Editor’s Note: This profile is the fifth of six about students and alumni leading up to LovEMU Giving Day on April 10. For more information about the day and to donate, visit love.emu.edu.
EMU alumnus Akiel Baker ’21 says a turning point in his life came while on a cross-cultural trip to Guatemala during his junior year. Being in a country where he didn’t speak the language or understand the culture was a humbling experience for the Bowie, Maryland, native.
“I came back a new person,” Baker said. “Before that, I was always doing the bare minimum.”
When he returned to the U.S., his whole approach to college changed. The social work major became more engaged in his coursework and more involved in the EMU campus community. He joined clubs such as the Black Student Alliance (BSA), the International Students Organization and the Student Government Association.
As vice president of BSA, Baker was instrumental in bringing the Black Lives Matter mural to life and shaping the creation of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Before graduating with a bachelor of social work degree, he served as senior class president for the Class of 2021 and earned 2021 Cords of Distinction honors.
“I can honestly say I’ve not had a bad moment at EMU,” he said. “Every moment has been enriching, and I’ve enjoyed every bit of it.”
Just like EMU provided the push he needed to reach his full potential, Baker is helping children reach theirs as a social worker for Harrisonburg City Public Schools. In his role, he connects elementary and middle school students and their families with resources in the schools and community that can help them perform at their very best. One day he’s helping a busy mom with a busted transmission find an organization willing to help her, while another he’s figuring out which special education services a child is eligible for.
“I love building that human connection and assuring parents they’re not just a number within Harrisonburg City Public Schools… that they’re actually cared for and that we want the best for them,” Baker said.
That feeling he gives the families he works with is the same feeling he got when he visited EMU for the first time. He said he had been accepted to both EMU and James Madison University, but the latter felt too big and didn’t offer the same sense of community.
“Everyone here was super nice and welcoming,” Baker said. “I love human connection and that’s something that feels central to EMU.”
After graduating in 2021, Baker served as residence director at EMU for two years and worked as a site coordinator for On the Road Collaborative, a Harrisonburg-based nonprofit dedicated to closing the learning gap and empowering youth. He earned a master’s degree in social work from West Virginia University in 2023.
Baker said he participates in LovEMU Giving Day to give back to the school that’s given so much to him.
“I want people to have the same enriching experiences I had,” he said. “I want to see EMU grow and will continue giving back to keep it growing.”
Join generous donors like Baker who give back to EMU to help students pursue a quality college education without financial barriers. Be a part of our 8th annual LovEMU Giving Day and contribute to the scholarships that empower future EMU students. Let’s build EMU “Stronger Together.”
Read the previous profiles in our Why they LovEMU series:
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