Bridgebuilding Fellows Program
The Bridgebuilding Fellows Program brings together trained cohorts of students, faculty, and staff who serve as bridgebuilders and role models within the Baylor community. Rooted in a curriculum called Bridging the Gap, Fellows learn and develop the skills needed to engage across divergent perspectives and foster meaningful relationships in an increasingly polarized world. Emphasizing deep listening, storytelling, and navigating tension constructively, the program equips participants to practice civil discourse and lead conversations across lines of difference. In addition to participating in programs and events throughout the year, Fellows play a key role in Civil Discourse Week and other campus initiatives that strengthen Baylor’s culture of engagement and belonging.
To be a part of the Fall 2026 cohort, please contact intercultural@baylor.edu.
Bridgebuilding Fellow Program Leaders
Dr. Kevin Villegas, Dean of Intercultural Engagement and Division Initiatives
Dr. David Justice, Lecturer of Baylor Interdisciplinary Core
Andre Baesa, Lead Coordinator of Intercultural Engagement and Student Life Initiatives
Emilee Eldridge, Graduate Apprentice of Intercultural Engagement
Veronica Yepes, Junior majoring in Professional Writing and Rhetoric & Statistics
Luke Dragan, Junior majoring in Biochemistry
Emma Risko-Juarez, Senior majoring in Health Science Studies
Student Fellows
Fall 2026 Cohort
Blessy Bellamkonda, Sophomore majoring in Biology
Aaron Borges, Junior majoring in Communication
Will Gadtke, Sophomore majoring in Business Fellows, Finance, Math, and Philosophy
Simone Goudeau, Sophomore majoring in Psychology
Graham Icasiano, Sophomore majoring in Political Science
Ava Janes, Senior majoring in Violin Performance and Film & Digital Media Studies
Mehala Muthukumar, Senior majoring in Biology
Cathy Obawole, Sophomore majoring in Biology
Kate Priest, Senior majoring in Biochemistry
Christopher Romani, Junior majoring in University Scholars
Mikayla Ross, Sophomore majoring in Choral Music Education
Audrey Schmidt, Sophomore majoring in Medical Humanities
Natalie Weems, Senior majoring in Political Science
Jubilee Wong, Sophomore majoring in Psychology
Faculty Fellows
Toby Brooks, Ph.D., Director of Academy for Teaching & Learning, Clinical Professor of Health, Human Performance & Recreation
Adrienne Cain Darough, Assistant Director and Clinical Associate Professor, Institute for Oral History
Gia Chevis, Ph.D., Director of Innovation in Accounting Data & Analytics; PwC Professor of Teaching Excellence; Clinical Professor of Accounting & Business Law
Jane Damron, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer in Communication; Undergraduate Program Director; Affiliate Faculty in Women’s & Gender Studies
Ericka Dunbar, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Religion
John Duncan, Ph.D., Lecturer of Religion
Heather Hudson, Ed.D., Master of Athletic Training Program Director; Clinical Professor of Health, Human Performance & Recreation
Anne Jeffrey, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Philosophy
Jocelyn McGee, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Social Work
Min Pack, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Engineering & Computer Science
Mark Richards, Associate Director for Operations, Innovation, and Programs in Office of Engaged Learning