Dr. Ashley Baker Named Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State Director of Athletics Bill Beekman has announced the hiring of Dr. Ashley Baker as the Chief Diversity Officer.

"I'm delighted to welcome Ashley Baker, Ph.D to the Spartan family as the athletic department's first chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer," Beekman said. "We had a strong candidate pool, but Dr. Baker emerged as the right fit for our department and its vision. This work forms a key pillar of our strategic plan. I am excited to work with Dr. Baker and to celebrate the great successes in our department that we will realize through the collective strength of our diversity."

The new position of Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Officer will develop and facilitate the implementation of programs specifically focused on staff and student-athlete diversity, inclusion and community outreach.

"I'm honored to join the Michigan State University athletic department. I would like to thank Athletic Director Bill Beekman and Deputy Athletic Director Alan Haller for recognizing there is work to be done in this space and for investing in these important efforts," Dr. Baker said. "I cannot think of a better time to launch new initiatives that encourage us to learn from one another and take part in creating meaningful and lasting change. I look forward to the opportunity to lead and serve alongside the staff, coaches, and student-athletes on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts."

Dr. Baker has a diverse and impressive background within the athletics and university communities. She comes to Michigan State from Xavier University of Louisiana where she served as Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Chief Inclusion Officer/Deputy Title IX Coordinator for the university since 2019. She helped form the office of inclusion and social justice within the Division of Student Affairs as XULA's new chief inclusion officer and deputy Title IX coordinator. Prior to that, she was Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator from 2016-19. Dr. Baker worked in several capacities for the XULA Gold, beginning as Assistant Athletic Director in 2016 before being promoted to Associate AD in 2017.

As the founder of the Women in Sports Forum, Dr. Baker is committed to empowering young girls and women to pursue careers in sports. Under her leadership the event has connected hundreds of high school students and young professionals with women who are leaders in the sports industry.

Before Xavier, Dr. Baker worked in Student-Athlete Services at Bowling Green State University from 2007-12. She rose to the position of Director for Student-Athlete Services in 2010.

Dr. Baker earned her Ph.D. in Sport Management and Policy from the University of Georgia in 2016 with her dissertation research focusing on Black mothers' experiences throughout their sons' football recruiting process. The Michigan native earned both her bachelor's degree in business (2004) and master's degree in sport administration (2007) from Bowling Green.

She is expected to begin her duties at MSU in December.

Dr. Ashley Baker Named Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer

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