“For us in particular, this event is a really good community event,” Dr. Matt Quade, associate dean for values-based leadership and director of the Center for Christian Leadership and Ethics, said. “It allows us to gather together, not just with students, but faculty and staff, all gathering together. We can come together within the business school, just for an hour each semester, and spend some time together in prayer and worship.”

“I just want students to realize we’re all going through the same things, and you may not have figured out a way to navigate it just yet, but somebody next to you knows how to conquer it,” Sherwood, Ark., senior Mia Ellington-Williams said.

The message given was clear. Tenure does not take a single year, nor does it require a specific population. It takes consistent writing, strategic and effective planning and helpful collaboration. As stated, for faculty beginning their careers, the most important place to begin is simply to start writing.

Hosted by the Baylor chapter of Alpha Epsilon Delta and the Office of Pre-Health Studies, the event provided a bridge between undergraduate aspirations and professional reality. The symposium featured representatives from over 40 professional schools, ranging from medical and dental programs to veterinary and physical therapy schools. Vivan Huynh, AED vice president of scholarly events, said her own experience as a pre-health student motivated the event.