Around the State: Buckner Family Hope Center in Midland opens

Buckner Children and Family Services marked the opening of its Buckner Family Hope Center in Midland with a Feb. 28 ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception. The Family Hope Center offers classes and services to strengthen families in the Permian Basin region. Midland Mayor Lori Blong presented a proclamation declaring Feb. 28 as Buckner Family Hope Center in Midland Day. “Buckner builds families, and families are where we believe children belong and where God intended them to be,” Buckner Children and Family Services President Henry Jackson said. “The Family Hope Center works on three levels—engage, equip and elevate. The result is that we are teaching parents to break generational cycles of poverty and neglect. Our model emphasizes building sustainability for our families to move them from dependence to independence.”

East Texas Baptist University hosted a Feb. 18 Congreso Experience in partnership with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The event included a worship rally featuring a sermon by Sergio Ramos, president of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas. “Texas Baptists’ Congreso collaborates with universities like East Texas Baptist University to reach the next generation for Christ by equipping them with tools and resources to share the gospel,” said David Gonzalez, Congreso coordinator for Texas Baptists. “Students are able to get a taste of what the main Congreso event has to offer by attending this free one-day event.” Each year, Texas Baptists host the three-day Congreso conference for Hispanic youth and young adults. “ETBU is always excited to partner with Congreso in advancing the kingdom,” said Jeremy Johnson, vice president for enrollment. “The Congreso Experience provides an opportunity to live our mission of shaping Christ-centered servant leaders.”

Baylor University President Linda A. Livingstone will be the next chair of the American Council on Education board of directors. Her term will begin April 2, after the council’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C. She succeeds Michael Rao, president of Virginia Commonwealth University, and will serve until September 2024. Livingstone currently serves as vice-chair.  “It is a privilege to take on this important role at ACE, a dynamic organization which serves the entire diverse landscape of American higher education. I look forward to promoting the generational impacts that our colleges and universities have on so many people, as well as on cities, regions and states across the country,” Livingstone said. ACE is the major coordinating body for the nation’s higher education institutions, with a diverse membership of more than 1,700 colleges and universities, related associations and other organizations in America and abroad.

Nurses holding registered nurse certification soon will be able to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree online from Wayland Baptist University in less than one year. The RN to BSN degree program is one of 26 academic programs recently approved. Based at the university’s San Antonio campus, the Wayland School of Nursing now extends its global reach with this program, which is entirely online.

Dallas Baptist University marked the release of two books by Travis Dickinson, professor of philosophy, during a recent book signing held on campus. Dickinson discussed putting into practice a Christian worldview and finding faith amid doubt, the subjects of Logic and the Way of Jesus and Wandering Toward God.

East Texas Baptist University students participated in three days of worship, prayer and reflection during the annual Spiritual Renewal event, Feb. 20-22. With Ephesians 6:11-12 as the Spiritual Renewal focus and “Stand” as the theme, guest speaker Chad Poe, lead teaching pastor at Grace Bible Church in Lake Jackson, challenged students to cling to Jesus in resisting temptation. Songwriter Jared Wood from Dallas led in worship.

Baylor University dedicated the Mary Jo Robbins Clinic for Autism Research and Practice during a March 3 event honoring the clinic’s namesake, Mary Jo Robbins, and her husband, William K. “Bill” Robbins, of Houston, who made the lead gift in her honor. The new Mary Jo Robbins Clinic for Autism Research and Practice is part of a $2.5 million expansion  of Baylor’s Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic, part of the Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences. The clinic—located on the second floor of the Cashion Academic Center—will support individuals whose lives have been affected by an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis. “We celebrate the continued generosity of Bill and Mary Jo Robbins, and we are grateful for their support in expanding Baylor’s resources for Autism Spectrum Disorders research. This wonderful space will enhance the academic experience for our faculty and students while benefiting the community for generations to come,” said Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone.