Robert E. Baker
Professor Robert E. Baker has been named interim dean of George Mason University’s College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), the Provost’s Office announced. He takes over for Mark Ginsberg, who will be the university’s interim provost and executive vice president.
Ginsberg and Baker begin their new positions on Wednesday, April 15.
“The college is in good shape and has a good foundation because of Mark’s leadership and all the great people on his leadership team,” Baker said. “That is very appealing when you’re coming into a new position, that you are surrounded by good people and have the opportunity to move the ball forward.”
Baker, who has been at Mason for 15 years, has had a variety of roles within CEHD.
A member of the college’s executive and leadership teams, he is the director of the School of Sport, Recreation and Tourism Management, one of three schools in CEHD. When CEHD comprised two schools, Baker was director of the Division of Sport, Recreation and Tourism within the School of Recreation, Health and Tourism. Baker also has been the academic program coordinator for the college’s Sport Management Program.
In addition to his formal CEHD leadership roles, Baker was an elected member of the CEHD Faculty Council and was a member of many other CEHD committees and associated governance units, including the Promotion and Tenure Committee, Faculty Evaluation Committee and Tenure-Track Annual Review Committee.
A well-published scholar, Baker has received more than $7 million in external funding in support of his work, and is an internationally regarded leader in the field of Sport Management.
“I am very pleased that our university’s senior leadership has appointed our CEHD colleague, Bob Baker, to serve as the interim dean of the College of Education and Human Development,” Ginsberg said. “Over the coming weeks, I will work closely with Bob to ensure a smooth transition. I am also very pleased that our outstanding associate deans, together with our executive and leadership teams, will continue to help manage and lead our college.”
“Mark is a very collaborative leader, and that’s very much how I hope to be,” Baker said. “The future of the college is going to be co-created with the people of the college. That’s how we do it, and I don’t anticipate that changing at all.”