Dean B.L. Baker serves as Dean of Liberal Arts and Education at CT State. Across four decades in academia, he has held faculty and administrative positions at colleges and universities in Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Texas and Wyoming. Alongside his academic work, he has built a career as a professional artist, performing in, directing and producing live theatre, musical theatre, film and television.
Committed to preparing students for meaningful careers, Dean Baker has led task forces to ensure equitable access to learning and academic supports, particularly for immigrant, DACA and refugee communities. He has developed and managed multi-million-dollar budgets, advocated for the visual and performing arts, and worked extensively in collaborative, participatory governance. His career-long focus has been on reducing racial equity gaps and fostering diverse, equitable and inclusive learning and work environments.
Dean Baker holds degrees in communication and theatre from Northern Kentucky University and advanced degrees in theatre history and public communications from the University of Maryland. In 2000, he was honored as the CASE/Carnegie Foundation United States Professor of the Year and received the award at the White House.
Throughout his career, Dean Baker has brought an unmatched passion for supporting students in pursuit of their academic goals. He continues to work closely with faculty to design and implement curricula that meet the needs of both the community and Connecticut’s employers, while advancing opportunity for all learners.
