{{Short description|American minister}} {{Infobox clergy | name = Delbert W. Baker | image = Delbert_W._Baker.jpg | birth_date = 1953 | birth_place = [[Oakland, California]] | death_date = | death_place = | church = [[Seventh-day Adventist]] | other_names = | education = [[Oakwood University]], [[Andrews University]], [[Howard University]], [[Harvard University]] | ordained = | writings = 20 authored/edited books | congregations = | offices_held = {{Unbulleted list|President of [[Oakwood University]]|Vice President of the [[General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists]]|Vice Chancellor of [[Adventist University of Africa]]}} | title = | footnotes = }} {{Seventh-day Adventism}} '''Delbert W. Baker''' is a [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventist]] minister, author, educator, and administrator. Formerly the tenth president of [[Oakwood University]] (1996–2010) and a vice president of the [[General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists]] (2010–2015), Baker is currently the vice chancellor of the [[Adventist University of Africa]].<ref name="adventist.org">{{cite web|url=http://news.adventist.org/en/all-news/news/go/2015-11-20/the-adventist-university-of-africa-invites-delbert-baker-to-serve-as-its-vice-chancellor-1/#.VlBnHhXrLKo.facebook|title=News|date=26 September 2017|website=news.adventist.org|accessdate=25 February 2018}}</ref>

==Education and Family== Baker was born in 1953 in [[Oakland, California]]. He holds a BA in Ministerial Theology from [[Oakwood University|Oakwood College]], a Master of Divinity from [[Andrews University]], and a PhD in communications from [[Howard University]]. He is married to the former Susan Lee, a [[physical therapist]] and educator.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://medschool.umaryland.edu/FACULTYRESEARCHPROFILE/viewprofile.aspx?id=24649|title=SOM Faculty Profile|work=umaryland.edu|access-date=2011-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303052727/http://medschool.umaryland.edu/FACULTYRESEARCHPROFILE/viewprofile.aspx?id=24649|archive-date=2012-03-03|url-status=dead}}</ref> The couple has three adult sons.

==Career== Baker's professional experience includes ten years of pastoring (1975–1985), seven years as editor of ''Message'' (1985–1992), and four years as vice president and professor of Religion at [[Loma Linda University]] and Medical Center (1992–1996).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/story3467-delbert-baker-takes-reins-at-adventist-university-of-africa|title=Adventist Review Online - Delbert Baker Takes Reins at Adventist University of Africa|website=www.adventistreview.org|date=23 November 2015|accessdate=25 February 2018}}</ref> He has authored or edited over 20 books, most notably ''The Unknown Prophet,'' ''From Exile to Prime Minister'', and ''Telling the Story'', and written over 500 articles.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oer7AAAAQBAJ&q=delbert+baker+sda|title=The Unknown Prophet|first=Delbert W.|last=Baker|date=10 September 2013|publisher=Review and Herald Pub Assoc|isbn=9780828027427|accessdate=25 February 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref>

