Grace Ostrosky, Asst. Arts & Life Editor–

In August of 1989, Dr. Gary Baker stepped onto Denison’s campus for the first time. He was set to be a temporary replacement but, he would remain in Granville for over three decades, eventually becoming the coordinator of the German program.

“After the two years, Denison found a way for me to stay a third year, and then eventually, they opened up a tenure line that I applied for,” Baker said. “After a national search, they decided [to] keep me.”

Baker attended Juniata College for his undergraduate degree, which is in Languages.

“I did German, French, and Russian,” he said. “I love language.”

However, he decided to specialize in German in his master’s program at Pennsylvania State University. 

“I had actually gone over to Penn State to look into getting a teaching certificate. I was going to teach German and French at the high school level,” he said. “And I walked over to the German department and I spoke with the secretary there in German. The head of the department heard me and came out and invited me in his office.”

Baker was invited to teach at Penn State as a teaching assistant, while he completed his master’s degree. He also taught undergraduates at the University of Minnesota, where he completed his PhD in German.

When asked what drew him to teaching at a small, liberal arts institution such as Denison, he reminisced on his time at Juniata College. 

“[At Juniata College] you got to know your professors in a more connected manner,” Baker said. “I could go and visit my professors and talk to them and get extra help. When I was finishing my PhD at Minnesota I thought to myself, ‘boy, I would love to teach at a small, liberal arts college.’ And lo and behold! Here we are.”

“It was really, truly a feeling of community and that’s what I like about Denison, too, you really build that community feeling and that’s what makes it feel special,” Baker said. 

Baker also commented that at larger institutions, professors were expected to take on a lot of research, and were not always concerned with forming relationships with undergraduate students. 

“I wanted to be able to foster students,” he said. “Connecting with students was, and is, my favorite part of teaching.”

“My favorite thing is to figure out that there was something I said as a professor at one point that was just so impactful that a student carried it with them. You never know it then, but suddenly, later on, they come and see me and tell me that it stuck with them,” Baker said. “You never know when that moment happens and you never know how it happens.”

Still, Baker has been able to continue his research throughout his years at Denison, maintaining a balance between mentoring students and pursuing his subjects of interest. 

When asked about his favorite research, he mentioned his most recent work, in which he and other academics compiled the works of Uwe Johnson, a writer, editor, and scholar from East Germany. 

“I’m working on his Berlin essays,” said Baker. “They were largely about divided Berlin and so there is a lot of history that has to be uncovered. We go and look for his sources and try to show how he came up with certain ideas in his essays.”

Throughout his time at Denison, Baker has been involved on campus with different organizations. He has been an advisor to German Fellows, Global Commerce Committee, and, most recently, a member of the President’s Advisory Board, amongst many other services to the college.

Additionally, he has been recognized for his commitment to his students and his contributions to the university by being awarded the Charles A. Brickman Distinguished Leadership Chair in April 2017, at the Academic Awards Convocation. It is awarded to a “member of the faculty who models accomplished teaching, concern for students, and exemplary service to the community.”

Baker is set to retire in May. He intends to spend his retirement years with his wife and children, traveling. He also plans to continue his research and read more philosophical books for pleasure. 

Editor’s Note: The professor spotlight is a recurring feature. Email [email protected] if you would like to suggest a professor to be featured.