I was a freshman in college 22 years ago. I was confident I was meant to attend Baylor University and assured of my call to ministry, but I was unsure what my major would be.

Before that year, ministry and service in my hometown provided contrasting experiences that taught me lessons in cultural humility and collaboration. As I moved to Waco and continued to gravitate to service and ministry opportunities, engaging alongside neighbors and friends in Waco with life experiences much different from mine, I began to ask deeper questions about God and faith regarding privilege, equity, and power.

God planted social justice in my heart, even if I didn’t have the words to describe it.

In the fall of my sophomore year, I attended a Baptist gathering where Dr. Gaynor Yancey was honored with an award for her ministry and service. As she shared her life story as a missionary in inner-city Philadelphia for over 30 years, reviving churches, serving as Food Bank Executive Director, Social Worker and Minister, I felt God saying, “That’s it, Mallory – that’s the ministry I’m calling you to.” 

After meeting with Dr. Yancey, I soon declared social work my major. The Diana R. Garland School of Social Work is where I fell in love with the professional practice of the field. 

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