Rachael Baker

Rachael Baker is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography and Planning at Queen's University, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and Science. Her research focuses on social and spatial justice, particularly in housing, urban development, and racialized dispossession. She holds a PhD in Geography from York University (2019), an MA in Labour Studies from McMaster University (2012), and a BAH in Gender Studies and Global Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University (2009).

• Education:
  • PhD in Geography, York University (2019)
  • MA in Labour Studies, McMaster University (2012)
  • BAH in Gender Studies and Global Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University (2009)

Dr. Baker's work integrates qualitative and participatory methods, addressing issues like housing inequality, community land use, and the intersections of race, class, and urban policy. She has collaborated with Detroit-based organizations such as the Tricycle Collective and Detroit Renter City, advocating for tenant rights and anti-surveillance campaigns. Her recent research explores surveillance technologies in rental housing and the socioecological dimensions of student debt.

Her publications emphasize housing justice, decolonial frameworks, and feminist theory, with a focus on marginalized communities. She has contributed to initiatives with Indigenous Nations (Moose Cree and Taykwa Tagamou) and served on the board of Detroit's foreclosure prevention non-profit, Tricycle Collective.

Baker's activism includes co-founding Detroit Renter City and engaging in policy writing, grant management, and grassroots organizing. She advocates for systemic change through direct action and community partnerships.