January 2025 BaylorPLUS Salutes
Below are Baylor employees and teams who have been nominated, for their "above and beyond" service in the month of January for the BaylorPLUS Salute! Please use the following forms to nominate an individual faculty or staff member or Baylor team today!
Team BaylorPLUS Recognition
Department: Athletics Communications
"The Athletics Communications team continues to establish itself as one of the best in the nation amongst its peers. This group of eight employees exhibits the pillars of Baylor Athletics on a daily basis - Preparing Champions for Life. They operate in a selfless mindset that constantly exhibits a dedication to each other, our missions and exudes servant leadership. While managing a never-ending workload, they operate with a positive mindset and a take-charge mentality that allows them to consistently serve each other and our coaches and student-athletes. I am grateful everyday for their hard work and kindness. The way they care about each other is unique in our industry and has created what I would describe as the best culture I've experienced in collegiate athletics communications over my 20 year career. We are blessed to have these people in the Baylor Family."
Department: Truett Seminary Student Services
"Not only does this team live and breathe Baylor's mission and values, but they go above and beyond for everyone single person that walks into their office--student, staff, faculty, and guest. They each put their whole selves into their work and make sure the people who walk through this building are cared for and supported. No matter what is happening throughout the year, we can always depend on this team to be a present, supportive, and stable presence for our building."
Department: Louise Herrington School of Nursing Clinical Simulation Team
"The nursing simulation team has a wonderful reputation for being positive, innovative, hard-working and collaborative. The team truly embodies working with a servant heart. In mid-Dec, the director and one other colleague resigned from the department. Every single member of the team voluntarily offered to do tasks that needed to be done due to the vacancies. When they met with each other, they demonstrated such a collaborative spirit, positive attitude, and deep commitment to our students. The team serves LHSON as a role model as to what a team can accomplish!"
Department: Academy for Teaching and Learning
"The ATL Staff has weathered a long and taxing period of transition. While the team is small, they serve the entire university teaching community with excellence and efficiency. The scope, magnitude, and quality of the work generated and lives impacted by this team is remarkable and I believe all three are more than worthy of recognition for the role they have played in maintaining the high level of service and offerings provided by the ATL"
Department: Communication Sciences and Disorders, Student Support and Placement
"In the Fall of 2023, the Online CSD graduate program was given approximately 2 months to put all record systems in place and hire 11 staff personnel to move from the 2U Salesforce platform to become a self-sufficient Baylor program while maintaining the student progression currently in place. As this team was hired and came together in early 2024, each staff member hit the ground running to help establish and maintain the new record keeping system and contribute their talents to the project with no previous Baylor employee to teach them their responsibilities or daily work expectations. These were unchartered waters that required teamwork, ingenuity, patience, and a mending of minds to set this new online CSD program in place while assisting in the creation and application of a Baylor Slate system for future record keeping. All Online CSD team members worked together to successfully graduate 160 students in 2024. The camaraderie, perseverance, and love shared amongst this team has been inspiring, and God has blessed them well for serving the university in such a positive and fruitful manner in such a short and demanding period of time."
Department: Undergraduate Admissions, Marketing & Communications, Information Technology, School of Engineering and Computer Science, Advertising and Brand Development, Institutional Events, Student Activities
"These departments came together to put on the successful Esports Weekend. The Esports Weekend Team deserves this award for their groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind initiative that positioned Baylor University as a leader among its peers. This event, a true collaborative effort among multiple departments, directly supports Baylor's Baylor in Deeds strategic plan and Research 1 (R1) designation while creating a new pipeline of students in our target demographic. Over a year in the making, the team's dedication demonstrated the strength of collaboration and teamwork, culminating in an event that was both a massive success and a model for future initiatives. By combining innovation, strategic vision, and community impact, the Esports Weekend has elevated Baylor's reputation and advanced its mission."
Individual BaylorPLUS Recognition
Jessica Youngpeter
Department: Robbins College of Health and Sciences
"Jessica Youngpeter has consistently gone above and beyond in her support of the Baylor Department of Physical Therapy. As the Publications Manager for Robbins College, Jessica expertly manages her workload while providing personalized attention to ensure every project is of the highest quality. For the past three years, Jessica has been instrumental in producing our annual department newsletter. Her openness, collaborative spirit, and joyful approach to her work have made her an invaluable partner."
