Dr. Gary Bailey
Assistant Dean for Community Engagement & Social Justice, College of Social Sciences, Policy & Practice, Simmons University
Dr. Gary Bailey is Assistant Dean for Community Engagement and Social Justice at the College of Social Sciences, Policy and Practice at Simmons University. He is also a Professor of Record in Simmons’s Schools of Social Work and Nursing and Health Sciences. Gary has devoted his career to sharing his deep knowledge, expertise, and leadership in the fields of Social Work, Public Health, Youth Education, and Affordable Housing.
Gary currently serves as President of the NASW-Assurance Services, Inc; he is a past president of the International Federation of Social Workers based in Bern, Switzerland—the first person of color to hold this post. He holds advisory and board roles with the North American and Caribbean Association of Schools of Social Work’s Council on Social Work Education.
At Boston University School of Public Health Maternal and Child Health Center for Excellence, Gary serves as a mentor in the Diversity Scholars Leadership Program. Gary’s advocacy for youth education includes serving as Chair of the Board of Women of the Dream, Inc. and President of the Board for the Fenway High School. He is also vice-chair of the board .the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA). Gary’s commitment to advancing the availability of affordable housing includes leadership roles for For Our CommUnitieS, Inc. (FOCUS, Inc.) and on the board of United South End Settlements.
Gary is a longstanding member of Boston’s historic Union United Methodist Church, where he is the chair of the Church Council and a member of its Leadership Team.
Professional Experience
In May 2009, Gary was selected as a Fulbright Specialist for the United States-Israel Educational Foundation, where he gave a series of workshops and speeches throughout Israel as a part of the Fund’s outreach to African American leaders to visit Israel.
In 2017, Gary was appointed by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker as a member of the Massachusetts LGBTQ Youth Commission.
In 2009, Gary was appointed by Governor Deval Patrick to serve on the board of the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority. He was a member of the AIDS Action Committees Advisory Council and the AIDS Action Committees Program Committee.
Gary is a past member of the Commissioner’s Professional Advisory Committee at the Massachusetts Department of Social Services (DSS, now DCF); and he was a member of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Professional Advisory Committee for Child and Adolescent Services.