursday, April 17, where we continued exploring our Spring theme of From Vision to Action. Our colleague Tim Webb from Human Resources led an interactive session on “Pursuing Excellence,” making connections to realizing our division strategic plan. A big thank-you to our Student Life Staff Development Committee for their good work planning our division-wide events this semester. 

SL End-of-Year Lunch – May 7, 12–1:30 p.m., Hurd Welcome Center 

Join us as we wrap up another great academic year in Student Life at Baylor! We'll have lunch, a short program, and then time to honor and celebrate all of our retiring staff members at a short dessert reception. 

Health Center – Baylor University Health Services is pleased to offer acute care services to faculty & staff during the Summer I and Summer II semesters. To make an appointment, faculty and staff can log into the health portal and make an appointment for an Urgent Care Visit, call 254-710-1010, or speak with the front desk in person at the Health Center. Click on the graphic above or HERE for more information. 

In addition to acute care for yourself, the Health Center is also offering Sports Physicals for your dependents if they need one. For more information, contact the Health Center today at 254-710-1010. 

Asian Fest – Friday, April 25, 6-8:30 P.M. | Waco Hall - From traditional dance and music to contemporary fusion and fashion, AsianFest showcases the vibrant diversity of Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures through dynamic student performances! Experience an evening of storytelling, heritage, and creativity as cultural organizations and individuals come together to celebrate identity and community on one stage. Whether it’s a graceful solo, a powerful duet, or a colorful group performance, AsianFest invites you to explore the beauty and complexity of AAPI traditions and voices in a night of unforgettable artistry. All are welcome to attend, from students, faculty and staff, and even the greater Waco Community! This event is free - no tickets required. 

Jubilee – Friday, April 25, 6-9 P.M. | Fountain Mall – Join Alpha Phi this Friday evening on Fountain Mall for one of the best events of the spring! Funds raised will benefit women's heart health. Jubilee 2025 will include live student performances and a pie-eating contest among some of the fraternities on campus. Bands will include Second Friday, Dogwatch, and Browning Snider. Vendors include Zapped, Pics n Gifts, Noble photobooth, Kendra Scott, flamingo ranch, golden green boutique, Aimee's Balloons, Blue Dream Designs, Norma's Blooming Bike, a caricature artist, Pops Lemonade, Pokey Os, and Burgertology.  

Roundtable: Mental Health and Well-Being in Higher Education – Wednesday, April 30, 2-3 P.M. | SUB 2ndFloor, White Room – Come discuss with fellow colleagues how universities can best support students' mental health and well-being, and what strategies can be most effective.  To RSVP, click here.

AI Lunch & Learn: Understanding AI in Higher Education, Thursday, May 1, 12-1 P.M. | SLC 308 – Join us for a Lunch & Learn exploring the role of Artificial Intelligence in our work with students at Baylor. This session will offer a thoughtful introduction to what AI is—and isn’t—with practical insights on using AI tools responsibly and ethically. We’ll discuss helpful applications for student affairs, share best practices, and consider how AI can enhance our effectiveness in Student Life. Lunch will be provided. To RSVP, click here.

Farewell Reception for Dr. Jackson, May 5  – Save the Date for a reception honoring Dr. Kevin Jackson (May 5, 2:30-4 p.m., Barfield Drawing Room). 

Excellence in Student Leadership Awards Celebration (ESLAC), Wednesday, May 7, 5-7:30 P.M. | Hurd Welcome Center – This annual, culminating event honors the investment of all Baylor student leaders and senior student employees and features an award presentation recognizing individual student leaders, organizations, and advisors nominated for their outstanding campus and community contributions.

Lift Up Your Hearts Worship Service, May 8 – Faculty and staff are invited to join us for a service of prayer and worship as we bring the semester to an end. Various members of the Baylor community will lead in worship, followed by a complimentary luncheon. Register here to reserve your meal.

Kente Ceremony, Thursday, May 15, 5:30 P.M. | Hurd Welcome Center – Join us for Kente Ceremony, hosted by Multicultural Affairs. In celebration of their accomplishments, each graduate receives a Baylor Kente Cloth to be worn at their graduation ceremony and chooses a faculty or staff member who was meaningful to them during their Baylor experience to present it to them.

New Staff: 

Name: Isaiah DeMarco 
Department: Campus Living & Learning
Title: Residence Hall Director, South Russell 

Fun/interesting fact: "I lived in Ireland for my Master’s program at Trinity College Dublin."

Most enjoyable about working at Baylor: "I look forward to supporting residents and staff in SoRo and beyond!"

New Staff Form: Please help us keep our mailing list up-to-date so that all Student Life staff can receive important updates and event invitations. Just a reminder that we have a form for you to submit information about new hires so they can be added to the staff mailing list. We encourage you to use this for GA's and interns as well. 

Patti Umberger, Campus Rec – Health Services was invited to participate in the SAAM tabling event on April 2. Originally to be held at Fountain Mall but was moved to the BSB due to weather. We did not have any tables because of the last-minute change in locations. Ms. Umberger did not hesitate to allow us to use a table from Campus Rec. Thanks to Patti, we did not have to hold the 3D printer that Moody Makerspace provided! Thank you so much for being a team player and being an embodiment of the Holy Spirit! 

Nominate a Shout Out  – In an effort to recognize and celebrate the good work performed by our dedicated Division of Student Life staff in a timely way, Spotlight Shoutout highlights staff who have gone above and beyond the scope of regular duties in a way that had substantive, positive impact on others and/or whose level of excellence in a particular program or initiative was exemplary. You may nominate any staff member within the division using THIS FORM. 

Above: As we come to the end of AAPI month, here is a look back at the annual Baylor Luau presented by the Hawaiian Student Association and Baylor Activities Council. 

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