Susan Baker has been a pillar of our community dedicating herself as an educator and mentor to the students here at UMA. She continually supports our student-athletes both in competition as well as in the classroom. Students leave her courses with stronger academic skills and greater confidence in their own abilities. Outside of the classroom, Susan engages students in co-curricular activities that enhance their overall college experience. Specifically, in relation to student-athletes, she serves on the Athletic Advisory Committee as the faculty chair. Susan serves as a liaison, helping to ensure that student-athletes have the tools they need to be successful. She helps connect student-athletes with various student services on campus and is always there to be of assistance. Susan attends every home basketball game at UMA and can often be seen encouraging children onto the court at halftime to shoot around fostering another generation of athletes. Many of our student-athletes have taken part in a service trip to Haiti that Susan has led. Students spent their spring break volunteering at the Real Hope for Haiti’s Center for Malnourished Children during Spring Break recently. As of 2018, the UMA biology program has made eight service trips to Casale. Through this experience, student-athletes are learning about global health and have an opportunity to experience a life changing service trip. “Susan was one of the best parts of my UMA experience, notes UMA Alumnus Jamie Plummer 17’. She has mentored us and always supported us for our next steps after UMA, as well as helped us figure out classes and successful ways to learn tougher subjects. Susan sets her students up for success in her classes by adjusting to any learning style.”