Baker named next president at Emporia State University

Dr. Matt Baker, who serves as the vice president of student affairs at Northwest Missouri State University and has served the institution in multiple roles for 30-plus years, was introduced today as the next president of Emporia State University.

The Kansas Board of Regents unanimously approved Baker’s appointment during a special meeting this morning on the Emporia State campus.

“I cannot tell you how incredibly proud we are of Dr. Baker,” Northwest President Dr. Lance Tatum said this afternoon during his report at an open session of Northwest’s Board of Regents. “This is an amazing opportunity for him.”

In praising Baker for his impacts at Northwest, Tatum added, “I know Matt is going to do an incredible job because there is one thing about Matt Baker that I’ve learned in the two and a half years that I’ve been here, and that is Matt loves people, and people are deeply important to him.” 

Dr. Matt Baker

Baker advanced in 2011 to become Northwest’s vice president of student affairs, a role charged with the promotion of student learning and development, aligning student programs and services with academic success and advocating for students while administering University policies and procedures.

The role has oversight of the units that coordinate co-curricular activities, including recreation, fraternity and sorority life, student leadership development, student organizations and volunteer services. Additionally, Baker oversaw Auxiliary Services, which includes dining services and residential life, as well as Wellness Services, which includes the health clinic, counseling services and health education.

During his tenure as vice president of student affairs, Baker has served as a member of the Northwest Leadership Team, helping the University increase its enrollment while improving retention and student success measures.

Baker joined the Northwest staff in 1993 as a residence hall director before leaving in 1996 to pursue his master’s degree in higher education administration at the University of Arkansas. He returned to Northwest in 1998 and served in residential roles until becoming dean of students in 2008.

A Kansas native, Baker holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Kansas State University. In addition to his master’s degree, he holds a doctorate degree in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Baker will begin his presidency at Emporia State in March.

“I will forever be grateful to Northwest for all it has done for me and my family,” Baker said.  “It is because of the experiences Northwest provided me that I am able to step into this role.”