Lauri M. Baker is an associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication with a research appointment (65%) with the Center for Public Issues Education. She previously worked at Kansas State University for eight years where she earned tenure and co-founded the Center for Rural Enterprise Engagement (CREE). She continues her work with CREE and integrates her research and extension work with both PIE Center and CREE. Baker earned her bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications from Texas Tech University in 2003. Following her graduation, she served as Vice President and Director of Communication for the Texas Wheat Producers Board and Association. After four years in the industry, Baker returned to school to pursue her master’s and Ph.D. in agricultural communication from the University of Florida in 2009 and 2011, respectively.
Her research interests include new-media technologies, communication preferences and impact on local economies, online technology for economic development, marketing through new and social media, strategic communication and audience analysis, Extension communication, and climate change and disaster communication.
June 2013
