Bio: Baker is a research associate at the Buechner Institute for Governance, University of Colorado Denver. She received her PhD from the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denver, a MA from Utah State University in sociology and a BA in sociology from Mesa State College now known as Colorado Mesa University. Prior to joining the Institute, Baker worked on state fiscal policy, self-sufficiency, health care and early childhood policies at the Bell Policy Center and the Colorado Children’s Campaign.