Speaking

Walt is at home when he’s teaching.

Testimonials

“Your presentation is so relevant to this chapter in my life. You truly have changed my perspective on how to approach each day. What an unexpected gift you have given me. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart! Thank you for the book! Thank you for the presentation! And thank you for changing my life!”

• • Brook Scarpinato, RN, BSN, Baylor Law JD Candidate 2023 on Walt’s “Wellness for Law Students: Commitment to Staying Focused and Balanced” presentation

“This was the first retreat I’ve been on in over 20 years and I’m so glad I did. Throughout our retreat, it was obvious to me, and all, that you have studied the scriptures in depth; so that you can share them in an understandable fashion. The greatest blessing for me in your book and in leading our retreat was your practicality. I was touched by how you listened to each person’s comments; and even more so, how you took time before and after each session to listen to those who came up to speak to you.”

• • Bob Sutton, Louisville, KY, after Walt’s presentation at the Beargrass Christian Church Valaterra Retreat, “Social Justice and Daily Spiritual Practices”

“The program was tremendously helpful to me. I have 16-year-old twins, and commute from Georgetown to Waco every day. My kids miss me terribly, and although I try, I certainly am pulled in many directions and do not always do a great job of stopping and focusing on just being in the moment with them. After your presentation, I spoke to my sweet daughter, and we both decided to wake up 10 minutes earlier every morning to share a cup of coffee together before she leaves for school. It was the tiniest suggestion but has helped us both start the day feeling calmer and more centered. Thank you again for everything.”

• • Casey M. Cooper, M.A., Baylor Law JD Candidate 2023, after Walt’s “Wellness for Law Students: The Art of Daily Focus and Balanced Priorities” presentation

Selected 2022 and Early 2023 Engagements

“Faith and Personal Wellness,” United Methodist Women, Austin, Texas, January 24, 2023.

“Environmental Law Career Panel,” Moderator and Speaker, sponsored by the Environmental and Natural Resource Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, Baylor Law School, Waco, Texas, February 21, 2023.

“Choosing and Cultivating a Gratitude Attitude,” Searching in Fellowship Together (“SWIFT”) Group, Tarrytown United Methodist Church (“TUMC”), Austin, Texas, December 11, 2022.

“Life as Choices – Dealing with Emotion and Response Action,” SWIFT Group, TUMC, Austin, Texas, December 4, 2022.

“Wellness for Law Students: The Art of Daily Focus and Balanced Priorities,” Baylor Law Student Wellness Organization Professional Development Program, Baylor Law School, November 16, 2022.

“Wellness for Busy Professionals: Living Sequentially With Focus, Dealing With Fear, and Keeping Priorities in Balance,” Baylor Law School Dean’s Office and Staff Meeting, Baylor Law School, Waco, Texas, November 15, 2022.

“Environmental Justice,” part of ABA initiative to address racism, bias, and cultural issues, recorded on September 28, 2022.

“Social Justice and Daily Spiritual Practices,” Valaterra Retreat, 1 ½ day Retreat (4 sessions—(1) Friday night, one hour, (2) – (4) Saturday — three 75-minute sessions (two in the morning, one in the afternoon), and including informal and open discussion time between sessions and a short worship service with communion to close),  Beargrass Christian Church, Louisville, KY, September 23-24, 2022.

“Wellness for Attorneys: Achieving Excellence in Practice and Meaning in Life Via Good Habits Toward Focus, Fearlessness, and Balancing Priorities,” Legal Continuing Legal Education (“CLE”) Ethics, 2022 Texas Environmental Superconference, State Bar of Texas, Austin, Texas, Aug. 4, 2022.

“Wellness for Law Students: Commitment to Staying Focused and Balanced,” Baylor Law Student Wellness Organization Professional Development Program, Baylor Law School, Waco, Texas, May 10, 2022.

