Baylor prof makes national headlines for his simple act of kindness

If you’ve checked Facebook, your local news, or even just surfed the Internet this week, you’ve probably heard this story by now — but you might not have heard all the details.

Since it was first reported by Waco news station KWTX, this tale has been shared by dozens of media outlets, including People magazine, NBC’s TODAY, ABC’s Good Morning America, the Huffington Post, Cosmopolitan, and so many more. Literally millions of people across the United States have seen this story — and therefore have seen just how much Baylor professors care for their students.

If you haven’t heard the story, here’s what happened:

Katy Humphrey, a U.S. Marine and full-time college student, wife and mother, had her babysitter cancel on her at the last minute. Not one to miss class, her only option was to take her 4-month-old daughter, Millie, to class.

She’d hoped Millie wouldn’t be too disruptive to the class, but not long into the lecture, she became fussy. But rather than shaming Katy or asking her leave class, the professor — Dr. Darryn Willoughby — just walked on over, picked her up, and kept on lecturing without missing a beat.

Millie was absolutely content in his arms for the rest of the class. “I didn’t want [Katy] to feel uncomfortable, because there was nothing to feel uncomfortable about,” says Willoughby, an associate professor of health, human performance and recreation and director of Baylor’s Exercise and Biochemical Nutrition Laboratory. “Taking care of others in a time of need and when it is not a time of need, just loving and caring about others — that’s God’s purpose.”

What a great example of the caring community we’re blessed with here at Baylor!

Sic ’em, Dr. Willoughby!