Earnestine Baker Executive Director, Meyerhoff Program
Assistant to Vice President, Office of Institutional Advancement 2008-2009 University System of Maryland Board of Regents’ Award for Extraordinary Public Service to the University or the Greater Community
For over 15 years, Earnestine “Ernie” Baker has provided leadership and support for the Meyerhoff Scholars program, a nationally recognized program for high achieving students, including many underrepresented minority students in science and engineering.
Before becoming the executive director in 2002, Baker directed the program for 10 years. Her knowledge of the program, strong leadership and commitment have helped UMBC become one of the nation’s leading producers of minority students in science who go on to earn M.S.s in technical fields and Ph.D.s, M.D.s and M.D./Ph.D.s from top universities.
Students look to Baker as a mentor and trusted counselor. She inspires them to work hard and is committed to both their academic and personal success. By creating a supportive environment, she has given students the opportunity to achieve at the highest levels.
Baker’s contributions reach far beyond UMBC. She regularly speaks to faculty, administrators and staff at other universities (including Harvard, Stanford and Colgate) who are interested in implementing the Meyerhoff model. She has also successfully served as a consultant to Winston-Salem and Cornell and as an adviser to Louisiana State Universities, who have both replicated key components of the program. She has helped establish summer research and exchange programs aboard and has given lectures and presentations abroad in England, China and Spain.
Baker’s contributions are most directly reflected by the many Meyerhoff scholars who go on to research careers and who are helping create a new kind of leadership. She has touched many people who have been inspired by her work.
Baker received a B.S. in Home Economics/General Science from Hampton Institute in Virginia (now Hampton University) and an M.S. in Secondary Education from Prairie View A&M University in Texas.
