SAGE Collaboratory Faculty and Students

SAGE Collaboratory Faculty are a community of scholars within the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work (GSSW) who are dedicated to advancing research, education, and innovation in the field of gerontology. These faculty members hold a wide array of expertise—from gerontological theory and social policy to health, long-term residential care, professional and informal caregiving, Alzheimer's, incarceration and aging, international aging, and late-life well-being and flourishing.

They work together collaboratively to cultivate the next generation of social workers committed to serving persons who are experiencing longevity. Each faculty member may have additional foci within the field social work that is not gerontology focused. Please go to faculty profiles for more information on specific interests.

Stephanie Boddie

Fuller Family Endowed Chair for Social Justice
Associate Professor

Stephanie_Boddie@baylor.edu

James Ellor

Professor Emeritus

James_Ellor@baylor.edu

Jinyu Liu

Dorothy Barfield Kronzer Endowed Professor in Family Studies
Associate Professor

Jinyu_Liu@baylor.edu

Jocelyn Shealy McGee

Associate Professor

Jocelyn_McGee@baylor.edu

Dennis Myers

Professor Emeritus

Dennis_Myers@baylor.edu

Robin Rogers

PhD Program Co-Director
Associate Professor

Rob_Rogers@baylor.edu

Qianwei Zhao

Associate Professor

qianwei_zhao@baylor.edu

Together, SAGE Collaboratory Faculty model excellence in gerontological scholarship and help to shape a vibrant, supportive academic community. SAGE Collaboratory faculty:

Provide mentorship to BSW, MSW, and PhD students who are interested in gerontology research, practice, and policy. Some faculty also provide mentorship to students at Baylor from multiple disciplines who are pursing a Gerontology Minor.
Hold monthly SAGE Collaboratory planning meetings, research roundtables, interdisciplinary team science events, and a biennial lectureship in gerontology.
Offer specialized training, guidance on publication and grant development, and opportunities for scholarly collaboration as it pertains to aging.
Advance cutting-edge research that addresses the complexities of aging across communities, cultures, and systems.
Fosters a scholarly environment that encourages inquiry, innovation, and the translation of research into practice and policy.

SAGE Doctoral Research Fellows are PhD students in the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work (GSSW) who have been recognized for their commitment to gerontology research. They are selected based on strong scholarly potential, demonstrated research interests in aging, and active mentorship with a GSSW faculty member.

These fellows are active members of the SAGE Collaboratory which is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of gerontology scholars. As SAGE Doctoral Research Fellows, students receive:

Focused mentorship in gerontology research from experienced faculty.
Participation in monthly SAGE meetings, seminars, and scholarly events (if interested).
Opportunities for advanced research training, collaboration, and professional development in the field of aging.

Overall, a SAGE Doctoral Research Fellow is an emerging scholar who is deeply engaged in aging research and supported by a structured, collaborative environment that nurtures their academic and professional growth.

Angela McClellan

PhD Student

Angela McClellan

PhD Student

Angela McClellan is a PhD student at Baylor University’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work. She earned her MSW from the Diana R. Garland School in 2023 and currently works as a research assistant at the University of Houston. Angela is passionate about supporting older adults and their caregivers, with contributions to projects focusing on caregiving, dementia care, life review therapy, and community education. She has co-authored several journal articles, presented her work at national conferences, and leads bereavement support groups for older adults. As a PhD student, she hopes to explore how people living with dementia and their families cope with natural disasters.

angela_mcclellan1@baylor.edu

Heidee Miller

PhD Candidate

Heidee Miller

PhD Candidate

Heidee Miller is a PhD student at Baylor University’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work. She earned her MSW from the University of Utah. Heidee’s academic and professional work is deeply grounded in gerontology with a focus on aging. With over a decade of experience as a social worker in skilled nursing facilities, Heidi developed a strong commitment to supporting and advocating for individuals living with dementia. Her dissertation research examines how administrators of skilled nursing facilities in Utah perceive the spiritual care needs of their residents. Through this work, Heidee aims to advance more holistic, person-centered approaches in long-term care settings, especially for residents who are living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

Heidee_Miller@baylor.edu

Qin (Sunnie) Sun

PhD Student

Qin (Sunnie) Sun

PhD Student

Qin Sun (Sunnie) is a PhD student at Baylor University’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work. She earned her MSW from Columbia University in New York. In addition to her studies, she works as the Independent Living Social Worker at a continuing care retirement community, where she supports the bio-psycho-social-spiritual well-being of older adults and helps foster an age-friendly, dementia-inclusive environment. Her research interests include geriatric mental health, later-life caregiving, and the role of spirituality in aging.

Sunnie_Sun1@baylor.edu