Baylor professors of the year represent business, art, history & education

The academic year is complete: finals graded, books returned, students graduated — and Baylor faculty honored! Congratulations to this year’s Baylor professors of the year:

The Collins Outstanding Professor Award is voted on each year by the outgoing senior class. Past Collins professors include Rachel Moore (MA ’69) in 1999, Dr. Mona Choucair (BA ’86, PhD ’00) in 2008, and Dr. Jane Damron (MA ’09) in 2019.

Baylor’s Class of 2025 chose Don Carpenter (BBA ’81), a clinical associate professor of accounting and business law in the Hankamer School of Business, as this year’s recipient of the Collins award. “I was very surprised to learn of the award,” says Carpenter. “Coming from the students makes it particularly meaningful. The students at Baylor are what make teaching so rewarding, and to be selected from such a dedicated group of professors across campus is truly an honor.”

The Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of the Year honors a professor who “makes a significant contribution to the learning environment at Baylor,” based on teaching, research, creative activity and service. Past recipients include Dr. Bill Hillis (BS ’53) in 2009, Dr. Roger Kirk in 2012, and Dr. Gaynor Yancey in 2019.

Dr. Heidi Hornik, professor of art history and chair of the Department of Art & Art History, is this year’s honoree. “I have been fortunate to be in an environment that recognizes and rewards teaching, scholarship and service — all of which have been important to me over the course of my career,” says Hornik. “I am truly honored to have been nominated by our departmental faculty nominating committee this year… Knowing that these people wrote on my behalf to strengthen my nomination is humbling. I am very appreciative.”

The Baylor Centennial Professor Award was created by the Centennial Class of 1945 and provides financial support to aid professors with specific research projects. Past honorees include Robert Darden (BSED ’76) in 2008, Dr. Beth Allison Barr (BA ’96) in 2018, and Dr. Julie deGraffenried in 2023.

Two professors were selected for the 2025 award: Dr. Elesha J. Coffman, professor of history, and Dr. T. Philip Nichols, associate professor of English education. The awards will provide funding for Coffman’s research on the history of Religion News Service, and for Nichols’ development of a free database of new technologies for K-16 educators.

A dozen other Baylor faculty members were honored with Outstanding Faculty awards for their teaching, scholarship and contributions to the academic community in 2024-25: Dr. Paul Allison, Paul Anderson, Dr. Clay Butler (BA ’88), Dr. Sandi Cooper, Dr. Chris Jaeger, Dr. Sarah Mire (BA ’01), Dr. Marius Mitrea, Dr. David Montgomery, Dr. Keith Richards (BA ’90), Dr. Tony Talbert (MA ’91), and Dr. Jason Whitt (BA ’96, PhD ’08).

Sic ’em, Baylor professors!