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Long-time MSU administrator to speak at MSU-WP commencement

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Dr. James T. Baker, vice president for community and global partnerships at Missouri State University (MSU) in Springfield, will give the keynote address at Missouri State University-West Plains’ (MSU-WP) 2022 commencement ceremony.

The event begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 21, in the West Plains Civic Center arena.

In his presentation, Baker will discuss his administrative experiences at MSU and some of the guiding principles he follows in his management approach, university officials said.

“We’re honored to have Dr. Baker with us during our biggest celebration of the year, especially since Jim will be retiring shortly from his position with the university, a position he’s held since the early 1990s,” said MSU-WP Chancellor Dennis Lancaster.

“Dr. Baker has been a supporter of the West Plains campus for many years, assisting us in many ways that few will know, but most notably as the architect of the university’s international programs. This includes the Dalian, China, campus where we provide an associate degree program for students there and where we’ve been privileged to send two to six students from the West Plains campus to study for a semester,” Lancaster added. “Dr. Baker has been a great friend of our campus.”

Baker has been a fixture of MSU’s leadership team for nearly 30 years. He came to the university with President John Keiser in July 1993 as assistant to the president.

Since then, he’s served as director of the Ozarks Studies Institute, interim vice president for administrative services, chancellor of the Mountain Grove campus and director of the office of China programs.

Currently, Baker oversees international programs, research administration, broadcast services, the Roy Blunt Jordan Valley Innovation Center and Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center.

Baker was heavily involved in creating and developing IDEA Commons – MSU’s urban innovation park located in Springfield’s center city. He currently serves on the Missouri Technology Corporation board and the Springfield Innovation, Inc. board.

In September 2012, Baker received the China National Friendship Award. The award is the highest honor that the Chinese government confers to foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to China.

Baker received his bachelor’s in sociology and Master of Public Administration degrees from Boise State University, Idaho. He received his doctorate in education from the University of Idaho.

This past December, he announced his retirement from MSU. His last official day with the university will be June 30.

For more information about commencement activities, contact the MSU-WP academic affairs office at 417-255-7272. For more information about MSU-WP, visit WP.MissouriState.edu.



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