CLEVELAND, OH – Johns Hopkins University's Jennifer S. Baker has been selected as one of four NCAA Division III winners of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Athletic Director of the Year Award for 2023-24.
 
The NACDA Athletic Director of the Year Award spans seven divisions (NCAA FBS, FCS, Division I-AAA, II, III, NAIA and Junior Colleges/Community Colleges). Winners will be recognized in conjunction with the 59^th Annual NACDA & Affiliates Convention at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada at the beginning of the Association-Wide Featured Session on Tuesday, June 11.
 
Baker, who serves as the University's Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs, Director of Athletics and Recreation, is in her seventh year at Johns Hopkins, including her fifth year as Director of Athletics, and leads an athletics program that sponsors 24 varsity sports and is one of the most successful in the nation.
 
Johns Hopkins' run of success under Baker's guidance has been nothing short of remarkable.  In four full years plus the fall and winter of this year, Johns Hopkins teams have won five national championships and 49 conference titles and claimed the program's first LEARFIELD Directors' Cup title in 2022-23.  Individually, Blue Jay athletes have earned 15 national championships, 15 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships and 90 CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.  Making these numbers even more remarkable was the loss of three competition seasons (spring & fall of 2020 & winter (2020-21)) due to the COVID pandemic during Baker's tenure.
 
In addition to the overall success enjoyed by Blue Jay teams under her guidance, Baker also spearheaded the development of a new strategic plan that will guide the department through 2025.  Baker's plan is highlighted by three distinct areas of focus:  Competitive Excellence, Student-Athlete Experience and Community Building.  Each area closely supports the department's stated mission to "Be More".
 
Baker has been an integral member of the department's senior-leadership team since her arrival at Homewood.  As the Senior Associate Director of Athletics from 2017-19, she oversaw the day-to-day operation of the Department of Athletics with oversight in the planning, development and management of all fiscal and administrative operations.  As such, she directed all revenue-generating initiatives and short and long-term budget planning for Johns Hopkins' 24-sport varsity athletic program.
 
Among her many key initiatives at Johns Hopkins has been the launching of a unique leadership development program for Johns Hopkins student athletes (Blue Jays LEAD).  The Blue Jays LEAD program made its debut in 2017-18 with a mission of empowering student-athletes to actualize the leader within and inspire action in their communities at Johns Hopkins and beyond.
 
Baker has also positioned Johns Hopkins as an industry leader in supporting the holistic student-athlete experience.  Of note, she spearheaded the effort to create a Student-Athlete Mental Health and Performance position that provides support to more than 600 Johns Hopkins student-athletes as they compete at the highest level athletically and at one of the top Universities in the world.  The Student-Athlete Mental Health and Performance position was made possible by a philanthropic initiative directed by Baker.
 
During her tenure as Director of Athletics, Baker has also been responsible for raising more than $20 million in support of Johns Hopkins Athletics and Recreation.  This includes establishing eight new programmatic sport endowment funds, launching a multi-million-dollar renovation project for swimming and varsity weight room improvements, and locker room upgrades for five programs.
 
Johns Hopkins By the Numbers Under Jennifer S. Baker (2019-)
5 – NCAA Team Championships
15 – NCAA Postgraduate Scholars
15 – Individual National Champions
49 – Conference Championships
90 – CoSIDA Academic All-Americans

Winners of the 2023-24 NACDA AD of the Year Awards are:

Football Bowl Subdivision
Jeff Bourne, James Madison
Julie Cromer, Ohio University
Rick George, Colorado
Desiree Reed-Francois, Missouri

Football Championship Subdivision
Kery Davis, Howard
Jason Donnelly, Furman
Martin Newton, Samford
Chrissy Rawak, Delaware

Division I-AAA
John D'Argenio, Siena
Chris May, St. Louis
Chris Reynolds, Bradley
Jared Sumsion, Utah Valley

Division II
Rachel Burleson, Franklin Pierce
Kirby Garry, Cal State Monterey Bay
Lisa Goddard McGuirk, Gannon
Michael Mominey, Nova Southeastern
 
Division III
Jennifer Baker, Johns Hopkins
Drew Galbraith, Trinity (CT)
Kristin Hughes, Smith
Angel Mason, Berry

NAIA
Chris Kraftick, Cumberlands
Troy Plummer, Grand View
Kris Swogger, Keiser
Drew Watson, Southeastern

Junior/Community Colleges
Christina Hundley, Paradise Valley CC
Joe Jennum, Mt. San Antonio College
Shane Larson, Iowa Western CC
Kristen Schuth, Genesee CC
 

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