Our President
Office of the President
Profound Commitment to the University
Mr. Hoot Gibson was appointed acting president of Baker University in October 2024 and will maintain this role until July 1, 2025 when Dr. Jody Fournier begins his duties as Baker’s 31st president.
With over 20 years of service as a member of Baker University’s Board of Trustees, Gibson has demonstrated a profound commitment to the university. A proud alumnus of the Class of 1973, Gibson has consistently supported the university through numerous high-impact initiatives, including leading efforts to secure Baker’s place in wills and trusts as well as his personal contributions to the Baker University Athletic Hall of Fame. Gibson helped secure the funds that led to the renovation of Mulvane Hall to create the Ivan L. Boyd Center for Collaborative Science Education, home of Baker’s biology program and other essential academic programs.
Presidents of Baker
31. Dr. Jody Fournier (Assumes role July 1, 2025)
30. Hoot Gibson, Acting President (2024-25)
29. Lynne Murray (2014- 24)
28. Patricia N. Long (2006-14)
b. Wheatland, MO, 1951
27. Daniel M. Lambert (1987-2006)
b. Kansas City, MO, Jan. 16, 1941
26. Ralph M. Tanner (1980-87)
b. Jefferson Co., AL, Dec. 10, 1926; d. Nov. 24, 2016
25. R. Wright Spears, Acting President (1979-80)
b. Clio, SC, Oct. 20, 1912; d. Feb. 10, 2015
24. Jerald C. Walker (1974-79)
b. Bixby, OK, 1938; d. Dec. 24, 2016
23. Neal Malicky, Acting President (1973-74)
b. Sour Lake, TX, Sept. 14, 1934; d. Nov. 22, 2024
22. James Edward Doty (1966-73)
b. Lakewood, OH, May 8, 1922; d. June 15, 2008
21. William John Scarborough (1956-66)
b. Lincoln, NE, Feb. 15, 1913; d. March 22, 1976
20. Nelson Paxson Horn (1936-1956)
b. Tipton, IA, May 23, 1890; d. July 5, 1958
19. Wallace Bruce Fleming (1922-36)
b. Cambridge, OH, Nov. 22, 1872; d. June 30, 1952
18. Osmon Grant Markham (1921-22)
b. Loudenville, OH, Aug. 21, 1865; d. April 18, 1943
17. Samuel Alexander Lough (1917-21)
b. Carleton Co, Ontario, Canada, July 7, 1864
16. Wilbur Nesbitt Mason (1911-17)
b. Mechanicsburg, OH, Apr. 15, 1867; d. Dec. 19, 1952
15. Lemuel Herbert Murlin (1894-1911)
b. Mercer Co., OH, Nov. 16, 1861; d. June 20, 1935
14. William Alfred Quayle (1890-94)
b. Parkville, MO, June 25, 1860; d. Mar. 9, 1925
13. Hillary Asbury Gobin (1886-1890)
b. Terre Haute, IN, Mar. 25, 1842; d. Mar. 18, 1923
12. William Henry Sweet (1879-86)
b. Brown County, OH, July 14, 1843; d. Jan. 5, 1919
11. Joseph J. Denison (1874-79)
b. Bernardston, MA, Oct. 1, 1815; d. Feb. 19, 1900
10. Samuel S. Weatherby (1873-74)
b. Knox County, OH, Feb. 1, 1841; d. July 22, 1924
9. Robert Latimore Harford (1871-1873)
b. OH, 1837; d. 1883
8. Patterson McNutt (1870-71)
b. Switzerland County, IN, Aug. 27, 1833; d. Feb. 9, 1886
7. John Alexander Simpson (1869)
b. Scio, OH, July 27, 1839; d. July 23, 1933
6. Elial Jay Rice (1867-68)
b. Sullivan, OH, Dec. 18, 1822; d. Apr. 7, 1872
5. John Wesley Horner (1866-1867)
b. Wornelsdorf, PA, May 29, 1834; d. Aug. 16, 1874
4. John Wesley Locke (1865-1866)
b. Paris, KY, Feb 12, 1822; d. Dec. 29, 1895
3. Leonard Leidy Hartman (1864-65)
b. Saloma, PA, Nov. 19, 1828; d. March 2, 1909
2. George Washington Paddock (1862-64)
b. Vienna, NY, Dec. 10, 1823; d. Jan. 5, 1908
1. Werter Renick Davis (1858-1862)
b. Circleville, OH, April 1, 1815; d. June 22, 1893