About Dr. Baker

Awards and Recognition

2023 YWMC of Northern NJ “Woman to Watch” awarded at their annual Tribute to Women of Influence

2022 Marquis Who's Who Inductee

2018 Honorary Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society Member

2016 Elon University Division of Student Life “Cause in the Matter Award” for Leading an Innovative Leadership Workshop for the Division

2016 Illinois Qualitative Dissertation Award presented by the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

2013 Inclusive Excellence Award from the University of North Carolina Wilmington Office of Inclusion and Diversity Initiatives.

2012 NRHH (National Residence Hall Honorary) Regional award winner for Residence Life Faculty/Staff of the Month at University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Dr. Baker currently serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. She earned an M.Ed. in counseling psychology and a B.A. in English and sociology, both from Rutgers University. She completed her PhD in educational policy with a focus on urban education through a joint program of Rutgers University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Her dissertation research was titled “An Ontological and Phenomenological Model of Leadership: Igniting Individual and Collective Transformation and Catalyzing Educational Reform.” She was the 2016 recipient of the Illinois Qualitative Dissertation Award presented by the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In her research, she chronicles her own personal journey in leadership as an African-American educator and student affairs practitioner. Her other scholarly publications focus on the role of ontological inquiry in exploring ways to engage university administrators, faculty and students in such a way that they are transformed and empowered to see themselves as change-agents within and beyond the classroom. Dr. Baker has presented her award-winning research at national and international conferences, through self-led university workshops, invited talks, conferences and classroom presentations. Dr. Baker is also the founder and owner of The Leap Agency, a company focused on providing individuals and organizations with the tools they need to LEAP (lead ethically, authentically, and with purpose).

Certifications

Leading for Creativity: A 5-Week Course on Design Thinking. IDEO U: An Online University for Creativity

Being a Leader and the Effective Exercise of Leadership: An Ontological and Phenomenological Model. University of British Columbia, Vancouver Canada

Creating Course Leaders Workshop: Mastering the Fundamentals and Effective Delivery of the Ontological/Phenomenological Access to Leadership-Workshop Certification. Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada