Dr. Beverly Jo Buckles is a pioneering scholar, educator, and global systems leader whose extraordinary career spans more than four decades of transformational leadership in social work and behavioral health. A graduate of Walla Walla University, Eastern Washington University, and Adelphi University where she earned her Doctorate in Social Welfare, Dr. Buckles has built programs, influenced public policy, mentored future leaders, and supported resiliency- and trauma-informed practice on a global scale. 

As Dean of the School of Behavioral Health and Vice President for Behavioral Health Education at Loma Linda University Health, Dr. Buckles has guided interdisciplinary growth and infrastructure advancement across clinical education, research innovation, and mental health outreach. She is the Founding Chair of the Department of Social Work and Social Ecology, where she developed signature academic programs including the Doctor of Social Work, PhD in Social Welfare and Social Research, MS in Gerontology, MS in Criminal Justice, and Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Case Management alongside implementing an Online MSW Riverside Program. Her vision integrates whole-person care, professional ethics, and faith-informed practice throughout all levels of education. She founded PRACTIC: Practice, Research, and Clinical Training Innovation Center, an institutional hub linking student training, faculty research, and community behavioral health services. She has authored and led more than 30 major accreditation reports and statewide curriculum reform projects, chairing California's Mental Health Initiative for over a decade. Dr. Buckles has secured and administered grant funding in the tens of millions of dollars which have supported workforce development, trauma response, interdisciplinary education, and child welfare training. 

Dr. Buckles' global humanitarian service is unparalleled. She founded and leads LLU's International Behavioral Health Trauma Team, providing psychological first aid, suicide response, and community resiliency training to the most vulnerable and marginalized populations in active and post-crisis regions including Ukraine, Haiti, Sierra Leone, Nepal, Philippines, China, El Salvador, Trinidad, Japan, Ireland, and multiple Caribbean nations. She delivers resiliency- and trauma-informed care in the wake of earthquakes, epidemics, civil war, natural disasters, and public health emergencies while training faith-based health workers, local governments, and frontline responders in Community Resiliency and Trauma Resiliency Models. 

As a Certified Master Trainer in both models, she has led over 100 international training missions, capacity-building collaborations, and post-crisis recovery partnerships with organizations such as ADRA, PAHO/WHO, and the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Her scholarly record includes peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, national curricula, and conference presentations on psychiatric recovery, geriatric care, and resilience-building.

Dr. Buckles' service is rooted in community and professional governance, serving as a member of the LLU President's Council, Dean's Council, Behavioral Medicine Center Board, Center for Christian Bioethics, and multiple strategic planning bodies. She is a member of the National and California Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work, and has served as a CSWE Site Visitor and Accreditation Chair. An expert in institutional reaccreditation she chaired Loma Linda University’s reaccreditation over several decades, has been called to serve on numerous WASC university reaccreditation teams throughout California, and has served as a site visitor for the reaccreditation of international programs for WASC and the General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist Department of Education. 

Her lifetime achievements have been honored through NASW California Social Worker of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Awards, Distinguished Service Awards from ADRA, LLUAHSC, and San Bernardino County, Alumni of the Year honors from Walla Walla University and Eastern Washington University, and the National Association of Counties Best Practice Awards for early childhood and workforce development initiatives. 

Dr. Buckles’ extraordinary career reflects a life devoted to service, scholarship, and the advancement of social work and behavioral health worldwide. Her enduring legacy continues to inspire future leaders to pursue innovation, justice, and compassionate whole-person care.