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George Fox welcomes a new president |
By Amanda
Newman,
Newberg Graphic reporter
E-mail Amanda at
anewman@eaglenewspapers.com
|
George Fox University’s
new President Robin Baker discussed the importance of holding fast
to Christian beliefs last week in his first presidential address to
students.
Baker, who took office July 1, welcomed incoming students to
Thursday and Friday sessions of Genesis, the school’s registration
and orientation process.
“We
(at George Fox) believe that God has a special purpose for
everyone,” Baker told students. “Part of the George Fox experience
is finding your calling.”
Ever the history teacher, Baker launched into a discussion of
William Wilberforce, the British politician largely responsible for
the abolition of the slave trade in England. Wilberforce’s book,
“Real Christianity,” addressed issues of faith in education which,
Baker explained, remain to this day.
In his first few weeks in office, Baker has met with various campus
groups — students, faculty and employees; discussed the formation of
his “executive cabinet” and participated in a series of advancement
conferences. Last weekend, he attended the Council of Christian
Colleges and Universities (CCCU) New Presidents Institute conference
in Colorado.
“I’ve been trying to ... listen to campus groups to see what they’d
like to see,” Baker said. Regarding the advancement conferences, he
explained, “I’m an academic person, so I know that really well. What
I don’t know is how to raise money.”
Baker stressed the mission aspect of both the university and his
role there.
“It’s important that the president of George Fox be a person of
incredible faith,” he said. “Being part of Christian institutions
over the past 18 years has helped me think about ... and understand
how to build an institution that is ... not moving in the direction
of (privatizing faith).”
“My own experiences help me understand how ‘integration of faith
and learning’ can work,” he added.
Baker earned his undergraduate degree from Grand Canyon University
and his master’s degree in history from Hardin-Simmons University.
He completed doctoral studies in history at Texas A&M University.
He then served as associate professor of history at Wheaton College
in Illinois, John Brown University in Arkansas and Grand Canyon
University in Phoenix. At Grand Canyon, he advanced to senior vice
president.
He has served as provost at George Fox for the past eight years,
which he considers a benefit in the transition to president.
“I know the internal workings of the institution more than anybody
else,” he said. “If I came from outside, I’d have to discover all
those things.”
As it is, he said a personal challenge will be allowing his
previous responsibilities to fall to other hands.
Baker expressed other challenges he will have to face, including
maintaining communication with the university and the community,
retaining a “sense of community for a diverging campus” and keeping
the school focused on its mission.
“I think one of the greatest challenges is making sure everyone
knows what the mission is and how it applies to them,” he explained.
“The university only works to the extent that it’s a team —
everybody’s on board and understands their role.”
Baker said that the challenges of the job will spread beyond his
personal life.
“You have less and less time at home,” he said. “And you always
have to be aware that people know you that you don’t know, and will
be expecting certain things from you.”
Baker and his family — wife Ruth and children Jacob, Rebekah and
Tara — will move Friday into the president’s house, ushering in more
changes.
“You’re living in someone else’s space and dealing with their
expectations,” Baker said. However, he said his children are
“excited.”
Despite the job’s challenges, Baker looks forward to his tenure as
president of the university.
“I think it’s a really great school and it’s a privilege to help lead
it,” he said. “The rewards are getting to be the one that talks
consistently about the college — that’s fun; getting to engage the
students; representing the college (and) meeting the employees. All
that stuff is very important.
“My greatest hope it to continue the school’s mission in terms of
being Chirst-centered and not losing that. I also want the employees
to view the president as someone who is a part of the employees and
the community.” He explained that he doesn’t want to be detached
from those he works with. “I want to be ‘in the middle’ in that
sense.”
Baker, the school’s 12th president, succeeded previous president
David Brandt, who retired June 30 after nine years leading the
institution. |
|
From
July 18, 2007, Newberg Graphic
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