Codie Robinson
Department: Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty
"Codie is always on time, focused on her work, ready to help others, and will go the extra mile every time! She brings a calm and steadfast presence to the office and to every project that she is a part of."
Susan Copeland
Department: Hankamer School of Business
"Susan Copeland was instrumental in supporting the work of the University Tenure Committee's meetings in January. She was highly responsive to last-minute requests and consistently checked in to see how she could assist. Her efforts significantly eased the stress of the meeting for all participants and support staff."
Amanda Dobbins
Department: College of Arts and Sciences
"Amanda Dobbins is an exceptional leader that believes in diversity, equity and inclusion. She believes in the professional development of all staff and faculty which is great because this was one of the reasons why I chose to apply at Baylor. I have thrived under her management and leadership, and I know my other team members have as well. She is unapologetically herself and is the epitome of a professional leader and I believe she will continue to break barriers and set a high standard for all those that work under her leadership. I think Amanda Dobbins would be a great recipient of the BaylorPlus award because she always goes above and beyond the call of duty with grace, prayer, and gratitude."
Cheryl Taliaferro
Department: School of Education
"Dr. Taliaferro is passionate about Baylor's Talent Identification Program mission to identify exceptional talent in STEM and the humanities and provide world-class learning opportunities commensurate with students' exceptional potential. She has built Baylor TIP from the ground up since being hired in 2023, providing students with opportunities to grow their knowledge, challenge their thinking and build a community with like minded scholars around the nation. Cheryl is persistent in her pursuit to grow Baylor TIP, while helping grow the staff she works with."
Sandi Stuit
Department: Hankamer School of Business
"Sandi Stuit has carried an exceptionally heavy load this past semester and executed her responsibilities effectively and cheerfully. Her service made possible the successful hosting of the HSB Teaching Symposium for all faculty, two Brief Business Brainstorms for Breakfast interdisciplinary research meetings, Artificial Intelligence Brown Bags for faculty, HSB strategic planning meetings, our annual GlobalFest gathering for students to represent business across the globe, monthly social gatherings for students, staff, and faculty, the HSB Dean's Homecoming reception, the Texas Dean's Conference, and the HSB Advisory Board meeting. Additionally, she was the point person for our Undergraduate Research Assistant program and provided administrative support for our Faith and Business Chapels, serving nearly 500 students."
Delores Melendez
Department: Center for Global Engagement
"She fosters a welcoming environment for students, parents, and faculty, exemplifying the Christian spirit through her empathetic approach. She will pause from her work and bow her head at any moment she realizes that a student is in distress. Beyond her job responsibilities, she actively contributes to community outreach initiatives, organizing events that bridge the gap between international students and the local community. Helping students is truly her passion."
Amanda Kuehl
Department: Baylor Career Center
"Amanda is the definition of a servant's heart. No matter the task, she is always willing to go above and beyond to make others feel loved, appreciated, and welcomed. Her gift of hospitality shines through in every interaction she has, and our department is better for it. There isn't a single day that goes by when she doesn't ask what can she do to make our day better. Thank you for being a such bright light, Amanda, and giving us all the gift of your kindness and servant's heart!"
Jon Davis
Department: Marketing & Communications
"Jon Davis did an excellent job creating an animated video for the rollout of the Total Compensation Statement project. Jon's ability to present complex information in such a clear and engaging manner is truly impressive. The video not only served as an education tool but also made the entire project much more approachable and understandable for the end user. Jon really brought this project to life and I am eternally grateful for his dedication and hard work on this project!"
Karl McNair
Department: Operations, Financial Services & Administration
"Karl dedicated many years to Baylor University, making a lasting impact through his hard work and leadership. During his time at Baylor, Karl successfully managed the university's real estate assets, growing the portfolio in strategic and meaningful ways. One of his most notable accomplishments was acquiring the land that became the site of McLane Stadium, a project that continues to benefit Baylor and the surrounding community. Karl was not only a skilled professional but also an outstanding leader and colleague. He built strong relationships with those he worked with and was known for his kindness, dedication, and ability to bring people together. Though Karl recently retired, his contributions to Baylor will always be remembered. This recognition is a fitting way to honor his commitment and the legacy he leaves behind."
