Ohio Northern University President Emeritus Dr. Kendall L. Baker, Hon.D. ’11, died on November 27, at age 83.
Dr. Baker served with tremendous distinction as ONU’s 10th president from 1999 to 2011, leaving an indelible mark on the campus community. His tenure was an era of tremendous growth and achievement.
Under his leadership, the University successfully completed a $100 million comprehensive campaign and oversaw the significant expansion of our physical campus. Many of ONU’s signature campus facilities were constructed during his presidency, including: James F. Dicke Hall, the Mathile Center for the Natural Sciences,The Inn at Ohio Northern University, Dicke House, Dial-Roberson Stadium, the Remington Walk, and the Bakers Residential Commons area of Stadium View Apartments, Klondike’s Den, Lakeview, Polar Place, Northern Commons, and Affinity Village.
While the physical campus expanded dramatically, Dr. Baker considered himself first and foremost a “program guy.” He devoted extensive time and effort to bolstering academic quality, recruiting an outstanding faculty, and welcoming high-achieving students. ONU added vital undergraduate degrees in forensic biology, pharmaceutical business, and nursing during his presidency.
Known for his big smile, unwavering optimism, and personable approach, Dr. Baker was an enthusiastic participant in the heart of campus life. He and his wife Toby attended countless student events and cultivated lasting relationships and memories. Every summer, he challenged himself to memorize the names and photographs of the incoming ONU class so that he could personally greet each new student by name.
Prior to his time at ONU, Dr. Baker had a distinguished academic career, teaching political science at the University of Wyoming, serving as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Bowling Green State University, as vice president and provost at Northern Illinois University, and as president of the University of North Dakota (UND).
Upon leaving UND, Dr. Baker almost became a “ski bum” before realizing he would deeply miss the joy of serving students–a realization that ultimately led to him becoming ONU’s 10th president. After retiring from ONU, he fulfilled his skiing dreams by settling with Toby in Colorado.
To read more, go to our In Memoriam page.