Victor A. Baez was born and spent his early years in the Dominican Republic
and forever maintained a strong identification with that country. His family
moved to New York City where Victor attended high school and college. He
went on to obtain a master’s degree in social work from the University of
Chicago, worked as a child welfare social worker, and later earned a Ph.D. in
social work at the University of Denver. In 1972, he began a 40-year career as a
faculty member in the School of Social Work at Colorado State University, where his intelligence, personal warmth, and commitment to social change made
him a beloved and highly respected professor.
At CSU, Victor expressed his strong social concern through teaching the
analysis of social programs and guiding students in research to understand
social problems. Students considered him a knowledgeable and effective teacher
and adviser. He served in many administrative capacities at CSU including
acting chair of the Department of Social Work; director of the baccalaureate
social work degree program for many years; acting director of El Centro (the
campus office for Hispanic students); and chair of the then-College of Applied
Human Sciences Curriculum Committee. He was selected for the University’s
Alumni Association’s Distinguished Faculty Award, based on his co-leadership
of a project to assist departments throughout the University to infuse
diversity content into their curricula. Indeed, Victor had a significant impact
on Colorado State University.
These funds will be used to create a new fund in the School of Social Work,
in Victor’s honor.Thank you for your
support.