School Adds New Staff, New Roles, New Faculty
Dr. Stephanie Boddie joined us this summer as assistant professor of Church and Community Ministries with affiliations at Truett Seminary and the School of Education. She is also a non-resident senior fellow at the University of Pennsylvania’s Program for Research on Religion & Urban Civil Society and an alumni fellow at the Robert A. Fox Leadership Program. Dr. Boddie received her doctorate in Social Welfare and her MSW from the University of Pennsylvania, and her bachelor's degree in Natural Science from Johns Hopkins University.
Cheryl Pooler joined as lecturer with more than 20 years of experience in community mental health as a therapist and psychosocial rehabilitation specialist for adults with serious and persistent mental illness. In 2009, she accepted a social work position with Waco ISD in the Homeless Outreach Department. She is an advocate for homeless families and youth in the Waco community. Cheryl is married to David, and they have two daughters adopted from China, Josie and Emilie.
Katherine Diehl serves as the GML program coordinator. She recruits, orients, supports, and mentors students and alumni of the program. She also assists with international internship development, developing and executing a GML program evaluation, collecting and disseminating publications on GML alumni and students, and teaching courses as needed.
Sarah Dorrel Ritter is a full-time lecturer and the MSW program director. She received her BA in Social Work from Baylor and an MSW from Temple University. After graduating, Sarah worked with formerly homeless adults with serious mental illnesses. She then went on to work for the City of Philadelphia and Drexel University at the intersection of mental illness and criminal justice. Most recently, Sarah worked as the senior case manager for Student Life at Baylor. Sarah is married to Josh, and they have two daughters, Finley and Ellison.
Luci Hoppe was recently named the BSW program director but has taught as an adjunct faculty member at the GSSW since 2009. Her practice experience includes school social work and engagement in child welfare with both the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and faith-based organizations. Since 2005, she has helped lead and develop a ministry to engaged and newly married couples in the congregational setting. She holds a BSW and MSW from Baylor and is married to Brian Hoppe. Together they have two daughters, Ana and Lily Kate.