It was his grandmother–his protector and inspiration–who inspired Dr. Dennis Myers to pursue a calling to work in the field of social work and gerontology. Now, after 43 years of service to Baylor University, Dr. Myers is retiring, starting a new chapter in his life and leaving behind a legacy that future generations of students will remember for a lifetime.
Long before he became a researcher, associate dean, and professor emeritus in the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work, Dr. Myers was a Baylor student himself, walking on the same campus paths and experiencing the life undergraduate students live that he would one day help shape for the better. In May 1968, Dr. Myers received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with the intention of becoming a psychologist.
After graduating from Baylor, Dr. Myers was involved in the U.S. military from 1968 to 1971, where he earned the Army Commendation Medal and got a chance to be around social workers. He was attracted to the emphasis on a more personal environment and issues of justice–things not available to him in the field of psychology–which drove him to pursue his master’s degree in social work at the University of Texas at Austin. His master’s thesis at UT focused on the attitudes of nursing home administrators toward aging individuals, foreshadowing the focus of his future life’s work.
Dr. Myers started his career as a social worker following his stint at UT with a goal to work with families. Through this role, he was also able to work with patients who had intellectual disabilities, which gave him a rich practice experience. His inspiration to teach came from the motivation to walk alongside students who share the same vision and commitment to other humans as him. About midway through his career as a social worker, he decided to leave his practice to pursue a doctoral program at UT Austin, which was focused in gerontology.
“To think that there are people who are interested in giving their one life to service means a lot to me and I wanted to be around those people,” Myers said. “The motivation to teach was the notion with humility that I might have the chance to teach students who will impact the lives of thousands.”
Dr. Myers was invited back to Baylor after finishing his doctoral studies at UT to join the Institute of Gerontological Studies, a specific and specialized academic unit where he served as associate director for 15 years. As a professor, he taught many upper-level social work classes like The Family in Later Life and Social Services for Older Persons.
Dr. Myers leaves not only an impact on the students in his classroom but also in the research world. His research interest is primarily in older people along two lines: first in senior leadership in senior living communities and to understand what motivates leaders to stay engaged in a difficult health service area. His second interest is the work around dementia, specifically around caregivers and the people experiencing dementia, with a focus on positive psychological aspects.
“It is very difficult to be a leader of a senior living community,” Myers said. “The difficulty comes from the challenges and opportunities of serving these communities. I was very interested in how people sustain in this role when it’s so difficult, particularly around matters of spirituality and faith.”
Dr. Myers is known not only as a researcher and professor in Baylor’s social work program but also as a leader. During his 10-year stint as associate dean of the Master of Social Work program, Dr. Myers worked on establishing structure for the program after it became its own head separating from the College of Arts and Sciences.
“I loved getting to do administrative work while continuing my research and teaching,” Myers said. “This role allowed me to use my problem solving skills and work behind the scenes to understand what we need to create to help the students be successful.”
Dr. Myers has become such an influential person, impacting the study of social work at Baylor in many ways. To any freshman considering coming to Baylor to study social work, he believes that it will be the best decision of your life. He encourages students not to put pressure on themselves to decide early in their college career what they want to do for the rest of their lives.
“Becoming a social worker is a lifetime investment,” Myers said. “If you choose to major in social work, remember your goal, which is to make a difference. It’s a special feeling to look back on your career and know that it was worth it because you impacted so many people.”
While reviewing his journey, Dr. Myers credits several people for significantly impacting his career and where he is today. Dr. Myers acknowledges the work of the School of Social Work’s namesake, Dr. Diana R. Garland, who he describes as someone who gives importance to the ethical integration of faith in practice which resonated with him. He also credits the current leadership of Dr. John Singletary who he says has done an amazing job picking up the legacy and creating a viable academic unit for the future. Although Dr. Myers will be moving on from the lecture halls, what he will miss most about Baylor is the daily contact with his students.
“The relationship with students became more than just, ‘What do I need on this exam to pass the class?’” Myers said. “I’ll miss getting to walk alongside their academic journey and make sense of their laughs and conversations.”
