SSW Alumni Gary Bailey Appointed to MEFA Board of Directors

Alumni Gary Bailey (SSW ’80)  has been appointed to the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) Board of Directors by Governor Deval Patrick. Bailey’s four-year term is effective immediately.

Bailey is a professor at Simmons College, and has played top leadership roles in the social work field. He served as president of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) from 2003 to 2005 and was named Social Worker of the Year by both the national and Massachusetts NASW in 1998. Bailey also is chairman of the National Social Work Public Education Campaign, which educates key stakeholders about the importance of the social work profession. He is also a past president of the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts Board of Directors.

Bailey also consults on topics which include board development; international social work practice; elder and family housing program development; issues pertaining to diversity, social justice and human rights; and working with gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) communities.

MEFA is a non-profit, self-financing state authority committed to making college more accessible and affordable for students and families in Massachusetts.  In its 30-year existence, MEFA has provided community education programs, college savings plans, and low-cost financing options, and has issued approximately $3.5 billion in bonds.

About BUSSW:
Distinguished by its urban mission and clinical and macro practice focus,  Boston University School of Social Work is committed to educating masters’ and doctoral level students who will become leaders in a multicultural environment. The School offers the MSW and PhD degrees, as well as continuing professional education, and its nationally recognized faculty has been ranked 8th in productivity among schools of social work with doctoral programs. Located in a diverse and academically rich community, the School offers almost unlimited opportunities for urban social work practice and research. Visit bu.edu/ssw for more information.

About Boston University:
Founded in 1839, Boston University is an internationally recognized institution of higher education and research. With more than 30,000 students, it is the fourth largest independent university in the United States. BU consists of 17 colleges and schools along with a number of multi-disciplinary centers and institutes which are central to the school’s research and teaching mission.