Diana Garland Named Chair Of School Of Social Work

Baylor University President Robert B. Sloan Jr. has appointed Dr. Diana Garland, professor of social work, as chair of the School of Social Work effective June 1. Garland succeeds Dr. Preston Dyer, who is returning to full-time teaching.

"Preston Dyer has been social work education at Baylor University for the past 30 years, and I knew his work long before I ever imagined being at Baylor myself," Garland said. "He built a highly esteemed baccalaureate program, a program from which we drew our best and brightest students when I taught in a graduate program in Kentucky. He also had the vision and perseverence to develop a graduate program, and that is what brought me to Baylor.

"I am deeply grateful for the legacy of education he has established, for the faculty he has assembled and for the climate of collaboration he has cultivated. There is excitement in the air at the Baylor School of Social Work -- excitement about our educational programs, our research initiatives and the growing capability we have to serve our community. There is no place I would rather be."

"I am extremely pleased that Diana Garland has agreed to be the new head of the School of Social Work," said Dr. Donald D. Schmeltekopf, provost and vice president of academic affairs. "Her track record as a teacher and scholar, together with her administrative experience and grantsmanship, make her an exceptional leader for our social work program. And I am deeply appreciative to Preston Dyer for his many years of service to Baylor and his outstanding work as the first chair of our new School of Social Work."

Garland received her bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees from the University of Louisville. She served as dean of the Carver School of Church Social Work at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and director of the Gheens Center for Christian Family Ministry at Southern before coming to Baylor in 1997. She is the author, co-author or editor of 14 books, including "Precious in His Sight: A Guide to Child Advocacy"; "Family Ministry: A Comprehensive Guide" (which was named 2000 Book of the Year by the Academy or Parish Clergy); "Church Agencies"; and "Church Social Work." She also is editor of the journal "Family Ministry."

Garland is a past recipient of the Jack Otis Whistleblower Award presented by the National Association of Social Workers and was awarded the Volunteers of America National Volunteer Service Award. She also serves as Texas' Region 9 representative to the National Association of Social Workers Delegate Assembly.