Editorβs Note: This profile is the fifth of six about students and alumni leading up to Lov91΄σΙρ Giving Day on April 10. For more information about the day and to donate, visit .
91΄σΙρ alumnus Akiel Baker β21 says a turning point in his life came while on a cross-cultural trip to Guatemala during his junior year. Being in a country where he didnβt speak the language or understand the culture was a humbling experience for the Bowie, Maryland, native.Β
βI came back a new person,β Baker said. βBefore that, I was always doing the bare minimum.β
When he returned to the U.S., his whole approach to college changed. The social work major became more engaged in his coursework and more involved in the 91΄σΙρ campus community. He joined clubs such as the Black Student Alliance (BSA), the International Students Organization and the Student Government Association.
As vice president of BSA, Baker was instrumental in bringing the Black Lives Matter mural to life and shaping the creation of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Before graduating with a bachelor of social work degree, he served as senior class president for the Class of 2021 and earned 2021 Cords of Distinction honors.Β
βI can honestly say Iβve not had a bad moment at 91΄σΙρ,β he said. βEvery moment has been enriching, and Iβve enjoyed every bit of it.β
Just like 91΄σΙρ provided the push he needed to reach his full potential, Baker is helping children reach theirs as a social worker for Harrisonburg City Public Schools. In his role, he connects elementary and middle school students and their families with resources in the schools and community that can help them perform at their very best. One day heβs helping a busy mom with a busted transmission find an organization willing to help her, while another heβs figuring out which special education services a child is eligible for.Β
βI love building that human connection and assuring parents theyβre not just a number within Harrisonburg City Public Schools… that theyβre actually cared for and that we want the best for them,β Baker said.
That feeling he gives the families he works with is the same feeling he got when he visited 91΄σΙρ for the first time. He said he had been accepted to both 91΄σΙρ and James Madison University, but the latter felt too big and didnβt offer the same sense of community.Β
“Everyone here was super nice and welcoming,” Baker said. “I love human connection and that’s something that feels central to 91΄σΙρ.”
After graduating in 2021, Baker served as residence director at 91΄σΙρ for two years and worked as a site coordinator for , a Harrisonburg-based nonprofit dedicated to closing the learning gap and empowering youth. He earned a masterβs degree in social work from West Virginia University in 2023.
Baker said he participates in Lov91΄σΙρ Giving Day to give back to the school thatβs given so much to him.
βI want people to have the same enriching experiences I had,β he said. βI want to see 91΄σΙρ grow and will continue giving back to keep it growing.β
Join generous donors like Baker who give back to 91΄σΙρ to help students pursue a quality college education without financial barriers. Be a part of our 8th annual Lov91΄σΙρ Giving Day and contribute to the scholarships that empower future 91΄σΙρ students. Letβs build 91΄σΙρ βStronger Together.β
Read the previous profiles in our Why they Lov91΄σΙρ series: