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Denise Baird, PhD, is the interim provost and senior vice president for academic operations, quality, and student success. Dr. Baird brings more than 20 years of experience in higher education both as a faculty member and an administrator, to the role. She earned her doctorate and master’s degrees in sociology from Purdue University and her bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Akron. Previously she was selected as the first Thoreau Teaching Fellow in the Sociology Department at the University of Maine.

Prior to joining St. Kate’s, Dr. Baird was on the faculty at Franklin College. As a sociology professor at Franklin, she partnered with community organizations for applied learning experiences and championed active and inclusive pedagogies. Dr. Baird has always embraced administrative work including faculty governance and leadership roles. As associate provost at Franklin College, she led efforts to improve academic assessment, engaged learning, faculty development, and institutional accreditation processes.

In her role at St. °µÍø½ûÇø, Dr. Baird's work ensures that the university's continuous improvement efforts support academic and operational excellence with a focus on student learning and achievement. Under her leadership, St. Kate’s launched its first federal TRIO program as well as a summer college transition experience for incoming first-time college students. Dr. Baird also steered the university’s reaffirmation of accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission.

As a member of the senior leadership team and chief academic officer of the university, Dr. Baird strives to center student learning in all her work, collaborating with offices across campus to build and nurture systems for student success. Her current projects are focused on strengthening academic outcomes for adult learners, by updating multiple policies, processes, and service areas across academic and student affairs.