Changes are a part of everyday living and recently Baker University has made some peronnel changes of its own.

Some new staff and faculty members have joined the school and employees have taken on new positions.

“I think that … we’re trying to do what’s best for our students,” Connie Deel, director of human resources and staff development, said. “People retire and so we lose their experience and that kind of thing, but hopefully they’re replaced with people who bring other strengths to the position.”

Deel announced the staff changes in an e-mail Sept. 24.

Steve Gordon is the new public safety assistant replacing Jim Nieder, who retired.

“I’ve lived in Baldwin (City) most of my life and I worked at Baker back in high school,” Gordon said. “It’s a nice place to work.”

Gordon works full time for Baldwin City as a supervisor and equipment operator.

Gordon took the job as a public safety assistant to make ends meet.

Another change made in the security office is its name.

It is now called the Office of Public Safety to better describe what the office is accountable for doing.

The wrestling team recently acquired a new assistant wrestling coach, George Roath.

Sophomore Brandon Gebhardt thinks that as a young coach, Roath is a good leader for the team and brings a lot of enthusiasm to the squad.

“He’s really helpful; he brings a lot of energy to practice,” Gebhardt said. “(He is) kind of all over the place, but a really good motivator.”

Gebhardt thinks Roath brings different perspectives to wrestling practice as well.

“When we’re doing sprints, he tells us to keep going and to run faster and stuff,” Gebhardt said. “But he’s been pretty good at getting us moving.”

Other changes also have been made in the Baker community, such as Bill Neuenswander becoming the Assistant Dean of Assessment.

Also, Wayne Jarvis has taken the lead custodian position and Linda Reynolds is now the Director of the School of Education Graduate Enrollment and Academic Advising.

Mike Meier now holds the position of Executive Director of Academics at the Wichita campus.

“People do come and go for different reasons and we replace the things that are necessary to replace and sometimes we re-evaluate and sometimes we realign positions,” Deel said. “We go along with our planning and do the best we can to satisfy our mission and stay with our values.”