Six Baylor Faculty Members Are Honored for Exceptional Student Mentoring
Six Baylor faculty members have received Elizabeth Vardaman Faculty Awards for 2026, recognizing them for their exceptional efforts in helping undergraduate students thrive academically.
The Vardaman Awards -- also known informally as "the Betsys" -- are presented each year by the Office of Engaged Learning in the College of Arts & Sciences to Baylor faculty members "who go above and beyond in mentoring undergraduate students." The awards honor Professor Elizabeth Vardaman for her 39 years of mentoring Baylor students, helping them to maximize their education through learning beyond the classroom.
There are two categories of "Betsy" awards, each of which includes a $1,000 cash prize and trophy. The Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduates award is presented to faculty members from any of Baylor's academic units "who go beyond the call of duty in their mentorship of undergraduates, demonstrating excellence in, and sustained commitment to, helping these students excel through engaged learning activities."
The five recipients of the 2026 Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduates award are:
- Dr. Kara Poe Alexander, English
- Dr. Jane Damron, Communication
- Dr. Gabrielle Miller, Modern Languages and Cultures
- Dr. Jacques Nguyen, Psychology & Neuroscience
- Dr. Jay Yoo, Human Sciences and Design (Robbins College)
The second "Betsy," the Excellence in Research Leadership award, "recognizes individuals, programs, or organizations that best demonstrate leadership, imagination, and persistence in developing research opportunities for undergraduate students." The recipient of the 2026 award is Dr. Lauren Barron, clinical professor and director of the Medical Humanities Program and The DeBakey Chair for Medical Humanities.
"The longer I’m at Baylor, the more I understand what makes it special. Our faculty invest deeply in the lives of our students — not just in their academic success, but in helping them translate academic excellence into real-world impact,” said Dr. Andy Hogue, associate dean for engaged learning in the College of Arts & Sciences and Master Teacher. "The Elizabeth Vardaman awards recognize six faculty who excel in that sacred work, carrying forward the legacy of Dean Vardaman and her decades of service to our students. We are exceptionally proud of these 2026 winners."
ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
The College of Arts & Sciences is Baylor University’s largest academic division, consisting of 25 academic departments in the sciences, humanities, fine arts and social sciences, as well as 11 academic centers and institutes. The more than 5,000 courses taught in the College span topics from art and theatre to religion, philosophy, sociology and the natural sciences. The College’s undergraduate Unified Core Curriculum, which routinely receives top grades in national assessments, emphasizes a liberal education characterized by critical thinking, communication, civic engagement and Christian commitment. Arts & Sciences faculty conduct research around the world, and research on the undergraduate and graduate level is prevalent throughout all disciplines. Visit the College of Arts & Sciences website.