AUSTIN, Texas – Dr. Dorie J. Gilbert, Associate Professor of Social Work and African & African Diaspora Studies at The University of Texas at Austin, has been named a 2012 Professor of Excellence.

She will be honored during the Texas vs. Baylor football game Oct. 20.

Gilbert chairs the School of Social Work’s International Social Work Committee. Her teaching, research and community service center around her focus on evidence-based, Africentric interventions to address health and mental health disparities. Gilbert’s work extends from Mart, Texas, to West Africa, where she teaches an international social work course, Ghana: Social and Community Development, and serves as a liaison to engineering students implementing development projects in Ghana’s Ashante region.

She is one of six Professors of Excellence selected this year as part of the university effort, Promoting Academics through Athletics.

Each Professor of Excellence spotlight introduces the faculty member and explains how their work and research is impacting communities on a local, national and global scale. The spotlights run on the stadium scoreboard after the Longhorn Band performance during halftime.

A committee comprised of representatives from the Faculty Council review nominations from the colleges and schools and select the faculty to be highlighted at UT Athletics events throughout the year.