Dr. Ling Xu Named Danny and Lenn Prince Endowed Chair in the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work

WACO, Texas — 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.

Xu joins the Garland School from the University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work, where she served as associate professor and built a national reputation for scholarship and teaching in aging. 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.

"I am honored to join Baylor University and the Garland School of Social Work as the Danny and Lenn Prince Endowed Chair in Social Work. Baylor's commitment to excellence in research, teaching and service aligns closely with my own professional values,” Xu said. 

Xu's recent work develops and evaluates innovative interventions for families living with dementia, including volunteer-delivered support programs and technology-enhanced approaches designed to improve access to care and support. Her research has been supported by major funding agencies, including the National Institute on Aging, the National Science Foundation, the RRF Foundation for Aging, and the Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research.

A nationally and internationally recognized scholar, Xu has published more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and numerous book chapters and conference publications. She has received several prestigious honors, including election as a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), selection as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar and participation in the Advanced Research Institute in Mental Health and Aging.

“I look forward to collaborating with colleagues, students and community partners to advance innovative research on aging and caregiving while helping prepare the next generation of social work leaders," Xu said.

An award-winning educator, Xu has taught courses in social work practice with older adults and human behavior and the social environment, and her teaching and mentorship helped establish UT Arlington's aging specialization as one of the most respected in the country. In 2024, she was recognized by UT Arlington for excellence in teaching.

“I look forward to collaborating with colleagues, students and community partners to advance innovative research on aging and caregiving while helping prepare the next generation of social work leaders," Xu added.

Xu earned her PhD in social work from the University of Southern California, her MSW from the University of Hong Kong, a master's degree in sociology from Fudan University and a bachelor's degree from Henan Normal University.

"Dr. Xu embodies everything the Prince Chair was created to advance—rigorous scholarship, care for older adults and their families and a commitment to preparing the next generation of social workers to serve this growing population with excellence and compassion," said Dr. Luci Ramos Hoppe, interim dean of the Garland School of Social Work. "We could not be more excited to welcome her to the Garland School community."

Xu succeeds Dr. Dennis Myers, the inaugural holder of the Prince Chair, who retired in spring 2025 after 45 years of service and teaching at Baylor University. Installed as the chair's first holder in 2018, Myers led the School's Gerontology Initiative and the Danny and Lenn Prince Initiative for Quality Long-term Care with Older Adults, strengthening care environments for older persons in residential settings and enriching the lives of the families who love them. A Fellow of the GSA, he was honored as a Baylor Outstanding Teacher and as a Distinguished Teacher by the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education.

"We are deeply grateful to Dr. Myers for his faithful service to older adults, to the Garland School, to Baylor and to the many communities he touched across more than four decades," Hoppe said. "His legacy of care and scholarship laid a remarkable foundation, and Dr. Xu stands ready to carry that vision forward."

The Danny and Lenn Prince Endowed Chair was established through the generosity of Danny and Lenn Prince of Dallas, longtime supporters of the Garland School whose lives reflect a devotion to the flourishing of older adults. The chair furthers the School's mission to advance social work knowledge, values and skills through the integration of faith and practice.