Scales Appointed Associate Dean Of Graduate Studies And Professional Development

August 3, 2004
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by Julie Campbell Carlson

Dr. Laine Scales, associate professor of social work at Baylor University, has been named associate dean of graduate studies and professional development, effective Aug. 23. In addition to her new duties, Scales will continue to teach part-time in the School of Social Work.
"I have known Laine since she first came to Baylor," said Dr. Larry Lyon, dean of the graduate school and senior vice provost. "She has been a strong addition to our nationally-ranked graduate program in social work and is well suited for this new position because she is both an excellent teacher and a productive scholar."
As associate dean, Scales will focus on professional development of graduate students and will provide support to graduate faculty in such areas as thesis and dissertation directing and mentoring. Scales also will teach "Introduction to College Teaching," which will help doctoral students prepare for classroom teaching.
"We created the position because I am convinced that Baylor's focus on developing the whole student is clearer and stronger at the undergraduate level than it is at the graduate level," Lyon said. "Most universities with whom we compete for graduate students have extensive professional development programs. Laine's task is to close that gap, quickly."
Lyon said a reconfiguration of a vacant staff position in the graduate school allowed the position to be created.
"One of my responsibilities will be to create a program for training, mentoring and evaluating doctoral students who are teaching at Baylor as graduate teaching assistants," Scales said.
Scales, who received her doctorate in higher education from the University of Kentucky, joined the Baylor faculty in 1999. She has authored, co-authored or edited six books in the areas of higher education, case teaching method and social work. She has published more than a dozen articles and chapters on various education and social work topics. She currently serves as associate editor for the journal Social Work and Christianity and was also associate editor for MacMillan International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family Relationships. Scales has held state leadership positions in National Association of Social Workers, Texas Chapter, and also has held leadership positions with North American Association of Christians in Social Work. Prior to coming to Baylor, she taught at Stephen F. Austin State University and Palm Beach Atlantic College.
Scales has been active on the Baylor campus, particularly in the area of faculty development. She serves on the university faculty development committee and chairs the School of Social Work's faculty development committee, planned faculty retreats and served on the university faculty development committee. In 2002, she co-chaired an ad hoc committee to create a Center for Teaching and Learning at Baylor.