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www.NorthernStar.info H FreeWednesday, April 3, 2013

Northern Star

New leader’s goals: Build on 2020 planKelly Bauer, Robert Baird & Jessi HaishEditor in Chief, Campus Editor & City Editor

DeKalb | Incoming president Doug Baker wants to focus on student-focused excellence, research excellence and financial excellence.

Baker, who was voted president unani-mously at a Board of Trustees meeting Tues-day, said it is an honor to work at NIU.

“NIU’s big enough to matter, but small enough to care about the students that it serves,” Baker said.

The Board of Trustees approved a five-year contract with Baker, who will have a base sal-ary of $450,000. President John Peters’ salary in FY2012 was $334,588, according to the Illi-nois Board of Higher Education.

Baker’s GoalsBaker said NIU’s greatest days lie ahead.

However, Baker said the university must de-velop a more sustainable financial model that does not rely on state funding, which has been cut in recent years.

He plans to build on the Vision 2020 plan, an initiative set forth by Peters. Vision 2020 created benchmark goals for NIU to improve enrollment and academic enrichment, among

other things. Baker said he wants to use Vi-sion 2020 to make NIU a “national model for a successful 21st century public university.”

Baker said he was aware of challenges “that threaten to distract us from our mission” and he would not let such distractions arise.

“We will face those issues head on and re-solve them,” Baker said.

The university must emphasize a campus culture where there is ethically inspired lead-ership at every level, Baker said.

NIU’s Leaders Happy With ChoiceCherilyn Murer, Board of Trustees chair,

said Baker would bring NIU to “different heights and different directions, and we see this as extremely positive.”

“His enthusiasm and the enthusiasm of his wife, Dr. [Dana] Stover, I think is perfect for this university at this time,” Murer said.

Others also have high hopes for Baker. Ste-ven Cunningham, vice president for adminis-tration and human resources, said Baker’s ap-pointment was “wonderful.” Bill Nicklas, vice president for public safety and community re-lations, said he was excited to have Baker.

“He has a strong resume and the kind of

transformative goals that the 2020 plan envi-sions,” Nicklas said.

AthleticsDuring his speech, Baker joked about the

football team’s success and journey to the Or-ange Bowl. In an interview with the Northern Star, Baker said he wanted to pair athletics with academics to ensure students have “suc-cessful academic experiences.”

“He has a much bigger job than dealing with anything in Athletics, although we’re a part of it,” said head football coach Rod Car-ey. “He’s well qualified, there’s no doubt about that....”

Baker will have to select a new Athletics Director, as Jeff Compher is leaving NIU.

Transferring PowerAt Tuesday’s Board of Trustees meeting,

Baker thanked Peters and his wife, Barbara, for their contributions to the university. Pe-ters was not present at the Board of Trustees meeting or a post-meeting reception because he was at an IBHE meeting.

Peters officially steps down June 30. Baker will begin his term on July 1.

NIU’s 12th President

Doug Baker: Provost and execu-tive vice president at the Univer-sity of Idaho

Experience: Previously worked at Washington State University as vice provost for Academic Affairs and director of the Office of Un-dergraduate Education

Student Leaders Want More Interaction with Admin.: Page 3

How Would Mayoral Candidates Work With New President?: Page 3

Editorial Board Thinks Baker Has Much To Clean Up: Page 8

Video from Reception: Go to bit.ly/10xIsZg or NorthernStar.info/Multimedia

Who He Is

Man accused of Toni Keller’s murder expected to accept

plea deal today: Page 2

More Coverage

Northern Star File PhotoToni Keller’s garden at Neptune North was planted in the spring of 2012.

Gavin Weaver | Northern StarIncoming president Doug Baker speaks with Student Association Senator Mike Theodore at a Tuesday Board of Trustees meeting. Baker wants to make NIU a “national model” for success.