FROM ONU.EDU__Dr. Kendall (Ken) Baker, Hon. D. ’11, served with distinction as Ohio Northern University’s 10th president from 1999 until 2011. He was named president emeritus upon his retirement. He passed away in Colorado on Thursday, November 27, 2025, at age 83.

Life of scholarship
Dr. Baker came from a military family and wanted to follow suit, but vision trouble derailed his plans. He decided to pursue a life of scholarship. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Maryland in 1963, followed by a master’s and doctoral degrees from Georgetown University in 1966 and 1969, respectively.

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).

Tenure of growth and achievement
Dr. Baker left an indelible mark on the ONU community. 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, the Dicke House, Dial-Roberson Stadium, the Remington Walk, and the Baker Residential Commons of Stadium View Apartments, Klondike’s Den, Lakeview, Polar Place,, Northern Commons, and Affinity Village.

Focus on academic quality
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.

The Bakers at ONU
President Emeritus Baker and former First Lady Toby Baker, BFA ’06 (who survives him in Colorado), were a team—“with one, you get the other.” They were enthusiastic participants in the heart of campus life, attending countless student events, eating in McIntosh Center, and forging countless relationships. Every summer, Dr. Baker challenged himself to memorize the names and photographs of the incoming ONU class so that he could personally greet each new student by name. The Bakers have a sweetheart bench on campus and established the Toby and Ken Baker Award for Creativity that is awarded during the annual juried student art exhibit.

In the arena
In his inaugural address, Dr. Baker quoted U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt: “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood.”

We are grateful that Dr. Baker was “in the arena” in support of ONU for 12 impactful years. His tremendous contributions will positively impact generations of Polar Bears to come.

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