Suzie Baker
Associate Consultant
Suzie.Baker@academicsearch.org
Dr. Suzie Baker joined Academic Search in 2021 and brings more than a decade of higher education experience from her work as an administrator at large public research institutions. Her diverse knowledge spans multiple areas in student and academic affairs, including new student and family programs, international education, and student engagement and success. Prior to her career in higher education, Dr. Baker worked as a high school counselor and as an emergency assessment clinician for acute mental health crises in the community.
Dr. Baker is the Director of Student Affairs at the University of North Carolina System and she previously served as the Senior Assistant Dean of Students and Director of the COVID-19 Student Care Hub at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. In these roles, she leads student support, advocacy, crisis response, and case management efforts. Dr. Baker chaired the Student Care Team and worked closely with students to help them navigate complex situations, partnered with departments across Student and Academic Affairs to develop cohesive and collaborative processes in support of students, and provided consultation to faculty and staff regarding student-related matters.
She is deeply involved in various professional organizations, currently serving on the External Relations Advisory Board for the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) and as the Finance Director for the Higher Education Case Managers Association (HECMA).
Dr. Baker holds a B.A. (Hons) in English studies from Huddersfield University, a PGDip in careers guidance from Manchester Metropolitan University, a M.Ed. in counselor education from Virginia Tech, and a a doctorate in educational leadership with a concentration in higher education at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.