VICKI L. BAKER
Okemos,Michigan
Summary
Dynamic leader in professional learning and organizational development, connecting academic and industry partners to design and implement high-quality educational programs. Proven track record in aligning curriculum with workforce needs and fostering continuous improvement through strategic initiatives and cross-functional collaboration.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Associate Dean for Strategic Partnerships & Innovation
Albion College
Albion, MI
09.2024 - Current
- Led institution-wide initiatives to align academic strategy with workforce development and external partnerships, enhancing professional learning and organizational innovation.
- Engaged industry and community leaders to assess workforce needs; translated findings into targeted learning opportunities; identified faculty expertise; and formed cross-functional teams to achieve program goals.
- Led implementation of Experiential Learning for All (EL4A), translating institutional strategy into common learning outcomes, faculty/staff development, assessment systems, supervisor preparation, implementation guidance, and asynchronous resources.
- Co-led capacity-building initiatives funded by NSF EPIIC, enhancing college-industry partnership infrastructure and developing sustainable professional development and assessment systems.
Department Chair, Economics & Management
Albion College
01.2022 - Current
- Led curriculum and program planning, faculty recruitment and onboarding, mentoring, performance development, workload planning, budgeting, assessment, and strategic planning for one of the college's largest academic departments, enhancing overall departmental effectiveness.
- Aligned curriculum and program innovation with institutional strategy and evolving workforce expectations to meet changing learner needs.
- Led curriculum development initiatives for diverse academic programs.
- Collaborated with faculty to enhance teaching strategies and student engagement.
- Coordinated departmental meetings to discuss policy changes and strategic goals.
E. Maynard Aris Endowed Professor of Economics & Management
Albion College
01.2021 - Current
- Designed learning experiences for undergraduate and professional audiences in in-person, online, and applied formats, contributing to progression from Assistant Professor (2007-2012) to Associate Professor (2012-2016) to Professor (2016-Present).
- Facilitated engaging discussions on economic theories and real-world applications.
- Guided student research projects on contemporary economic issues.
- Developed course materials for introductory and advanced economics classes.
Founder & Director, Albion College Community Collaborative (AC3)
Albion College
Albion, MI
09.2020 - Current
- Developed and scaled client-facing consulting and experiential-learning model that connected students, faculty, employers, alumni, nonprofits, and community partners to address authentic organizational challenges.
- Scoped client needs and developed project and learning infrastructure while assembling and coaching interdisciplinary teams to ensure effective deliverables, assessment, and continuous improvement based on employer feedback.
- Developed strategic initiatives to enhance student engagement and retention.
- Managed team collaboration to ensure effective program implementation and execution.
- Coordinated workshops and events to foster community connections and partnerships.
Founder & Executive Advisor
Lead Mentor Develop, LLC
Okemos, MI
08.2016 - Current
- Advised colleges, universities, nonprofits, national organizations, and executive teams on enhancing professional learning, leadership development, mentoring, organizational effectiveness, succession, career development, and strategic planning.
- Design and facilitate leadership academies, executive workshops, communities of practice, mentoring initiatives, strategic retreats, and career-development programs in in-person, virtual, and hybrid formats.
- Conducted needs assessments and reviewed professional-development portfolios to identify learner and organizational needs, designing integrated curricula, learning pathways, workshops, toolkits, facilitator resources, and implementation supports.
- Developed evaluation approaches through surveys, interviews, focus groups, stakeholder listening, and program data to assess learning, application, engagement, and organizational impact.
- Representative partners include the University of Pittsburgh, Michigan State University, Penn State University, Wayne State University, Texas State University, University of Kansas, Hope College, University of Richmond, Great Lakes Colleges Association, NCFDD, CIC, and ACAD.
Instructor, Business
Penn State World Campus
01.2011 - 01.2020
- Designed and delivered online undergraduate business courses in management, human resources, small business, and professional skills, achieving strong student ratings over nearly a decade.
- Developed engaging course materials for online business programs.
- Facilitated interactive discussions to enhance student learning experiences.
- Evaluated student assignments and provided constructive feedback.
