When it comes to making decisions about a community that is extensive and expansive, having valuable input is critical. That’s why diversity is an important trend being talked about in tech. Baker, an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science, is going beyond the conversation. Since joining the College of Engineering in 2017, he’s made it his mission to ensure equal access to opportunity and learning.

“As tech companies continue to engage in relationships with more diverse clients and partners, cultural sensitivity and cultural competency become increasingly important,” Baker said.

Each underrepresented minority faces unique structural and social barriers in both exposure and access to computer science. As a result, diversity in this particular industry is negatively affected. Baker poses this question — how do we begin to address the problem? He believes, universities must do a better job recruiting, retaining and graduating minority students in engineering.

Baker has created a graduate campus visit program that has garnered interests of more than 70 prospective underrepresented minorities (URMs) from around the country. In January, the college hosted 13 of these bright students to show them first-hand the groundbreaking research being conducted on campus.

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