After looking at the background and experience Pat Long has accumulated, members of the Baker University community said they think the board of trustees knew what it was doing when it selected her to become Baker’s 28th president.

With her long history working in higher education, Long is bringing many ideas about how to improve the campus and education system. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration and mathematics from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo., a master’s degree in adult education from Central Missouri State University and a doctorate in educational policy and leadership in higher education from the University of Kansas.

Freshman Nikki Anderson attended Long’s inauguration ceremony and said she is confident Long will be beneficial to the university.

“After hearing about her history … and hearing about everything she has accomplished, Dr. Long seems like the type of person who can definitely help out Baker,” she said.

Professor of Biology Darcy Russell also said she thinks Long will be a good leader for Baker.

“She was an incredibly successful leader at (Johnson County Community College) and (University of Missouri – Kansas City), her resume showed she could set goals and accomplish them, she has incredible people skills, she brings lots of ideas and she is a very good listener,” she said.

Future projects include renovation of Mulvane Hall, construction of a new apartment-like residence hall and building a new student center, Long said.

“We have to do something with our science facilities, and if we’re going to continue to recruit new students, we have to do something about our residence halls,” she said. “We are also planning to increase our scholarship pool for students.”

Fund raising is critical, as Long said she does not believe tuition dollars should go toward construction of new buildings on campus.

“I’d love to not have the construction of buildings ever on the backs of students,” she said. “Tuition needs to be spent on our academic mission.”

The changes Long plans to instate at Baker are well anticipated by many members of the Baker community.

“I think Dr. Long has a great personality, and what she has to bring to our campus is interesting, especially with her level of expertise. I’m excited to see what Baker will look like after she is through with it,” freshman Taylor Glessner said.

Other students have noticed the mark Long has already begun to make at Baker both as a leader and as a friendly face. Sophomore Zac Towns said having Long as a friend would be great.

“Dr. Pat is pretty … sweet. I would totally Facebook her. You know, if she had Facebook,” he said.

However, the feelings are not unique to current students.

Janelle Johnston, a high school senior who visited during Senior Weekend, said she had positive interactions with Long.

“I was very impressed by her,” Johnston said. “She talked to me for quite a while and made me feel very welcome here.”

At the inauguration Long said she feels very welcomed and honored to be at Baker and hopes to be here for many years.

A Long life1951 – Born in Wheatland, Mo.; middle of three girls; lived on cattle farm; homecoming queen

1970 – Attended Southwest Baptist University; majored in math; played volleyball and basketball

1972 – Married high school sweetheart Dennis Long; worked with him in Germany while he was enlisted in the U.S. Army

1974 – Taught in adult education program in Kansas City, Mo., school district; earned master’s degree from Central Missouri State

1982 – Earned doctorate of education in educational policy and leadership in higher education from KU; worked at Johnson County Community College

2000 – Left JCCC; became administrator at UMKC

2006 – Chosen in March by Baker presidential search committee; inaugurated as 28th BU president on October 27th