Nakell Baker

Staff Q & A

Hometown: Nevada, Missouri. (pronounced Nev-aye-duh)

Title: Assistant Director – Career Studio

Years of Service (UofA): Less than a month!

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Truman State University
• Master of Public Administration with an emphasis in Nonprofit Management from the University of Memphis

How long have you been at the University of Arkansas in Student Affairs? What have you enjoyed most about your time here?

I just started at the University on January 3, 2022, so I have been in Student Affairs for less than a month. However, from day one I have truly enjoyed the warmth and openness of all the staff within the Career Development Center, Division of Student Affairs, and the whole campus community! I am lucky enough to be located in the new Student Success Center and it has been really fun watching the building open to the campus community and seeing how much it means to so many people.

Tell us a little about your role in Student Affairs. What brings you joy in this role?

My role is Assistant Director – Career Studio. The Career Studio is a service provided by the Career Development Center and has drop-in career services to all students and alumni at U of A, such as resume and cover letter reviews, mock interviews, interview preparation, and LinkedIn profile reviews. These services are delivered by a team of highly skilled Career Peer Mentors, whom I supervise. I am also a career counselor and do one-on-one counseling, and I will be building partnerships with staff and faculty across campus to provide career services to their students in classrooms and at events.

What is the greatest misconception people have about Student Affairs and how do you break that?

I believe a misconception people have about Student Affairs is thinking individuals who choose Student Affairs as a career do not have academic interests, because we do all the “fun” jobs on campus or provide logistical services like housing and feeding students. While our jobs ARE fun and we do complete logistical services, I think part of the reason many people choose to work in higher education is because of their interest in academia, and choose Student Affairs because they know the support services we provide are vital to a student’s success. (Those are my reasons, anyway). In my experience, everyone I have come across in Student Affairs has achieved a master’s degree, PhD, or are currently working towards one. I think we can change this misconception by having open conversations (that is my solution to many issues). By have intentional conversations between staff and faculty, and parents and students, we can learn more about each other’s individual interests and build a stronger campus community.

What do you like to do with your time outside of the University?

I am a proud cat mom to my two fluffballs, Waffles and Luna and I spend a lot of time with them. I’m also a very experience-focused person, so I enjoy doing and seeing things. My favorite experiences are being in nature, seeing Broadway shows, and exploring new restaurants and activities. In non-pandemic times, I love to travel with my friends, especially to new countries. I am a bit of a homebody though and love a nap just as much as sightseeing!

What do you hope students and colleagues will remember about your interactions?

I hope that students and colleagues both will remember interactions with me as positive and helpful. I believe in the servant leader mindset. My hope is that I can provide quality service to everyone I interact with in some way.

Is there anything else you would like to add or let our readers know?

The Career Studio has moved to the new Student Success Center and is open from 10:00am-5:00pm Monday through Thursday. Students can drop-in to the Studio during our operating hours without an appointment! We can help students with everything from resume and cover letter reviews, provide mock interviews, review LinkedIn profiles, and more! If students feel more comfortable meeting virtually, we also offer limited phone and video services, which students can schedule in Handshake. We’re excited to serve as many students as we can in this new space!