Our President
Office of the President
Raising National & International Profiles
A leader known for raising the national and international profiles of educational and nonprofit institutions, Dr. Lynne Murray officially became the 29th president of Baker University on July 1, 2014.
“I was drawn to Baker because of its tradition of academic excellence and outstanding values and its reputation for fostering critical thinking, teamwork, and global awareness. Our students continue to reach new heights, dream greater dreams for themselves than we ever dared, and inspire us all.”
About
Dr. Lynne Murray
Dr. Lynne Murray previously served as the vice president for development, international and alumni relations at Washington, D.C.–based Gallaudet University, the world’s only university for deaf and hard of hearing people. For more than 20 years, she has worked collaboratively with community organizations, initiating national and global partnerships, and spearheading fundraising efforts.
As vice president at Gallaudet, Murray was instrumental in setting the strategic direction for the university and securing private support to advance the institution. She worked closely with the board, president, and community to raise more than $79 million to support scholarships, faculty excellence, and academic programs.
At Georgetown University, Murray was a leader in the development and implementation of the 1789 Scholarship Imperative to raise $500 million. As a senior director for advancement, she played a key role in raising $317 million in total gifts from 2008 to 2010 and worked closely with the deans, president, and vice president of advancement to develop a comprehensive engagement strategy for the Mid-Atlantic region.
Before Georgetown, Murray worked at Johns Hopkins in corporate and community relations. She also served as the director for Youth Service America, where she was recognized in 1994 by then-U.S. President Bill Clinton for her leadership in creating awareness for youth service.
Murray began her career in public television as a producer and on-air personality, winning in 1992 three national public television awards for individual giving, on-air fundraising and overall development.
At Baker, Murray is leading the $28 million Forever Orange campaign, which is the largest comprehensive campaign in the history of the institution. With over $25 million secured in gifts and pledges, this fundraising effort has brought in more than $3 million for new professorships, over $6 million in unrestricted gifts, and over $6.7 million for scholarship aid for deserving students. These gifts include a $1 million gift to establish the William Everett and Mary Ellen Mealman Endowed Chair of Business Leadership and more recently a $1.5 million gift to support the Department of Biology and Chemistry. During her tenure as president, the endowment has grown 12 percent.
Murray is also overseeing the university’s efforts to align current practices and new initiatives with Strategic Plan 2022 through three overarching goals: exceptional experience, innovative programs, and sustainability and growth.
Murray earned a bachelor’s degree in English from St. Mary’s College of Maryland, a master’s degree in marketing from Johns Hopkins, and a doctorate in special education administration from Gallaudet.
Her husband, Jeff Murray, worked at Gallaudet for more than 25 years in the fields of television and technology, most recently as the manager of video services. Jeff was a member of the U.S. Air Force before joining Gallaudet, serving in Colorado, Greenland, Greece and Texas.
Presidents of Baker
29. Lynne Murray (2014- )
28. Patricia N. Long (2006-2014),
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
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