Baker College’s new Program Deans, from top to bottom, Dr. Tanya Lewis, Dr. Maria McCormick, Dr. Jessica Hoover and Dr. Brian Kowalczk
Baker College ushers in a new era of academic leadership and innovation with newly appointed deans who bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their respective areas. With a commitment to providing students with support and preparing them with the best curriculums to advance their learning, each dean has a focus to shape the future of education while continuously adapting to the changing needs of students, making their success a priority.
These visionary leaders are poised to make a lasting impact on the educational landscape while bringing fresh perspectives and opportunities for growth and innovation as they foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and enhance the overall educational experience for students. With new courses,and industry partnerships the appointment of new deans in multiple programs sets the stage for a dynamic and forward-thinking academic environment that prepares students for success in their chosen fields.
Now, it’s time to meet the Deans and learn about their commitment to excellence and continuous improvement within their respective colleges.
College of Nursing
Dr. Maria McCormick joins the Baker College community with more than 13 years of experience in the nursing field—working in various healthcare settings, including long-term care, cardiac care, and pediatrics. She brings the mentality that instructors should meet students where they are and make their academic goals attainable by creating flexible degree options. Dr. McCormick believes fostering a love for learning and a commitment to patient safety and evidence-based practice is vital in preparing nurses for the challenges of an ever-evolving healthcare landscape.
“It is my goal to provide leadership that supports and enables program directors and faculty to use their expertise and passion to teach and mentor future nurses. My goal is to use my experience and knowledge of nursing education to build on the amazing work that has occurred over the last few years to continue growing and expanding Baker nursing education offerings to more students both in person and online.” – Dr. McCormick
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Education, and Social Sciences
Dr. Jessica Hoover joined Baker College as an adjunct faculty member in 2013. With past roles as Director of Tutoring Services and Program Director of Liberal Arts and Sciences, she retains responsibilities as Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence and Department Chair of English. Committed to advocating for a strong culture of reflective, inclusive, evidence-based teaching, Dr. Hoover mentions students are always at the forefront of decisions made about new programs. She emphasizes the critical question: “How will this program positively impact and prepare students for their careers, their lives, etc.?” This dedication to prioritizing students ensures that any educational initiative, whether the creation of new programs or the expansion of existing ones to campuses and online platforms, aligns with the ultimate goal of fostering student achievement.
“My purpose is to nurture and facilitate growth and development in our academic team, as well as uphold the high standards that we have for all program directors and faculty to ensure our students’ academic needs are met. I also believe that my purpose is to empower our academic team to be the best that they can be, and ensure we work collaboratively to create an impactful and supportive academic experience for our students.” – Dr. Hoover
College of Information Technology and Engineering (CoITE)
Dr. Brian Kowalczk has more than 20 years experience in the higher education realm. Prior to joining the Baker College team, he held positions as an Associate Dean, Associate Department Chair, adjunct instructor, and several administrative roles. Both cybersecurity and engineering are in-demand fields and Dr. Kowalczk employs a continuous improvement strategy to guide change. A key goal within this strategy involves enhancing the CoITE Academic Portfolio. With a substantial talent gap in security-related job openings alone, the college takes a proactive stance by providing a comprehensive cybersecurity curriculum—one update being a new program offering (Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and Cybersecurity).
“The College’s Mission and Vision, combined with the student-first initiative, is our north star. Our continuous improvement efforts, guided by the Mission and Vision, viewed through the student-first lens, provide a consistent focus on the student. My role is to provide leadership, support, and guidance to The College of Information Technology and Engineering (CoITE) and its partners by ensuring the clarity of goals, mentoring, sharing experiences, and, most importantly, listening.” -Dr. Kowalczk
College of Health Sciences (CoHS)
Dr. Tanya Lewis has been a part of the Baker community for 9 years and has served as full-time faculty, Assessment Chair, and Director of Nursing. A Certified Nurse Educator and faith community nurse, she has worked in the nursing profession as an RN for more than 25 years and has a diverse clinical background including medical-surgical nursing, emergency, community health, homecare, and faith community nursing. There are several new programs making their debut this fall in CoHS, and students continue to participate in a wide range of real-world, dynamic learning experiences, including clinical internships/externships and work experiences with various clinical partners.
“Baker’s student-first philosophy is the nucleus and the heart of the College of Health Science. I believe that my primary purpose as Dean is to stay connected to the needs of students, faculty, and the healthcare industry so we are ready to respond to the extensive healthcare needs of our communities and society at large. As Baker works hard to change the lives of our students, our goal is to prepare and support students as they transition into competent and compassionate healthcare workers that will provide culturally competent and quality care to the patients they serve in their communities.” – Dr. Lewis
With their diverse backgrounds and expertise, these new deans bring unique insights and their leadership can inspire faculty members to explore new teaching methodologies, incorporate emerging technologies into the curriculum, and stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in their fields.
“I’m excited for the recent hire of our new Deans. Each of these individuals bring a wealth of experience and passion for academics and our student-first philosophy. I’m enthusiastic for their visionary leadership, innovation in teaching, and commitment to academic excellence. They have already hit the ground running, and I am confident their leadership will contribute significantly to the growth and success of Baker College,” said Dr. Randy Hill, Vice President for Academic Affairs.