Baylor School of Social Work Gains First Two Endowed Faculty Positions

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Baylor University announced today (Aug. 18) the completion of funding for the Baylor School of Social Work's first endowed faculty positions. The Diana R. Garland Endowed Chair in Child and Family Services in the School of Social Work and the Dorothy Barfield Kronzer Endowed Professorship in Family Studies will help attract and retain top-flight faculty, promoting the growth and prestige of Baylor's youngest school.

"These two endowed positions add significantly to the Baylor School of Social Work's momentum in becoming a top program, especially as more and more students apply to study in the School of Social Work," said Dr. Diana R. Garland, founding dean of the Baylor School of Social Work. "We are so blessed to have supporters who are eager to help Baylor students learn to serve."

An anonymous donor made the lead gift for the Garland Endowed Chair in 2005, shortly before the School of Social Work transitioned from being an academic department to becoming the 11th academic unit of the university. The donor wished to honor Garland's leadership of the program, which had gained recognition from U.S. News' list of the top 100 graduate schools in only its second year of existence.

Additionally, Garland's vision enabled the School of Social Work to partner with the community to touch lives. Babs Baugh of San Antonio (Baylor attendee 1960-63), whose gift through the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation helped complete funding for the Garland Endowed Chair, said Garland has been a "hero to me since her days at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Diana's interest in involving churches with social work is particularly wonderful and should be looked on with great anticipation by churches all over the country. She is one of the brightest stars in Baptist life."

The Kronzer Endowed Professorship also honors a legacy of servant-leadership. Dorothy Kronzer (BBA '44), who was the first woman president of the Baylor Alumni Association, also served on the Baylor Board of Trustees from 1978-87, attained Regent Emerita status in 1996 and was honored with Baylor's Founders Medal, the university's most distinguished award, in 1998. True advocates for Baylor, Jim and Dorothy Kronzer of Houston established a Baylor endowment fund in 1985, but did not specify a particular purpose for the donation. Their children, Walter J. Kronzer III and Kim Kronzer O'Brien, chose to designate the gift to the School of Social Work in recognition of Dorothy's passions and ministry to families and the elderly.

"Throughout their lives, service was very important to both of my parents," O'Brien said. "It's great for us to make possible an opportunity where others can follow that example and do great things helping others. Dean Garland's vision is very exciting, and with this relatively new school, it's thrilling to be a part of its early stages."

The Baylor School of Social Work marked its fourth anniversary of being an independent school in June 2009. In 2008, the Baylor School of Social Work's master's program ranking jumped from 87th in 2004 to 60th in the U.S. News graduate school rankings. The undergraduate program has seen significant growth as well, with 122 students enrolled in fall 2008.

Contact: Jill Scoggins, Assistant Vice President for Media Communications, 254-710-1964