Browning served as the first director of the Indiana University Social Services Division. She was responsible for organizing IU's program in social work, recruiting faculty and students, creating curriculum, and cultivating relationships with social agencies that could provide students with field experience. Browning also began the process of accreditation for the new division.
Browning served on numerous boards and committees, including the Indianapolis Children's Bureau, Indianapolis Community Chest, and the Indiana State Conference on Social Work. She also chaired the Advisory Committee to the Division of Technical Training for the United States Children’s Bureau and served as vice-president of the American Association of Schools of Social Work. From 1945 to 1951, she worked with the State Department's Public Welfare Committee on Undergraduate Training to advise on best practices of social work training.
Browning died unexpectedly on February 7, 1951. At the time of her death, Browning had recently been chosen as the first American social worker assigned to the Technical Assistance Program of the United Nations. She was to serve as a consultant to the Italian Schools of Social Work. The Division of Social Services established the Grace Browning Memorial Scholarship fund in her honor.
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