Here in the Office of Alumni Relations, we spend a lot of time telling stories about and talking with our wonderfully supportive alums. However, we’ve decided to turn the tables and take time to get to know the people behind the scenes – the advancement and alumni relations staff members who are hard at work on behalf of our alumni. Today we’ll be hearing from Caroline Baker, the Assistant Vice President for Careers and Corporate Partnerships.

Name: Caroline Baker
Job Title: Assistant Vice President for Careers and Corporate Partnerships
Focus Area: I raise money for student support and academic programs and oversee the Career Services Center at UMBC.
Years at UMBC: Almost 9 years

Q: Where are you from originally?
Baltimore, MD. I grew up in Pikesville, MD.

Q: What do you love most about UMBC?
I love the people and the fact that faculty and students appreciate the work that we do to help them be successful. And I love the fact that people hold doors open for each other on this campus.

Q: What is your favorite thing about your job?
Creating win-win relationships for the University. It feels really good when our partners are happy to give us resources, and our faculty and students are happy to be receiving the resources.

Q: Why do you think it’s important to support UMBC?
Our President says “Education transforms lives,” and as a public university we have a very special role to play in helping people be successful and productive citizens.

Q: When you were a child, what/who did you aspire to be?
I have documentation to prove that when I was a young girl I aspired to be the first female president.

Q: If you could visit any place in the world, where would you pick?
One of my favorite places in the world is Venice, where I can eat some of the most of amazing food. Italian food is unbelievable.

Q: What is your favorite hobby or pastime?
Playing with my puppy, who is 10 months old. She is already an expert in water retrieval.