Celebrating Baylor Spiritual Life's Dr. Burt Burleson
Dear Student Life Colleagues and Friends,
It is with deep gratitude that I share the news that our beloved University Chaplain and Dean of Spiritual Life, Dr. Burt Burleson, will be retiring in May 2025 following 17 years of faithful service to Baylor University. Burt’s transformative impact on our campus and in our lives is beyond measure, and his enduring legacy will continue to inspire and shape our community for generations to come.
Throughout his remarkable tenure at Baylor, Burt has been a steadfast and compassionate presence, guiding students, faculty, and staff in their spiritual journeys. Under his leadership, the resident chaplain program has flourished, the chapel experience has been transformed in ways that have made it more meaningful and impactful, and unprecedented numbers of students, faculty, and staff have engaged in global and local mission work. In addition, his dedication to strengthening spiritual life at Baylor has deepened our partnerships with more than 40 campus ministries and over 70 local churches in Waco.
Beyond his professional achievements, Burt has been a pastoral presence in the truest sense—offering wisdom, encouragement, and a listening ear to all who have crossed his path. We will deeply miss his calming presence, his clever humor, and his remarkable ability to make others feel truly seen and valued.
While this marks the conclusion of Burt’s remarkable chapter at Baylor, it is far from the end of his ministry. True to his deep passion for the local church, Burt eagerly anticipates pastoring a small congregation—the kind of church he has always cherished. He also looks forward to spending more time with his wife, Julie, further embracing the joys of grandparenthood, and continuing to pursue God’s calling with the unwavering dedication that we have all come to know through our relationship with him.
Please join me in thanking Burt for his extraordinary service, his steadfast faithfulness to this community, and the countless ways he has enriched our lives. We celebrate all that he has given to Baylor, and each of us, and wish him the very best in this next season of life and ministry.
With gratitude,
Kevin P. Jackson, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Life