A Leading Woman in Higher Education

Dominique J. Baker, associate professor in the College of Education and Human Development’s (CEHD) School of Education and the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, has been named one of the top 40 women in higher education in 2025 by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education. This recognition, announced in March, celebrates leading women making a difference in academia and beyond.

Baker’s research focuses on the way that education policy affects and shapes the access and success of underrepresented students in higher education, including policies related to student financial aid, college admissions and other aspects of campus climate. Her work has been published in a variety of journals, including the American Educational Research Journal, Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, Educational Researcher, the Journal of Higher Education, and the Journal of College Student Development. She has also served as the principal investigator (PI) or co-PI on projects funded by the National Academy of Sciences/Spencer Foundation, the Russell Sage Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 

“Dominique has been a wonderful addition to CEHD,” said Steve Amendum, professor and director of CEHD’s School of Education. “She publishes significant and timely research, consistently capturing the attention of researchers, policymakers and journalists.”

Outside of higher education, Baker’s work and expertise on student financial aid and finance, admissions policies and campus climate have been highlighted by The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, the Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Ed, among many others. Baker is also a member of the Board on Higher Education and Workforce within the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine.

In recognition of the impact and promise of her career, Baker has also received an American Educational Research Association Early Career Award, an Association for Education Finance and Policy Early Career Award and an Association for the Study of Higher Education’s Excellence in Public Policy Award. Prior to joining UD, she was also awarded a National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation postdoctoral fellowship.

To learn more about CEHD research in education policy, visit CEHD’s research webpage. 

Article by Jessica Henderson. Image provided by Dominique Baker.