Holly Baker

Holly Baker is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Linguistics within the College of Humanities at Brigham Young University (BYU). She holds a PhD in English Literary Studies with a focus on fiction from the University of South Dakota and has a strong academic and professional background in editing, publishing, and writing. Prior to joining BYU, she served as the Director of Professional Writing in the English Department at Purdue University.

Education:

• PhD, English Literary Studies (Fiction: The Novel), University of South Dakota (2015)
• MA, English (Creative Nonfiction), Ohio University (2010)
• BA, English Language (Linguistics; Editing and Publishing), Brigham Young University (2008)

Her research centers on the intersection of language, editing, and publishing, with specific interests in style guides, prescriptivism, and corpus linguistics. She explores how linguistic norms are constructed, maintained, and challenged in professional and academic contexts, particularly through editorial practices and digital publishing. Her work bridges theoretical linguistics with practical applications in writing and communication.

While no recent publications are listed in the provided text, her academic and professional trajectory suggests a focus on applied linguistics, editorial theory, and narrative craft across both fiction and nonfiction genres.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards listed.

She is deeply committed to student mentorship, advising aspiring writers and editors toward successful careers. Her teaching includes courses in editing, copyediting, fiction editing, and linguistics. Though no grants or funded projects are mentioned, her dual expertise in academic scholarship and professional editing suggests strong engagement with pedagogical and industry-relevant initiatives.

She is involved in academic and professional communities related to linguistics and publishing, though specific labs or research teams are not mentioned in the provided content.