Class of ’26: New faculty bring new expertise to share with Baylor students
Baylor’s rise as a nationally recognized Christian research university continues to attract exceptional scholars, teachers and innovators from across the country and around the world. This fall, a new cohort of faculty — think of them as the Class of ’26 — joined the Baylor Family, bringing expertise that ranges from quantum materials and artificial intelligence to bioethics and sports nutrition.
It’s impossible to spotlight everyone, but meet four of these new faculty members who offer a glimpse into the people choosing Baylor to begin, continue or grow their careers:
* Dr. Luis Balicas, professor of physics and astronomy and the Materials Science & Engineering Initiative — Having already earned a prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellowship, Balicas is one of the world’s leading condensed matter physicists. His research explores quantum materials and unusual electronic states that could one day lead to entirely new technologies. He comes to Baylor from Florida State University and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.
* Dr. Leticia de Souza (BSED ’18, MS ’20, PhD ’26), clinical assistant professor of nutrition sciences — A three-time Baylor graduate, former BU track-and-field standout, and 2016 Olympian for Brazil, de Souza remains in Waco to begin her full-time academic career. Her research focuses on sports nutrition, recovery, and eating behaviors, connecting scientific research with practical strategies that improve health and performance.
* Dr. Matthew Shea, assistant professor of philosophy and bioethics — As advances in medicine and technology create increasingly complex ethical questions, Shea provides a lens to consider them that has been honed in both academia and medical centers. Before coming to Baylor, he taught at schools such as Baylor College of Medicine and Saint Louis University, while also working as an ethics consultant in clinical settings. His research examines healthcare ethics, making his work a natural fit for Baylor’s mission.
* Dr. Lu Wang, assistant professor of biomedical engineering and electrical & computer engineering — Artificial intelligence is changing healthcare, and Wang’s research focuses on a key question: How can these powerful technologies better serve people? Her work develops new AI tools that help physicians make more informed, human-centered decisions. Before joining Baylor, Wang held faculty appointments at the University of Houston and Texas State University, and her research has been supported by organizations including the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health.
From an AAAS Fellow advancing the frontiers of physics, to an Olympian helping students understand the science of nutrition, to scholars tackling the ethical questions surrounding medicine and AI, these new professors embody the excellence and purpose that define Baylor today.
Sic ’em, new Baylor faculty!