Gail F. Baker is vice president and provost of the University of San Diego. She was dean of the College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media at the University of Nebraska Omaha. At the University of Florida, she served as chair of the Department of Public Relations in the College of Journalism and Communications. She later served as vice president of public relations and special assistant to the president. At the University of Missouri-Columbia, she was chair of advertising and directed the Minority Recruiting Program of the School of Journalism. She also served as president of the Association of Chief Academic Officers. Baker holds a bachelor of science degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, a master of science degree in marketing communications from Roosevelt University and a doctorate in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She held public relations positions with IBM and International Harvester (now Navistar). She was a reporter and editor for the Chicago Daily Defender Newspaper. She has earned recognition for her work as a teacher, scholar, communications practitioner and writer. She has authored books and articles and is the winner of four Emmy Awards for Excellence in Documentary Writing and Producing.
