Interim Director Linda Renee Baker

Linda R. Baker serves as interim director and university professor at the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. As interim director, she leads the institute’s mission to advance ethical government, expand opportunity and fair treatment, and promote responsible citizenship.

Since joining the institute in 2003, Baker has directed several of its signature experiential learning and mentoring programs, including the Paul Simon Springfield Internship Program, the Youth Leadership Mentorship Program, Women’s Civic Day at the Illinois State Capitol, and graduate fellowship opportunities. Through these initiatives, she has helped prepare students for careers in public service, public policy and state government, with many alumni going on to become civic leaders, elected officials and policy professionals. She also teaches internship courses in political science and social work, as well as healthcare policy at the SIU School of Medicine.

Before joining SIU Carbondale, Baker held numerous executive leadership positions in Illinois state government. She served as secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services from 2001 to 2003, director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security from 1999 to 2000, assistant director of the Illinois Department of Public Aid from 1995 to 1998, legislative liaison to the Illinois House for the Office of the Governor from 1991 to 1995, and director of legislative affairs for the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation from 1990 to 1991.

Baker earned a Doctorate of Public Administration (2004), a Master of Arts in Gerontology (1987), and a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration (1985), all from the University of Illinois Springfield. She also completed the Senior Executive Program at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1993 and was named a Council of State Governments Henry Toll Fellow in 2000.

Throughout her career, Baker has remained committed to developing future public service leaders while advancing ethical leadership, civic engagement and effective public policy.