Gary Bailey

Gary Bailey

Gary Bailey, a professor at the Simmons College School of Social Work, this spring was appointed to a four-year term as a member of the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) by Gov. Deval Patrick.

Bailey is an award-winning professor who 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 Massachusetts chapter of the NASW and the national organization in 1998.

He also serves as chairman of the National Social Work Public Education Campaign, which promotes increased education and public awareness about the importance of the social work profession. He is also a past president of the Board of Directors of the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts.

Bailey is highly sought after as a trainer and consultant on a number of academic and professional topics, including board development, international social work practice, developing elder and family housing programs, issues pertaining to diversity, social justice and human rights, and working with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities.

MEFA is a nonprofit, self-financing state authority that provides assistance — in the form of bonds, community education programs, college savings plans and low-cost financing options — for Massachusetts students and families pursuing higher education.

Founded in 1904, the Simmons School of Social Work has a nationally acclaimed clinical social work program and is one of the oldest schools of social work in the country.