CEHD is pleased to announce that Dr. Kristine Baker has been named as the new Director of Graduate and Professional Education Initiatives. In this role, she is responsible for providing strategic leadership that informs decision-making in the areas of program support and development. Specifically, this includes leading enrollment planning and strategy; monitoring and responding to changing national trends, demographics, and workforce needs; overseeing the development and implementation of funding strategies; developing policy and procedures that facilitate the administration of and accountability for graduate and professional education; and many other initiatives in support of students in CEHD.
“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Dr. Baker to the CEHD community,” says Tabitha Grier-Reed, Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Faculty Development. “Her deep and broad experiences in higher education and strategic leadership are well-suited to advance the work of CEHD and position us well into the future.”
Baker has nearly 15 years in higher education with leadership experience spanning several areas, including four-year private institutions, a large state system, a two-year community and technical college, and a medical school. She has served as an academic dean; associate vice president of student data, analytics, and reporting; and director of institutional effectiveness.
She was most recently a program evaluation and continuous improvement manager at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Rochester, where she led and managed multiple and diverse assignments. She primarily focused on conducting education quality improvement and program evaluation activities, managing and maintaining systems and processes, and directing/leading staff to support these activities within all Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science Schools.
Prior to this, she was the interim academic dean of STEM at Century College in White Bear Lake, providing leadership, advocacy, and support to 13 academic disciplines. She also served for nearly 10 years in various roles at the University of St. Thomas, including associate vice president of student data, analytics, and reporting as well as director for institutional effectiveness.
Baker holds a BA in journalism, an MA in leadership in student affairs, and an EdD in educational leadership, all from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. She is certified in strategic planning and maximizing organizational resources.
“I am thrilled to be joining the College of Education and Human Development in this role,” Baker says. “I am excited to have the opportunity to contribute to this community in support of our college’s collective mission. I look forward to building relationships across the college, becoming a trusted colleague and providing outstanding support to our graduate and professional programs, students, faculty, and staff.”
