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A Leading Light
 H. Kent Baker, MBA ’69, DBA ’72, is what you might call an over-achiever.
Baker is University Professor of Finance at the Kogod School of Business at
American University in Washington, D.C. He has eight earned degrees: four
masters degrees, three doctoral degrees, and CFA and CMA designations. In the
last 25 years, he is one of the most-published faculty in the field of finance.
He has authored or co-authored more than 140 articles in top journals, and his
latest book, Dividends and Dividend Policy, is considered the definitive work in
its field. He has consulted or done training with more than 100 organizations in
both the public and private sectors. And in his spare time—hard to believe he
has any!—Baker is a professional jazz pianist who has toured and recorded.
How does he find the time? It helps to be an expert in time management, but
it also helps to love what you do. Baker is devoted to his work. “Education is
my business,” says Baker. “In my professional life, my first priority is my
students and then my research. Teaching and research have never been a burden,
but always a pleasure.”
Baker was one of the first students to receive a doctoral degree from the
Smith School. At the time, it was the College of Business and Public
Administration, housed in Tydings Hall. Baker appreciates the fact that Maryland
made an effort to keep him, back when he was considering whether to accept a
fellowship to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Wisconsin. Professor
Charlie Taff convinced him to stay at Maryland by getting him a job in then-Dean
O’Connell’s office as his full-time assistant. “At the time my office was in an
attic in the journalism building,” says Baker. “I was very happy to move into
the Dean’s office and to gain first-hand experience being an educational
administrator.”
Baker has been teaching at American University for the past 34 years. He
works with both undergraduates and MBA students, and enjoys the challenge of
keeping his material fresh and relevant.
“Every day is a challenge and a reward,” says Baker. “I’m like an educational
farmer. A farmer plants certain seeds and sees them grow. I enjoy planting ideas
in students’ minds and seeing my students grow in competence and their ability
to make certain kinds of linkages. I pride myself in being able to make learning
fun and exciting for them, as well as relevant. Given the dramatic changes in
the financial landscape, some of the things I taught several years ago are now
obsolete, so I have to work to keep my courses current.”
Get in Touch! H. Kent Baker lives with wife Linda and their Himalayan cat
Brady in North Bethesda, Md. Contact information for Baker can be found in the
eAlumni Network.
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