Global Leadership Development Program Faculty Team
Michigan Colleges Alliance / Shape Corporation
01.2013 - 01.2017
- Co-designed and delivered a global leadership-development program for 23 high-potential employees from diverse domestic and international operations.
- Led learning in teams and served as primary coach for an 18-month action-learning initiative with Shape's Leadership Council, focusing on intercultural and intergenerational effectiveness, management, and organizational behavior.
- Designed, implemented, and assessed a year-long pilot mentoring program to enhance leadership capabilities within Shape.
Executive Education
Harvard Business School
Boston, MA
01.2001 - 08.2003
- Collaborated with senior Executive Education leadership and teams to manage custom and open-enrollment executive management programs for corporate leaders.
- Coordinated recruiting, onboarding, program operations, executive and faculty engagement, and process improvements across a portfolio of 80 programs.
- Led strategic initiatives to enhance operational efficiency at a premier business education institution.
- Developed and implemented policies to streamline administrative processes across departments.
- Collaborated with faculty to design innovative educational programs and curriculum improvements.
Education
Ph.D. - Higher Education Administration
The Pennsylvania State University
05-2007
M.S. - Management & Organization
The Pennsylvania State University, Smeal College of Business
05-2007
M.B.A. - Management
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
05-2001
B.S. - Safety Sciences; minors in Applied Statistics & Spanish
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
08-1999
Certificate - Human Resource Management
Villanova University
05-2022
AI + HI
SHRM - Specialty Certification
02-2025
SHRM-CP
Society For Human Resource Management (SHRM)
05-2022
Talent Acquisition
SHRM - Specialty Certification
07-2026
Skills
- Strategic workforce alignment
- Workforce strategies
- Workforce assessment
- Curriculum design
- Innovative teaching methodologies
- Hybrid course delivery
- LMS expertise
- Evaluation techniques
- Assessment methods
- Faculty collaboration
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Community partnerships
- Resource management
- Portfolio management
SELECTED DISTINCTIONS
ACE Fellow, Fulbright Specialist, E. Maynard Aris Endowed Professor, National leadership consultant and executive educator
EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
- Scholar-practitioner with expertise in needs assessment, survey design, qualitative interviewing and focus groups, quantitative and qualitative analysis, program evaluation, and organizational assessment.
- Use learner, employer, and stakeholder data to identify emerging needs, guide program investment, assess effectiveness, and refine learning portfolios.
- Translate research on adult and professional development, mentoring, career development, leadership, professional identity, and organizational effectiveness into practical learning interventions.
SELECTED THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
120+ publications, including 57 peer-reviewed journal articles and multiple books/monographs; 9,200+ Google Scholar citations. Research focuses on leadership development, mentoring and developmental networks, career development and advancement, professional identity, organizational development and effectiveness, faculty success, institutional capacity, experiential learning, and organizational change. Selected book: Developing Faculty in Liberal Arts Colleges: Aligning Individual Needs and Organizational Goals.
Timeline
Associate Dean for Strategic Partnerships & Innovation
Albion College
09.2024 - Current
Department Chair, Economics & Management
Albion College
01.2022 - Current
E. Maynard Aris Endowed Professor of Economics & Management
Albion College
01.2021 - Current
Founder & Director, Albion College Community Collaborative (AC3)
Albion College
09.2020 - Current
Founder & Executive Advisor
Lead Mentor Develop, LLC
08.2016 - Current
Global Leadership Development Program Faculty Team
Michigan Colleges Alliance / Shape Corporation
01.2013 - 01.2017
Instructor, Business
Penn State World Campus
01.2011 - 01.2020
Executive Education
Harvard Business School
01.2001 - 08.2003
Ph.D. - Higher Education Administration
The Pennsylvania State University
M.S. - Management & Organization
The Pennsylvania State University, Smeal College of Business
M.B.A. - Management
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
B.S. - Safety Sciences; minors in Applied Statistics & Spanish
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Certificate - Human Resource Management
Villanova University
SHRM-CP
Society For Human Resource Management (SHRM)
AI + HI
SHRM - Specialty Certification
Talent Acquisition
SHRM - Specialty Certification