By Annabelle Blair | Echo
"I need to still live the life of the mind . . . I am an educator; that's my identity."
A Taylor professor of 37 years, Beulah Baker has exuded a contagious passion for literature, beauty, diversity and travel since 1979. Her dedication transmits to students, including those who went on one of the 14 J-term Literary London trips Baker led.
The variety of oversea trips she's taken-some including semester or month-long sabbatical research-are highlights of Baker's time at Taylor. "I moved from being a tourist to wanting to contribute," she said.
When traveling, Baker said she builds her itinerary around art galleries and plays in the area.
During retirement, she plans to visit former students around the globe and remain engaged in academics.
Baker's culture pushes students to think deeper about literature and life. "She has shown me time and again that she possesses confidence in my ability as a student to follow through even the most difficult things, and I love her for it," said junior Camy Hanna.
Baker sees the practice of creativity and excellence as a part of her life's ministry. Along with aiding students' paper presentations at a major educational conference, Baker shifted her literature class, critical approaches, to better reflect a modern and diverse culture. In the '80s and '90s, when most students had never been to a professional play, Baker expanded their education by taking them to the theatre in Indianapolis.
Senior Hannah Haney said Baker places student-learning before syllabi. "Thoreau writes in his book, Walden, 'I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life,' and Dr. Baker embodies that," Haney said. "I want to be like her when I grow up."
Baker is one of several faculty members retiring at Taylor in 2016.
