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President Warren J. Baker
"Cal Poly is dedicated to the idea of a 'learn by doing' approach to education in which classroom instruction is reinforced with practical, 'hands-on' learning in the laboratory, the studio, or out in the field. This approach provides the University with a special niche in California higher education and is a significant reason our graduates are so heavily recruited upon graduation."
A civil engineer registered to practice in four states, President Warren J. Baker takes great pride in the university he has led since 1979 and acknowledges the contributions of his distinguished faculty and staff to Cal Poly's success. He is particularly proud of the recognition the University has received for excellence in undergraduate education:
- For more than a decade, U.S. News & World Report has rated Cal Poly as one of the top public, regional universities in the West.
- The College of Engineering has been named among the top public undergraduate programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
- The College of Agriculture is the fourth largest undergraduate agriculture program in the nation.
- Cal Poly's College of Architecture and Environmental Design was ranked as one of the best undergraduate architecture programs in the United States at producing "graduates most prepared for real-world practice" by DesignIntelligence journal. The college has produced one of every five architects in the State and one of every 20 in the country.
- The University's other colleges -- Business, Education, Liberal Arts, and Science and Mathematics -- also have been recognized for their innovation, excellence, quality of students and faculty, and for providing a strong workforce for the future.
- The University launched a $225 million Centennial Capital Campaign to commemorate the 1901 founding of Cal Poly in April 2001. At the conclusion of the Campaign, $264.4 million had been raised, nearly $40 million above the Centennial Campaign goal.
During his career in higher education, President Baker has achieved distinction as a teacher, scholar and administrator. A few of the honors he has received include:
- 2004 Chief Executive Leadership Award, Far West Region of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)
- 1997 Cavanaugh Award, University of Notre Dame (highest award bestowed on an alumnus for outstanding public service)
- Presidential Appointee, National Science Board, governing board for the National Science Foundation (chaired the Board's Polar Research Committee and the Standing Committee on Programs and Plans)
- Presidential Appointee, Board for International Food and Agricultural Development (U.S.A.I.D.) (assisted Cal Poly in becoming the prime architect and planner for the Agricultural College of Humid Tropical Regions in Costa Rica)
- Outstanding Alumnus Awards, Colleges of Engineering, Universities of New Mexico and Notre Dame
- Charter Appointee and member of Board of Directors, California Council on Science and Technology
- Founding chair of the national (ASCE) Civil Engineering Research Foundation
- Chrysler Professor and Dean of the College of Engineering, and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Detroit
For his own professional and personal achievements, he credits the dedication, support, and creativity of his wife, Carly. In addition to helping him manage the social and development activities expected of a chief executive officer, Mrs. Baker has been a leader in the Foundation for the Performing Arts Center, the sustaining group behind the $33 million on-campus theater complex built jointly by the State and the community. She also has been a three-time gubernatorial appointee to mental health advisory panels and has worked on numerous local juvenile justice and women's shelter projects.
President Baker earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering from Notre Dame and his Ph. D. in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of New Mexico. He continues to relish his job; occasionally, however, he wishes he had a bit more time to ski and polish his golf game.
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- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- American Association of State Colleges and Universities
- American Association of University Administrators
- American Association of University Women
- American Society for Engineering Education
- American Council on Education
- American Society of Civil Engineers
- Business-Higher Education Forum
- California Council on Science & Technology
- California State University System
- Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
- Joint Policy Council on Agriculture & Education
- International Association of University Presidents
- National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges
- National Society of Professional Engineers
- San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce