Helen Harris came to Waco to begin the first hospice in Waco. She has served as a social worker and bereavement coordinator for Hillcrest Community Hospice, where she was the first director of the program. Since coming to Baylor in 1997, she has continued to work with hospice by volunteering with Providence Hospice and by providing volunteer training for several area hospices.

She is a member of the Military Child Education Coalition, the National Alliance for Grieving Children and the Association for Death Education.

Dr. Harris was honored as a “Woman of Distinction” by Girl Scouts of America, and in 2013, was named Outstanding Faculty: Lecturer for Baylor University. She is also a Faculty Fellow for the University and Academy of Teaching of Learning.

Dr. Harris served as a social worker at the Methodist Children’s Home and at South Texas Children’s Home, where she developed the first independent living program and directed the foster care program. Before joining the School of Social Work faculty, she taught adjunctively for six years in Baylor’s Health Education Department.

Dr Harris works in hospice and bereavement which includes 13 years of work experience and an additional 15 years of volunteer experience. Most recently she is working with a local hospice and with my church doing counseling with persons with complicated grief.

She is married to Don Harris; they are the parents of Daniel and Beth.