Meet our Long-Time Recruiter
O'Brien has long been a friendly face within the Garland School of Social Work. As the recruitment team travels, we frequently get questions on who he is and why we have a bear on our table. As the recruitment team has grown and taken on new staff members, we wanted to share the history of O'Brien and introduce the person who made him a part of the team.
Kay O'Brien, former Director of Service Learning, spent nine years working for Baylor Social Work with part of her responsibilities being student recruitment. At the time, Baylor Social Work consisted of an undergraduate program within the Department of Sociology started by Dr. Preston Dyer, a long-time faculty member who still teaches with us today. When reflecting upon her time as a recruiter, Kay shares, "I found I loved the challenge of presenting the wide array of opportunities in the field of social work. Sharing my personal passion for a profession whose theory and practice applications provided multiple pathways for graduates was an easy assignment."
In 1998, Baylor Social Work expanded its programs to offer an MSW degree, and Kay was tasked with traveling to schools, conferences, and other events to help recruit new graduate students. To help her fling the green and gold, Kay knew she needed a partner. In her words, she "Grabbed the best and largest teddy bear, put a Baylor t-shirt on him and declared him our booth mascot." After that, the bear became a regular face among Baylor social work students, faculty and staff. When he wasn't traveling, he could be found in different classrooms, in the student lounge or at events wherever he was needed. Tracey Kelley, the former Director of Student and Alumni Services, fondly name the bear O'brien to honor Kay and her dedication to the school.
During O'brien's time with us, we have transitioned from a small program to become the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work at Baylor University offering a BSW, MSW, and PhD program. O'Brien is now almost 20 years old and is still Baylor proud, bringing smiles to the faces of many prospective students around the country. Make sure to check out our Visit page for your chance to meet O'Brien in person. Sic' Em Bears!
