by Ivette Wilhelm
Grace Casper, program coordinator at the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities, received a 2025 Baylor Outstanding Staff Award. This university-wide recognition honors a select group of staff members each year who go above and beyond in supporting Baylor’s mission through exceptional job performance, servant leadership, and contributions to both campus and community.
The award was presented April 29 by Baylor University President, Dr. Linda Livingstone, in a heartfelt ceremony held at Truett Seminary. Casper was selected from a competitive pool of employees who receive the Baylor PLUS recognition, demonstrating outstanding achievement, alignment with Baylor’s mission, and a spirit of dedication to others. The Outstanding Staff Award recognizes those whose work exemplifies excellence and leaves a lasting impact on the university and beyond — providing the PLUS in the Baylor experience.
A Baylor alumna, Casper has proven herself through her positive attitude and genuine dedication to serving people in her midst. In her role at the BCDD, Grace coordinates projects and events that directly support individuals with disabilities and their families, while also creating opportunities for Baylor students and faculty to engage in meaningful conversations, making an impact on both an individual and organizational level.
Among her many contributions, Grace has:
- Led and coordinated impactful programming that advances the mission of the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities and enhances Baylor’s reputation
- Modeled compassionate leadership in her daily work, fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all who engage with the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities both internally and externally
- Demonstrated Baylor’s Christian values through her consistent support of community members and colleagues alike
- Consistently exceeded expectations, often working behind the scenes to ensure the success of events, projects, and community outreach.
Her colleagues describe her as a “joyful presence,” and “a deeply committed team player whose work enhances the success of everyone around her.” Casper brings not only professional excellence but also warmth, integrity, and a deep sense of purpose to all she does.
“I am incredibly grateful to my team members who nominated me for this recognition” Casper said. “The work I do is only possible because of the incredible people I get to do it with. Thank you all for your trust, support, and partnership.”
The Baylor Outstanding Staff Award is more than a recognition of exemplary job performance—it is a celebration of the individuals who help make Baylor’s caring community thrive. Grace embodies the spirit of this award through her unwavering commitment to advancing the university’s mission of academic excellence, Christian values, and service to others.
Dr. Erik Carter — the Center’s executive director — said in a moving statement, “Grace brings a vision of communities where every member of the body is valued, needed and belongs. For us, that segment of the community is people with disabilities. She makes sure that every single event we do; every gathering we have, reflects that value and I think that is the core of what we are about at Baylor.”
Please join us in congratulating Grace Casper on this well-deserved honor. Her work continues to inspire, uplift, and transform, making her a true asset to Baylor, the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities, and the wider community.
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ABOUT BAYLOR SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
For more than 100 years, the School of Education has advanced Baylor’s mission across the globe while preparing students for a range of careers focused on education, leadership, and human development. With more than 65 full-time faculty members, the school’s growing research portfolio complements its long-standing commitment to excellence in teaching and student mentoring. Baylor’s undergraduate program in teacher education has earned national distinction for innovative partnerships with local schools that provide future teachers deep clinical preparation. Likewise, the School of Education’s graduate programs have attained national recognition for their exemplary preparation of research scholars, educational leaders, innovators, and clinicians. Visit the School of Education website to learn more.
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.