Mark Baker is a Continuing Lecturer in the Writing Program and Oakes College, having taught for the Writing Program since 1999, and Oakes College a few years thereafter. With both the Writing Program, he has built courses that engage writing, research, critical thinking, and opportunities for reflection on personal experience around social justice themes.
In the past, he has hired and trained Writing Assistants for both the Writing Program and Oakes College, and has mentored graduate students teaching writing courses who are new in their career. He also teaches in the writing component for EOP Summer Bridge, and in the past taught in and co-coordinated the WORD program through the campus HSI initiatives. Mark played a role in co-creating the food justice curriculum at Oakes College, and now regularly teaches Oakes 167 (Food Systems: Culture, Social Justice, Sustainability) where students learn more about food production, labor, food and culture – and can engage in service learning work through the course by researching and working with a local organization that focuses on food access or community needs.
His background in comparative literature where he was able to study literature across different languages and cultures enabled him to pursue his larger interests in politics, economic conditions, and justice. Mark enjoys working with students inside the classroom as well as individually through conferences and projects. He also continues to collaborate with campus partners from CASFS, the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, as well as the campus farm.