Melissa Baker

Melissa Baker, PhD, is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Education at the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB) and Director/Co-PI of Project MASTERY, a U.S. Department of Education-funded initiative. She specializes in school-university partnerships (SUPs), teacher recruitment/retention, and family engagement across school transitions.

Education:

• PhD in Middle Grades Education, University of Georgia
• MEd in Curriculum & Instruction, University of Tampa
• B.A. in English, Susquehanna University

Research & Leadership: Dr. Baker focuses on professional development school (PDS) partnerships and rural educator support. She serves as Secretary of the National Association of School-University Partnerships, Past-Chair of AERA’s SUP Research SIG, and founding Board member/Past-President of the Southeastern Association of SUPs. She co-developed the Southeastern PDS Research Consortium and led a $4.6M Teacher Quality Partnership Grant (Carolina Transition to Teaching).

Labs/Teams: Project MASTERY (U.S. Department of Education grant), Carolina Teacher Induction Program (CarolinaTIP) advisory board, and Southeastern PDS Research Consortium.