David John Baker

David John Baker is the Peter G. Phialas Distinguished Professor of English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, holding a tenure-stream faculty position. He specializes in British literature from 1485 to 1660, digital humanities, and early modern literature and culture. His academic credentials include a B.A. (1979) from Calvin College and M.A. (1983) and Ph.D. (1992) in English from Johns Hopkins University.

His research focuses on the intersection of literary markets, national identity, and political thought in early modern England. Collaborative projects include a digital humanities web application on early modern Irish literature and culture with Willy Maley and Patricia Palmer, as well as an online volume on politics and early modern criticism with Palmer. He teaches courses on Shakespeare, Renaissance literature, and intellectual contexts.

Key publications include Between Nations (1997), British Identities and English Renaissance Literature (2002, co-edited), and On Demand (2010). His work has addressed topics such as Spenser's religious themes in Ireland, market influences on authorship, and postcolonial literary analysis.

He received the 2016 Digital Innovation Lab/Institute for the Arts and Humanities Faculty Fellowship. His teaching portfolio includes courses ENGL 225 (Shakespeare), ENGL 325 (Shakespeare and Contemporaries), and ENGL 327 (Renaissance Literature and Intellectual Contexts).