Diana R. Garland School of Social Work

The Diana R. Garland School of Social Work at Baylor University is pleased to announce that Ling Xu, PhD, has been named the Danny and Lenn Prince Endowed Chair in Social Work, a position dedicated to research, scholarship and teaching in the field of gerontology and to advancing the well-being of older adults. Trained as a social worker, sociologist and gerontologist, her research centers on family gerontology, caregiving among ethnic minority older adults, aging and health among older adults living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, intergenerational relationships, and mental health in later life

For Dr. Ling Xu and Dr. Jinyu Liu, the Dallas Chinese Community Center Health Fair is an opportunity to put the Garland School’s mission into practice—serving others, building relationships and understanding individuals within the context of their families, cultures, and communities. Through their work with the DCCC, Drs. Xu and Liu have found meaningful connections between their research and the experiences of the people they meet. Their ongoing partnership is a reminder that social work can take many forms, bringing together knowledge, compassion and a commitment to making a difference.

Until September, members of the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work's first Social, Nonprofit and Public Leadership (SNPL) degree cohort had known each other only through a screen. Then they came to Waco.

The Garland School recently welcomed its inaugural group of SNPL students to campus for the program's first intensive—held Sept. 16-19. Over the course of the week, these students sat in class together, met the faculty and partners behind the program, and began building the network they will carry through the degree and into their work.

Garland School alum Biak Nu Sung, MSW '12, has been recognized with Baylor's first-ever Pro Mundo Medal of Service. Originally from Chin State, Myanmar, Biak came to Baylor through the Global Mission Leadership Scholars Program, where she earned her master's degree with a concentration in children and family practice. After returning to Myanmar following graduation, she eventually joined UNICEF as a child protection specialist, combining her social work training with her passion for child development and family support. Through her work in rural communities, Biak focuses on prevention, educating families and helping children grow in safe supportive environments. Her journey reflects the Garland School’s emphasis on faith, service and using social work to care for the whole person and community. Well done, Biak!