Higher Education & Student Affairs | For more information about Baylor's HESA

Jumping Ship: Connecting your seemingly unrelated undergrad degree with your HESA pursuits by Nick Blair

A year ago, if you asked me what I would be doing right now, it would not be graduate school for higher education and student affairs (HESA). In May of this year, I graduated with a degree in computer engineering. For anyone reading this blog, potential HESA candidates or not, I hope to share a…

Waco Feels Like Home

It might sound cheesy, but the people in Waco truly are the best people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. People take care of each other here. The idea of loving your neighbor is present in local partnerships, start-ups and non-profits. Just as Baylor has grown, Waco has become an increasingly vibrant city. Now, more than ever, this…

Over-committed and Under-caffeinated; A First Year HESA Perspective by Carly Zerr

So far this week you have read chapters from 5 different textbooks, wrote 30 pages describing theory, planned an event for 300 of your closest students, answered 37 emails, counseled 4 transitioning first-years, and have had 3 cups of coffee. Did I mention it is only Tuesday? Welcome to Grad School. At times it is…

For Those of You Who Hate Change as Much as I Do…

For as long as I can remember, change is not something I have ever enjoyed. Whether it was my parents moving furniture around in the living room or having my whole class schedule switched around three weeks into a new year of high school. I am one of those people who just enjoys things the…

Baylor U, Round Two by Nate Hutcherson

No more than a week ago the Baylor campus was a flurry of activity as Baylor Bears, young and old, returned for homecoming. The Baylor family gathered to experience a raging bonfire on Fountain Mall, a day full of tailgating and football at McLane Stadium, and the showcase of talent at Pigskin Revue. Homecoming was…

1,500 Miles from Home by Megan Foo

Three months ago, I packed up all of my things and made the 1,500-mile drive from coastal Southern California to Waco to begin Baylor’s HESA program. When I began my grad school search about a year ago, many of the people at my undergraduate institution encouraged me to explore options outside of California as a way of…

Cohort Dynamics and Merits, Six Weeks In by Toni Nogalski

In the grand scheme of things, six weeks is not a long time. On the one hand, 42 days is longer than our shortest-sitting President served in the White House (William Henry Harrison; 32 days), but on the other, it took all of nine weeks for the Pilgrims to cross the Atlantic (66 days to reach…

Lessons from the Past Year in Grad School

Hi everyone! My name is Sarah and I am a second-year in the HESA program. It feels so odd calling myself a second-year, because I can’t believe more than a year has passed since I arrived in Waco! This past year has been full of new friends, great conversations, late nights, and Baylor traditions. I…

Reflections on the First Year Part 2: Billy Baker

Hello, Friends! My name is Billy Baker, and I a current student in the HESA graduate program at Baylor University with a Graduate Apprenticeship in the office of Spiritual Formation, where I work with retreats and training. The Spiritual Formation office is located in the Bobo Spiritual Life building, alongside Pastoral Care, Baylor Missions, and Worship…

Reflections on the First Year: Jesse Ross

Hello Everyone! My name is Jesse Ross, and my HESA Apprenticeship is in Baylor’s New Student Programs(NSP) office. The NSP office plans and coordinates programming for new Baylor students, such as New Student Orientation, Baylor Line Camp, and Welcome Week. My apprenticeship is formally linked to the coordination of Welcome Week programming. Luckily, I also have the…