Get to Know the OEL | Molly Simpson

Molly Simpson serves as Assistant Director for Service in both the Office of Engaged Learning and the Office of Spiritual Life. This Q&A with Andy Hogue is the fifth installment in our "Get to Know the OEL" series.

Q. Who is Molly Simpson? Where did you come from? What is your background? And how did you make your way here?

A. I am the Assistant Director for Service, and I work with both OEL and Student Life, connecting campus to the community through curricular and co-curricular service. I am an ordained Methodist clergy person, and prior to working at Baylor, I served as the Senior Pastor at First United Methodist Church of Killeen. After local church ministry for 15 years, I had discerned it was time for something a little different, and that brought me to this incredible position at Baylor. I’m still clergy, and I serve “in extension,” which means my ministry is beyond the local church. I have a designation as an Associate Chaplain within Spiritual Life too.

Q. Your position is unique because your time is split between the OEL and Missions, Service & Public Life. What is your work in the OEL? And what is your work in MSPL? In what ways to these roles converge, and how do you think it benefits Baylor to have you in both spaces?

A. In both offices, I seek to connect Baylor and the Waco community. This primarily happens through service—events, partnerships, special projects, individual volunteers, supporting student organizations, and relationships. My hope is to match needs and resources, which both exist at Baylor and in the community. Our best partnerships are mutually beneficial and contribute to the good of both Waco and Baylor. 

Q. If we do this Q&A again in a year, what will we be celebrating?

A. I’ve been making slow progress on my Doctor of Ministry degree. I hope that year from now we’re celebrating the completion of it!

Q. One of the things I appreciate about you, Molly, is that you bring a caring, pastoral presence to both your colleagues and your students. How do you think that came about?

A. I grew up with a lot of people around me who loved others with authenticity and generosity. That has been modeled for me. Also, my motivation for ministry comes from a deep conviction that Christ loves people deeply and that I should do the same. When I came to Baylor as a student, I wanted to go to med school and become a doctor. A couple of great faculty members helped me see that my deeper motivation was to help others and walk through life with them, which I’ve been able to do in a variety of ways in the church, the university, and the community.

Q. What do you most hope our students will take from their Baylor education, and what do you see as your role in that?

A. I want to see our students be good humans, to have integrity, to find joy in their work, and to be people who are formed in a manner that leads them to contribute to the common good. My role is to provide structures and experiences that help foster this— service organizations, disaster relief trips, invitations to serve in the local community, teaching chapel, mentoring individual students, and creating course partnerships that have the ability to do a lot of good!. I want to create the conditions in which the Holy Spirit can do transforming work in the lives of our students.

Q. What are some interesting things about Molly Simpson outside work?

A. With two teenagers, most of my life beyond work is directed by their sports and activities. I love cheering them on! During the Christmas break, I’ll also spend some extra time cooking and baking—I’m trying to master the art of gluten free baking.