July 14, 2023
Avove, left to right: Chancellor John Sharp; Michael Daley; Bill Mahomes, Chair of the Texas A&M System Board of Regents; and Robert Albritton, Vice-Chair of the Texas A&M System Board of Regents.
Texas A&M University–Central Texas’ Department of Social Work Chair Michael R. Daley, Ph.D, was named a Regent’s Professor for 2022-2023 by the Texas A&M University System Regents.
The award program was established in 1996 to recognize faculty and employees who have made extraordinary contributions to their university, or agency, as well as to the people of Texas. According to the A&M System Board of Regents “The honorees come from a broad range of disciplines throughout our universities, and state agencies. They share a common thread: they are at the top of their professions and are dedicated to finding ways to better the lives of their fellow Texans and citizens of the world.”
The recognition noted Daley’s leadership contributions to professional social work and social work education. Previous accolades include being named a Social Work Pioneer by the National Association of Social Workers and the Distinguished Recent Contributions to Social Work Education by the Council on Social Work Education award, recognizing the achievements of a social work educators within the last 10 years.
Daley’s research focuses on rural social work and human services, social work ethics, and the social work profession. He joined A&M–Central Texas’ faculty as chair of the social work department in 2015.
Having developed multiple social work programs and designed curricula for them, Daley was also the founding director of the School of Social Work at Stephen F. Austin State University and the founding director of the Social Work Program at the University of South Alabama.
He authored Rural Social Work in the 21st Century, a frequently used resource on rural social work and currently serves as a member of the Council on Social Work Education Board of Accreditation.
“I am deeply appreciative of this significant recognition based on my career of work. Because social work is a professional activity, it often flies under the radar in university circles, and it is gratifying that social work received the recognition that was given to my peers in other disciplines,” Daley said. “My work would not have been possible without the support of my mentors, colleagues, and Texas A&M University–Central Texas.”
