NewsBriefs
Ten Baylor Law Graduates Admitted to Bar of the U.S. Supreme Court
In November, 10 Baylor Law School graduates traveled to Washington, D.C., where they were admitted to the Bar of the U.S. Supreme Court after being sworn in by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. The lawyers now have the privilege of being allowed to argue cases before the Court.
Those admitted were Richard Butler, JD '77, Glenn Callison, JD '88, Joe Coleman, JD '57, Judge Robin Darr, JD '82, Billy Davis, JD '76, Bill Gooding, JD '75, Mike Lindsay, JD '76, Judge Rebecca Simmons, JD '80, Baylor Law Associate Dean Leah Witcher Teague, JD '85, and Steve Wisch, JD '77. Bill Brian, JD '74, current Baylor Lawyer of the Year, also attended the event. Brian has previously been admitted to the Supreme Court.
The lawyers and guests were joined on the trip by President and Chancellor Ken Starr, his wife Alice, and Brad Toben, JD '77, dean of Baylor Law School.
The Starrs led the Baylor Law group through the Supreme Court, where they met Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Anthony M. Kennedy. Judge Starr then moved the admission of the group, and Chief Justice Roberts swore in the Baylor lawyers.
Baylor Professor Named Most Influential Social Worker
Dr. Preston Dyer, professor emeritus in Baylor School of Social Work, has been ranked No. 1 on the list of "The 30 Most Influential Social Workers Alive Today," compiled by Social Work Degree Guide.
"We know Dr. Dyer is an outstanding leader in our profession, and to have another organization recognize him in this way is confirmation," said Dr. Diana Garland, professor and dean of the School of Social Work. "His fingerprints are all over this school. The collegial, supportive community we enjoy here developed out of his fiercely egalitarian and community spirit."
The list of prominent social workers was compiled based on merit, scholastic study and political activism.
Dyer joined the University in 1969 and served as director of the undergraduate program for three decades. Prior to working at Baylor, he worked as a clinical social worker for mental health. His research has focused on marriages and families, with publications in more than 100 academic and scholarly journals. Dyer is a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers and is on the board of PREPARE/ENRICH, a relationship inventory and skill-building program.
School of Social Work to Offer Houston Program Fall 2015
Baylor's School of Social Work is expanding the reach of its Master of Social Work program by offering the program at South Main Baptist Church in downtown Houston, beginning in August 2015.
With Houston's diverse and growing regional population of more than 6.5 million people, there is a need for well-trained professionals who are proactive in their approach to complex social issues, such as poverty, education, substance abuse, violence and preventable diseases, said Dr. Diana Garland, dean of the School of Social Work.
"We are continuing to expand the reach of our work to the real people in the real places who confront these social challenges," Garland said. "By strategically positioning ourselves in a community like Houston that is both receptive to trying new ideas and one which also has a dynamic economy, we will use this position to become active in the local community."
Overall employment of social workers in the U.S. is projected to grow 19 percent by 2022. And currently, hundreds of social worker positions remain unfilled in and around the city of Houston. Garland plans to recruit Houston-area residents who will go on to fill jobs in the city and surrounding areas.
Baylor's two-year MSW program is highly structured and offers students the opportunity to focus on one of three areas: children and families, physical and mental health, or community practice.
During the first year of the program, classes will be held in a traditional classroom setting so students and faculty can engage with one another in a face-to-face learning environment. In the second year, when students are required to hold internships, the majority of the courses will be accessible online via virtual classrooms.
Garland said Houston provides a wealth of hands-on internship opportunities for Baylor students.
"Houston is an ideal setting for an educational social work program due to its booming economy, growing populations and cultural diversity," Garland said. "Shadowing these opportunities are the realities of social challenges that such a growing economy and population create. Houston will benefit from Baylor’s purposeful engagement as a catalyst for transformational change."