Baker Named JU Professor of the Year

4/2/08

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Dr. Russell Baker, associate professor of management information systems, was named Jacksonville University’s Professor of the Year at the 50th annual Faculty Recognition Dinner on March 31. Baker has been a part of the JU faculty since 2004 and was recognized as JU’s Scholar of the Year for 2007.

Professor of the Year is chosen by a faculty vote, and Baker will hold the position through the 2008-09 academic year. “The award is the highest peer recognition given to a JU faculty member,” said Dr. Lois Becker, senior vice president for Academic Affairs. “It recognizes a professor who best embodies as a teacher the ideals of the University.” The criteria include effective teaching, professional growth and activity, and service to the University and to the community. All tenured and tenure-track faculty members who have completed two or more years on the JU faculty are eligible.

Left to right: Becker, Baker and President Kerry Romesburg.

After growing up in the Midwest, Baker attended University of Miami in Florida. He has earned Bachelor of Science degrees in human relations from the State University of New York and in management from Troy State University. Baker went on to earn a Master of Science in management from Troy State as well. His doctorate of business administration was earned at the University of Sarasota; a dual cognate in information systems management and management.

Before Baker moved into teaching, he had a career in the aerospace industry for nearly 20 years. He started as a sales engineer with AIC, Inc. in Tampa in 1977, becoming vice president of operations in 1979 and president in 1987.  Once he left the aerospace industry in 1994, Baker served as the director of graduate studies and taught at Florida Metropolitan University in Tampa from 1994 to 1999. From 1998 to 2004, he taught and served as the faculty and staff technology trainer at the University of Tampa.

In the spring of 2004, he accepted the offer from the Davis College of Business to teach management of information systems in both the graduate and undergraduate programs. He is the current president of the Southern Association of Information Systems and serves on the Microsoft Dynamics Academic Alliance Advisory Board.

Becker also recognized four faculty members with Awards for Excellence. Dr. S. Walker Blanton, professor of history, won the Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. S. Douglas Lewis, professor of psychology, received the Award for Excellence in University Service. Dr. Daniel A. McCarthy, assistant professor of biology and marine science, was recognized with the Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Professional Activities. Dr. Carole Barnett, associate professor of humanities, won the Award for Excellence in Community Service.

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