In some ways, Deana Baker, a new associate professor of biology, never left Goshen College, although she has studied and researched all around the world. 

Baker is a 1986 graduate of GC, earning a bachelor’s degree in biology. She also studied as an undergraduate at Eastern Mennonite University in Virginia in order to explore and see the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains.  

Baker earned master’s degrees in both science education and pharmacy and a doctorate in health and human performance. 

After graduating as a first-generation student, Baker started her professional career teaching junior high science in Plymouth, Indiana. “I always loved teaching,” Baker said. 

Later she moved to California to work at a biotech company in Berkeley. “I didn’t start with anything glamorous,” she said. “My first job I literally handled mice guts.” 

She worked her way up to a position where she was developing a breast cancer drug. 

Eventually, she moved to Minneapolis to work as a pharmaceutical and biotechnology consultant, helping companies get drugs approved. “I got to see a lot of technologies,” Baker said. 

Baker’s work also took her farther away. In 2007, she contributed to developing a flu vaccine in Amsterdam. She has also been able to conduct research in Taiwan and Italy. 

Despite her worldwide endeavors, “it’s been a dream to always come back to Goshen and teach,” Baker said, “because I really like what they stand for and what they do.”

However, Baker noted that her early interest in returning to teach at GC was complicated by the hiring policy. “It wouldn’t [have been] a safe place for me to work until 2016,” she said. 

In 2015, the college updated its non-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation and gender identity, which expanded hiring practices to recognize employees in same-sex marriages. 

In her role of teaching in the biology department, Baker emphasized how she wanted to connect with her students, a commitment that is evident in her attentive listening and engagement in classes.

“She is one of the best professors I have ever had,” said Carmen Merino, a senior biology major. Merino noted that Baker’s teaching style was exactly what she hoped to find at GC, especially after transferring from Indiana University. 

In her junior research seminar, Merino is one of only two students, with Baker as the instructor.

The other student, Sydney Lockhart, a junior pre-dental major, added, “Her class is my favorite part of the whole week.” 

Both students said Baker creates a comfortable environment for them to ask any questions and engage with the material. “Our research topics for our class are completely different things,” said Merino, “but she shows up with full commitment and dedication for each of us.”

Julia Miller, a sophomore biochemistry major who is taking vertebrate physiology with Baker, said, “She brings a lot of energy and life experience to the classroom.” 

Merino said, “We spend 75% of the class laughing with each other because it’s such a comfortable and safe environment,” adding that they often have to remind each other to stay on topic and not get distracted by their shared enthusiasm.                     

Lockhart mentioned a memorable moment when Baker attended one of her softball games and sat in front of her parents. Lockhart’s dad was telling dad jokes, one of which Baker told at the start of class the following week. 

“She even formed a good relationship with my parents,” said Lockhart, “which is rare — most professors don’t do that.”

Baker also mentioned that one of her main goals is to bring an honors society to the department called “Tri Beta” that would strengthen resumes and open opportunities for grants, conferences and publications.

Outside of teaching, Baker enjoys riding her bike and “going down all the trails in Indiana and Michigan.” 

She enjoys playing sports, including golf, and walking her dog. She also attends GC sports with her wife, Jewel Lehman, who works in the Kinesiology department.