“Following the Narrow Path: Prioritizing Self-Reflection and Pursuing Justice,” Sapp Lecture Series and 2 ½ day Retreat (5 sessions—(1) “Following, Believing, or Both?” – one hour Friday, (2) and (3) “Identifying With Jesus in the Wilderness and in All Seasons” – two 75-minute sessions Saturday morning, (4) Discussion session, one hour Sunday morning, and (5) “Actively Pursuing Justice: The Heart of Jesus’s Vocation as ‘the Anointed One,’” – sermon in Sunday morning worship service), The Church at Highland Park, Austin, Texas, January 21 – 23, 2022.

“Daily and Periodic Practices to Enhance Your Life Quality: Staying Focused and Keeping Balanced,” Baylor Law Student Wellness Organization Professional Development Program, January 12, 2022.

Selected 2019-2021 Engagements

“New Testament Gospel Beginnings: Historical Order and Contrasts,” SWIFT Group, TUMC, Austin, Texas, December 5, 2021.

“Seeking and Being Role Models and Mentors,” SWIFT Group, TUMC, Austin, Texas, November 14, 2021.

“Mentoring: Meaningfulness as Mentor and Mentee,” Explorers Groups, University United Methodist Church (“UUMC”), Austin, Texas, November 4, 2021.

“A Different Way to Look at Creation and the So-Called Fall of Mankind,” SWIFT Group, TUMC, Austin, Texas, July 11, 2021.

“The First ‘Sin:’ Cain’s Choice,” Explorers Group, UUMC, Austin, Texas, June 13 and May 23, 2021.

“Cultural Transformation: An Open Discussion of Respect, Inclusiveness, Racial Harmony, and the Pursuit of Justice,” Six Week (one-hour sessions each week) Online Inter-Faith presentations and discussions in association with The Church at Highland Park in Austin, Texas, March – April 2021.

“Jesus’s Self-Reflection in the Wilderness and Beyond,” Explorers Group, UUMC, Austin, Texas, January 31, 2021.

“Life Auditing and Reflection,” Explorers Group, UUMC, Austin, Texas, January 24, 2021.

“Practicing Law in Unexpected Seasons,” Baylor Law School, Online, December 14, 2020.

“Comparing and Contrasting New Testament Gospel Beginnings,” Explorers Group, UUMC, Austin, Texas, December 6 and November 8, 2020.

“Biblical/Social Justice: A Faith Priority,” Explorers Group, UUMC, Austin, Texas, September 6, 2020.

“Jesus: The ‘Anointed’ Champion of Justice Emerges From the Wilderness,” Explorers Group, UUMC, Austin, Texas, June 14, 2020.

“Coping With an Unexpected Season: Focused, Fearless, & Prioritized,” Baylor Law School, Online Legal CLE Ethics, June 1, 2020.

“Practicing Law in 2020: Focused, Fearless, & Prioritized,” 21^st Annual Changing Face of Water Law, State Bar of Texas, Legal CLE Ethics, San Antonio, Texas, February 21, 2020.

“Finding Identity in the Wilderness Through Introspection,” SWIFT Group, TUMC, Austin, Texas, November 24, 2019.

Annual Environmental Law Speaker and Panel Coordinator and Moderator Since 2008 (as Chair and now Co-Chair of the Law School Committee of the Environmental and Natural Resource Law Section of the State Bar of Texas)

The University of Texas School of Law

Baylor University School of Law

Texas Tech University School of Law

University of Houston Law Center

SMU Dedman School of Law

South Texas College of Law

St. Mary’s University School of Law

Texas A&M University School of Law

Texas Southern University — Thurgood Marshall School of Law

University of North Texas Dallas College of Law

Provision of Books

Walt asks sponsors of speaking engagements to provide one or both of his books to attendees. Walt has arranged for a discount for direct orders from Baylor Bookstore in Waco, TX via Ms. Larissa Rupley at Larissa_Rupley@baylor.edu (254-710-6962). Walt works with Baylor Bookstore due to the generous discount and because a portion of the proceeds go to help students with financial educational needs. If sponsors prefer eBooks, bulk orders (with codes provided for attendees) may be placed directly with CrossLink Publishing via Mr. Rick Bates at rick@crosslink.org.