"Brad Baker named U.S. Professor of the Year."
(L-R; Vance T. Peterson, Michael Urie, Brad Baker, Lee S. Shulman)
Collin
County Community College District (CCCCD) was once again thrust into the national
headlines with the announcement of theater professor Brad Baker being named the
2000 U.
S. Professor of the Year by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of
Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
Sponsored by USA Today, Professor
Baker was named in recognition of his extraordinary dedication to teaching,
commitment to students, and innovative instruction methods.
Baker, the director and artistic visionary of CCCCD’s award winning Theatre
Department, received the honor during a luncheon at the Gannett Corporate
Headquarters in Arlington, VA. Among the dignitaries present were Lee S. Shulman,
president of the Carnegie Foundation; Vance T. Peterson, president-designate of
CASE; and Bob Dubill, executive editor of USA
Today. “It is amazing to be receiving this award,” Baker said. “It is
especially nice to return here today in the area where I originally lived and
taught before moving to Texas to teach at Collin College.”
Baker further recognized that the success he was being recognized for was
the result of a “we” effort within the entity at the theatre.
Baker’s theatre faculty and students have worked close to the edge. “both
our play selection and the way that we have approached the classroom have been
visionary, bold, and groundbreaking,” Baker said. “We will not be confined
by the expected process nor do we let people segment themselves. Our technicians
perform, our actors work in the shop, and they learn to be complete, fully
rounded artists.”
Created by CASE in 1981, the U.S. Professors of the Year Program is the
only national awards program that recognizes college and university professors
for their teaching. The winners were selected from nearly 500 faculty members
nominated by colleges and universities across the country. The Carnegie
Foundation awards a $5,000 cash prize to each of the national winners.
Cary A. Israel, president of CCCCD, said in nominating Baker for the
award, “In every aspect of his professional life, Professor Baker has
demonstrated that he is an innovative, scholarly and engaged teacher. He
constantly challenges his students and colleagues to explore new avenues for
academic excellence. Indeed, Professor Baker is the consummate educator.”
Sam Roach, Chairman of the CCCCD Board of Trustees stated, “We are all
extremely proud and honored to have Brad as part of our outstanding faculty. He
constantly challenges students to reach their full potential.
Mr.
Baker has been the Director of Theatre at Collin County
Community College since 1992. Under his direction, the Collin College Theatre
Department has achieved national recognition. Recently named “the most challenging and acclaimed community college
theatre department in the nation” by The
Dallas Morning News, Mr. Baker and his programs have been one of the few colleges
in the country to receive both the American College Theatre Festival’s National
Finalist award (“Stand
Up Tragedy,” 1996, pic) and the award for best student written
script (“Through a Glass Onion,” 1996). Collin Theatre students
have gone on to acclaimed careers in the theatre and film professions. Click
here to see a list of student accomplishments.
Even more impressive than the recognition and accolades for the quality
of education and production is Mr. Baker’s affection for social change and
lasting impact for each individual’s personal growth and well-being. In Mr.
Baker’s personal statement, he states “because providing students with
quality experience merges with my philosophy of theatre for social change, I
insist they become involved in working for that change.”
Many of his students have foregone four-year universities and
scholarships in exchange for the experience and comprehensive training provided
by Professor Baker and the Collin College Theatre Department. They have then
successfully transferred to such acclaimed programs as New York University,
University of Southern California, and the Julliard School of Drama. Also, many
of his students have gone on to win Emmy Awards, Tony Awards, Obie Awards for
Excellence Off-Broadway, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Kennedy Center Awards
for Excellence in Play Writing. Former students have appeared on Broadway at CATS,
Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, and 42nd
Street; and in motion pictures including Natural Born Killers, Philadelphia, Interview with a Vampire, JFK,
Mississippi Burning, Malcolm X, and many more.
Mr. Baker is also involved in several projects including the writing of
his dissertation exploring the social, political and artistic impact of black
revolutionary theatres during apartheid in South Africa. He is spending time in
New York City and Washington D.C. to compile musical theatre artifacts, sketches
and designs, music scores, film clips, and production photos on CD ROM to allow
students a nearly first-hand experience of the musical theatre world from 1866
to present. He is also working with other theatre professionals in Australia,
Japan, Mexico, England, Israel, Russia, Nova Scotia, Germany and South Africa to
provide cross-cultural training over a nine-month period for his students.
The praise from former and current students demonstrates his unique
influence on them. One former student states, “Brad walks a line that most
teachers are too afraid to try . . . Brad does not just teach theatre, he
teaches life.” Former student Michael Urie, from The Julliard School,
introduced the professor at the awards ceremony and has stated that “Professor
Baker’s determination and artistic integrity are at the forefront of
everything he does as he brings an edge of compassion and excitement to his
co-workers, actors, students and audience. Brad’s good-natured charm,
intellect, humor, business skills, and love leave a lasting impression on every
student he comes in contact with.”