Kaitlyn Hatfield
Department: School of Music
"Kaitlyn recently moved from Pre-Nursing to the School of Music. However, during her time in pre-nursing she was a key component to the team during a transition period. She was great at helping onboard not only myself but a few others as well. Kaitlyn goes above and beyond to help students in her job as an advisor. She is also quick to respond and figure how to make a student academic dream come true. She is always looking to find new ways to provide resources to students on her caseload and is extremely positive and determined to help students reach their academic success goals."
Marion Palomino
Department: Hankamer School of Business
"Marion always goes above and beyond for our students and our department! Not only does she keep our department running smoothly, but she pours into the lives of our students. They come to her for advice and guidance, encouragement, and just to fill her in on their lives. In addition, Marion and her family love Baylor and are huge supporters. You will see them at just about all athletic and campus events. Our department is such a better place because of how hard Marion works for each of us and our students!"
Callan Chappell
Department: School of Music
"Callan works hard to make sure our recruiting efforts are going well without another member of the staff in place. She has continued to have a good Christian attitude and works well with everyone from students, to potential students and their parents, staff and faculty."
Jayson Sibayan
Department: College of Arts & Sciences
"Jayson works diligently all the time and proactively does his job without prompting. He does beyond the minimum that is expected and completes work that supports our objectives in the laboratory without guidance. Since he has the ability, I feel comfortable giving him more advanced work with little guidance. Dependable, organized, willing to go the extra mile, friendly - a joy to work with."
Marlee Hart
Department: Piper Center for Family Studies and Child Development
"Marlee continually goes above and beyond for her children, families, Baylor students, and co-workers. She prioritizes professional development and continues to model the importance of continuing education in her work as a graduate student. Marlee partners with others at Piper toward Piper's mission of providing leadership to students consistent with the teaching, research/creative endeavors, and service missions of the Department of Human Sciences and Design and Baylor University, as well as a laboratory school that provides model programs for infants, toddlers, and preschool children."
Lisa Barrientos
Department: Undergraduate Admissions
"I would like to recognize Lisa Barrientos for a BaylorPlus Salute Award. Lisa consistently demonstrates exceptional collaboration and dedication in resolving student transfer credit issues. Her focused, hardworking approach ensures that incoming students at Baylor University receive the outstanding service they deserve. I deeply value Lisa as a colleague and appreciate her unwavering commitment to supporting both students and the university."
Ashley Wheeler
Department: Undergraduate Admissions
"I would like to nominate Ashley Wheeler for a BaylorPlus Salute Award. Ashley does a wonderful job in collaborating with resolving student transfer credit issues. Her focused, hardworking approach ensures that incoming students at Baylor University receive the outstanding service they deserve. I deeply value Ashley as a colleague and appreciate her unwavering commitment to supporting both students and the university."
Shannon Lackmeyer
Department: Human Resources
"Shannon Lackmeyer exemplifies exceptional service through her unwavering dedication to advancing HR reporting and analytics at Baylor. Her innovative approach and attention to detail have streamlined processes, enabling better data-driven decisions that benefit the entire university community. Shannon's collaborative spirit fosters strong partnerships across departments, and her commitment to excellence inspires those around her. Her contributions consistently demonstrate her deep care for Baylor's mission and the people it serves, making her a standout candidate for this recognition."
Becky Fortson
Department: Human Resources
"I want to nominate Becky for a BaylorPlus Salute. She went above and beyond to assist me with resolving a benefits issue. Her care and compassion in getting it fixed meant a lot to me, and I want to thank her for all the help that she provided."
Trenia Cooper
Department: Student Health and Wellness
"Last week Trenia had a difficult situation that required her to act quickly and make some critical decisions. I believe it was her excellent case management skills in this situation that helped save a life last week. We are incredibly grateful to have such a seasoned case manager like her on our team."
Billy Miller
Department: One Stop
"Billy has been one of the most helpful campus partners this academic year. Our department works with students in crisis, and so many times students finances are impacted in these moments of crisis and they have many questions are team is not equipped to answer. Billy, has gone above and beyond to help get our students in crisis clear and quick answers regarding about how their finances may change, and what options they will have moving forward. Our team is so grateful for him and the work he does each day."