Baker was the tenth president of [[Oakwood University]] from 1996 to 2010.<ref>"Oakwood College Presidents," in ''Service into the 21st Century: The Oakwood College Constituency Report: 2001-2006'', pg. 41.</ref> Under his leadership the university experienced significant growth including increased enrollment;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jHXCJ_|title=YouTube|website=www.youtube.com|accessdate=25 February 2018}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref> enlarged land holdings; construction and/or purchase of five major facilities;<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.adventistreview.org/article.php?id=45 |title=Adventist Review : Oakwood College |access-date=2008-06-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120135225/http://adventistreview.org/article.php?id=45 |archive-date=2010-11-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.oakwood.edu/Residence_Halls/default.aspx?id=12 |title=Oakwood University &#124; Holland Hall |access-date=2008-08-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081020114523/http://www.oakwood.edu/Residence_Halls/default.aspx?id=12 |archive-date=2008-10-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref> major renovations on numerous campus structures; and development of a comprehensive award-winning technology network.<ref>Hannah, Gina, "Oakwood Shows New Program," ''The Huntsville Times'', April 19, 2003, 1B.</ref><ref>Haskins, Shelly, "Oakwood Revives Working Aspect of its History with High Tech," ''The Huntsville Times'', March 2, 2003, C1.</ref> Fund-raising efforts were remarkable with approximately $90 million raised through donations and grants.<ref>Peifer, Bruce, "Advancement and Development Report," ''Realizing the Vision: Oakwood College Constituency Report: 1996-2001'', pgs. 28, 29</ref><ref>Cotton, Sabrina R., "Service through Fiscal Management," ''Service into the 21st Century: The Oakwood College Constituency Report: 2001-2006'', pgs. 20-22</ref><ref>Gates, Jacquelyn B., "Service Through Gift Investments," ''Service into the 21st Century: The Oakwood College Constituency Report: 2001-2006'', pp. 32-35.</ref> During his tenure the campus received awards for academics, beauty, and community service. For the length of his tenure Oakwood University was listed in ''U.S. News & World Report'' as among the best colleges in the Southern region.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/directory/brief/drglance_1033_brief.php |title=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=2007-12-23 |archive-date=2008-05-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515111827/http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/directory/brief/drglance_1033_brief.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> Baker served on the White House Advisory for [[Historically black colleges and universities|HBCUs]] for five years; testified before several congressional committees; and received awards from the White House, [[United Negro College Fund|UNCF]], Alumnus of the Year from his alma mater, and many civic and educational organizations.<ref>Kesner, Kenneth, "Oakwood's Baker gains High-Profile Board Seat," ''The Huntsville Times'', December 24, 2006, 11A.</ref> Also during his presidency, Baker completed marathons to raise funds for student scholarships on all seven continents and the [[North Pole]], and 35 of the 50 states in the U.S., that raised more than $500,000 in a scholarship endowment.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.oakwood.edu/news/93-december-2008/342-oakwood-president-completes-antarctic-ice-marathon-on-schedule |title=Oakwood President Completes Antarctic Ice Marathon on Schedule &#124;&#124; Oakwood University |access-date=2015-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208060734/http://www.oakwood.edu/news/93-december-2008/342-oakwood-president-completes-antarctic-ice-marathon-on-schedule |archive-date=2015-12-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

From 2010 to 2015 Baker was a vice president of the [[General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists]]. In 2012 and 2013, he coordinated the worldwide Great Controversy/Great Hope Global Sharing Program that distributed more than 142 million copies of the [[Ellen G. White]] classic [[The Great Controversy (book)|The Great Controversy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://greatcontroversyproject.adventist.org/|title=The Great Hope Project - Home|website=greatcontroversyproject.adventist.org|access-date=25 February 2018|archive-date=17 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117045558/http://greatcontroversyproject.adventist.org/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In response to increasing crises and global hot spots, Baker provided leadership for the establishment of the worldwide GC crisis leadership preparation project that resulted in all SDA world divisions developing and maintaining crisis readiness. In collaboration with the Health Ministries Department, Baker also coordinated the establishment of the global comprehensive health ministry program and worked with efforts to stem the spread of [[Ebola]] in [[West Africa]]. In 2013 he led out in a successful campaign for the release of Seventh-day Adventist minister Antonio Monteiro from prison after being falsely incarcerated for 22 months in [[Togo]], [[Africa]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/2014/04/reflections-on-a-ministry-in-prison|title=Reflections on a Ministry in Prison: An interview with António Monteiro dos Anjos - Ministry Magazine|website=Ministry Magazine|accessdate=25 February 2018}}</ref>

In November 2015 Baker accepted a call to be the vice chancellor (president) of the [[Adventist University of Africa]], located near [[Nairobi, Kenya]].<ref name="adventist.org"/>

==See also== {{Portal|Christianity|Biography}} * [[General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists]] * [[Historically black colleges and universities]] * [[Loma Linda University]] * [[Oakwood University]] * [[Adventist University of Africa]] * [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]]

==References== {{reflist|2}}

==External links== {{commons category}} * [http://www.oakwood.edu/ Oakwood University] * [http://www.adventist.org/ General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Church] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919232321/http://www.adventist.org/ |date=2012-09-19 }} * [http://www.aua.ac.ke/ Adventist University of Africa]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baker, Delbert}} [[Category:1953 births]] [[Category:Writers from Oakland, California]] [[Category:Seventh-day Adventist administrators]] [[Category:American Seventh-day Adventists]] [[Category:American Seventh-day Adventist ministers]] [[Category:Seventh-day Adventist religious workers]] [[Category:Seventh-day Adventist writers]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Andrews University alumni]] [[Category:Oakwood University alumni]]