Global Friendship Program Connects Baylor Students to Waco Community

The long-running initiative pairs international students with local host families to foster cultural exchange and understanding.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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The Global Friendship Program at Baylor University aims to help international students immerse themselves in American culture beyond the campus. By matching students with host families in the Waco community, the program provides opportunities for cultural exchange and building relationships. International students participate in activities like attending high school football games or studying at their host family's home, gaining a deeper understanding of life in Texas. The program is seen as beneficial for both the students and the local hosts, who get to learn from each other.

Why it matters

As international student enrollment continues to rise at U.S. universities, programs like the Global Friendship Program play an important role in helping these students transition to life in a new country. By facilitating connections between international students and the local community, the program fosters cross-cultural understanding and provides international students with a more well-rounded experience beyond just their studies.

The details

The Global Friendship Program matches international Baylor students with either a local Waco family or a Baylor student host. Through monthly meetups, the international students get exposure to aspects of American culture they may not experience just on campus, such as attending a high school football game or studying at their host's home. The program is coordinated by the International Student and Scholar Services team in Baylor's Center for Global Engagement. While there are currently more host families than international students signed up, the program aims to attract both local and Baylor students to participate in this "low commitment, high reward" experience.

  • The spring 2026 semester is when the Global Friendship Program is currently underway at Baylor University.

The players

Katie Klingstedt

Coordinator of International Programs for the International Student and Scholar Services team in the Center for Global Engagement at Baylor University.

Ebenezer Anene

A freshman from the United Kingdom who participated in the Global Friendship Program during the fall 2025 semester.

Myles Carlson

A freshman from South Africa who participated in the Global Friendship Program during the fall 2025 semester alongside Ebenezer Anene.

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What they’re saying

“We just want students to have a chance to interact with more American and even Texan culture than they would get from going to their class and their roommates. Unless they make an intentional effort, they might not have much exposure to broader American culture, what life is like for someone who lives and works in a city in Texas, unrelated to Baylor.”

— Katie Klingstedt, Coordinator of International Programs (baylorlariat.com)

“The biggest culture shock for me was Texas itself because I've been to northern states, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Texas is a whole different ball game. I had to learn a lot of new things compared to if I went to school in, like, Iowa.”

— Myles Carlson (baylorlariat.com)

“We talked about different things, from school to faith and everything in between. The family we had were genuinely really nice people, always checking up on us during the semester, calling to ask if we had anything they wanted us to pray for about us.”

— Ebenezer Anene (baylorlariat.com)

What’s next

The Global Friendship Program is an ongoing initiative at Baylor University, with new international students and local hosts signing up each semester to participate.

The takeaway

The Global Friendship Program demonstrates the value of fostering cross-cultural connections and immersing international students in the local community beyond just their university campus. This type of program can help international students better understand American culture while also providing local hosts with the opportunity to learn from their global peers.