Alumni Testimonials
“The fellowship had a tremendous impact on my life, not only in a spiritual sense but also in shaping my career aspirations. During the program, we met with Dr. Jeremy Everett and Heather Reynolds, who spoke about poverty in the United States and its effects on health outcomes. Inspired by these discussions, I began exploring these issues further and have since started an internship with the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE), where I focus on nutrition education and the impact of poverty on adverse health outcomes. The summer was truly transformative. The fellowship centered on faith, community, and meaningful discussions with people dedicated to making a difference, and I can confidently say I have grown for the better because of it.”
2024 RSL Fellow
“The Summer Fellowship for Religion & Social Life exceeded all my expectations. I encountered a deeply formative community marked by intellectual curiosity, spiritual depth, and genuine friendship that stirred in me a longing to know God more fully through silence, conversation, and the sacredness of ordinary life. We laughed often, asked hard questions, and created space for both joy and reflection. More than anything, the fellowship illuminated how a deeply rooted faith can inform not only personal conviction, but also public engagement, vocational discernment, and the pursuit of justice with humility and grace.”-
2025 RSL Fellow
“The Religion and Social Life Fellowship was one of the most formative experiences in my college career. It is a program unique to Baylor and our mission to prepare young men and women for the service of God—-and the program did just that. We were provided the opportunity to understand and discern the nature of vocation in the very epicentre of power and profession. I unhesitantly attribute not only my professional readiness, but my spiritual preparedness, to this program. Few undergraduate students anywhere are provided with an experience like it.” -
2023 RSL Fellow
“My participation in the Baylor in Washington Summer Fellowship Program deepened my intellectual curiosity about the intersection of my religious values and civic engagement. It prompted me to reflect on my purpose and the role my Christian identity plays in a nation that upholds the separation of church and state. Through discussions on vocation and the work of religious professionals in public service, I realized that my faith inevitably shapes my approach to political and humanitarian efforts. Discussing these ideas with faith-driven professionals while applying them firsthand during my internship was a transformative experience, one that has solidified my understanding of the role of faith in civic life.”
2024 RSL Fellow
“Since the fellowship, I’ve spent a year working in the legal department of a domestic violence shelter and am now attending Vanderbilt Law School. I am planning on pursuing a career in litigation and am hoping to work with the Department of Justice or a judge this summer. The fellowship profoundly shaped my approach to law school and beyond, prompting me to deeply consider the kind of career, family, and community I want to build. I credit the fellowship and its facilitators with fostering both my willingness to engage in complex, challenging discussions and my confidence in contributing meaningful insights to a group. ”-
2023 RSL Fellow
“The Summer Fellowship for Religion and Social Life transformed my understanding of my role in the world as a Christian through discussions on vocation and calling, spiritual formation, and times of silence. Through the seminars and vocation dinners, I established a vision of how I hope to live, unafraid to draw near to suffering because of the hope of restoration yet humbly accepting that I am only a small part of God's ultimate redemptive plan. This program gave me a new curiosity to understand the world through the people in front of me, holding both large-scale systems and personal relationships together to bring about lasting and meaningful change.”-
2025 RSL Fellow
"Since completing the RSL summer fellowship, I graduated in May 2024 as a University Scholar with concentrations in biology, international studies, and military studies. After graduation, I moved to Washington, D.C., to pursue a master’s in biodefense at George Mason University’s Schar School. I hope to apply my education at the intersection of biodefense and national security law, with a long-term goal of working to address biological threats through policy, law, and security strategy. Looking back, the RSL fellowship was one of the most formative experiences of my academic journey. The fellowship has deepened my faith by surrounding me with individuals who sought to serve God in their lives and vocations, creating a space for spiritual growth and reflection. It has reinforced my belief in the importance of service, leadership, and staying true to my faith as I navigate the challenges ahead. I am incredibly grateful for the experience and excited to see how future cohorts continue to benefit from this incredible program.”
2023 RSL Fellow
“The Summer Fellowship for Religion and Social Life was a truly transformative experience. I was exposed to so many experts in different fields, which broadened my sense of the possibilities career-wise. Having spiritual development underpinning the whole summer in a way that was not confined to deadlines or classrooms helped me develop practices that I will take with me as I enter post-graduate life. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to take part in such a unique program and for Dr. Hibbs and the BIW team for mentoring our cohort this summer.”-
2025 RSL Fellow