Dr. Kenneth Baker, a well dressed bachelor in his 30’s, fidgeted at his desk as he spoke about his life and career, constantly moving and shifting. That “nervous energy” he gets every time he steps into a classroom of 245 new students seemed to enter his office, but, as in his classes, his nerves turned to excitement and engagement with each passing moment. Dr. Baker’s enthusiasm permeates each of his classes, turning the mundane into, well… less mundane, and that is better than most.

Baker grew up in Louisville, Ky., and started his collegiate career at the University of Kentucky, but it was not until his post graduate studies at the University of New Mexico that he found a niche in teaching.  He taught classes as part of his scholarship to the university, almost being nudged into his future career. “Actually, it wasn’t good at all; I didn’t like standing in front of people. But, it grew on me; I liked it the more I tried it,” he said. And try it he did, taking a Visiting Professor position at Eastern Kentucky University after graduating with a Doctorate in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics.

He made a brief foray into the business world, working for a litigation firm in Tampa Bay, Fla., for two years, but soon made a return to teaching. “I liked my job and had fun, but it wasn’t the right fit for me. So when a colleague recommended a temporary position at UT I took it. Then, the temp position went another year, and another year, and here I am full time,” said Baker. Quite a few students are excited that he has made a career teaching, as he is a highly praised professor on ratemyprofessor.com due to his “excitement” and “helpfulness.”

These characteristics are illustrated watching him teach, he is always moving and using examples to clarify his points. “I never want to open the text and summarize, that’s not being a teacher; it would be me giving a book report.  I like to be a hand’s on professor, I use my own notes and examples to better illustrate the points I’m trying to make,” he said when asked about his favorable teaching style. Always involved, Baker has comprised a workbook of notes that is used by every introductory economics class, taken from his own experiences with the subject matter.  

He humbly laughed when told of his ratings and reviews, revealing his down to earth nature.  He is genuinely excited about his subject and he wants to convey that to his students, an idea sometimes lost in the business of higher education. Too bad he is a Kentucky fan…