Heather E. Deal, MSW, M.Div

Education

MSW, Garland School of Social Work, Baylor University
M.Div., George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University
B.A., Secondary English Education, Campbellsville University

Research Interests

• Religion and Spirituality in Social Justice Advocacy
• Christian Nationalism, Feminist, Gender and LGBTQ+ Equity in Religious and Spiritual Contexts

Background

Heather Deal currently serves as the Director of Development for Baptist Women in Ministry (BWIM) which supports women who pursue ministry and leadership with sustaining resources and community, and advocates for the full affirmation of women in ministry and leadership in Baptist life. Previously, she served as the Director of Development for Baylor University’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work. She is a current doctoral candidate at the Garland School, researching congregational social justice advocacy, Christian nationalism, and equality for women in ministry. Ms. Deal is a research fellow at Baylor University’s Center for Church and Community Impact (C3i). She also received Recognition for Excellence in Teaching from the Baylor University Graduate School.

She has presented at various conferences, including The Bridge Conference, which focuses on integrated marketing and fundraising. At the 2023 Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting she presented “Culture Wars in Social Work Classrooms and Beyond: How Should Social Work Educators Respond?” and presented “Christian Nationalism and the Christian Social Worker”, “Promoting Sustainability in Social Work: Perspectives of Educators/Students”, and “Minority Stress Theory and Applications to Spirituality in LGBTQ People” at the 2023 North American Association of Christians in Social Work Annual Meeting.

She earned her M.Div. and MSW from Baylor’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary and the Garland School of Social Work, where she specialized in congregational social work and wrote the “Understanding Poverty” unit for the Center for Family and Community Ministries’ Walking Alongside curriculum, which helps guide congregations as they consider how God has called them to serve their communities.