Mercer Times

Joseph Baker, a chemistry professor at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), has been named the fourth recipient of the Barbara Meyers Pelson ’59 Chair in Faculty-Student Engagement. In this role, Baker plans to enhance the campus community's skills in data literacy, computation, and artificial intelligence.

Baker emphasizes the importance of students navigating the evolving technological landscape not only as consumers but also as creators and problem-solvers. He notes that students need proficiency in data literacy, analysis and visualization, coding, and artificial intelligence principles. These are skills he has been developing with student researchers in his chemistry lab for over a decade.

His efforts will align with recommendations from TCNJ's Artificial Intelligence Task Force report, which suggests implementing collegewide support for AI and computational literacy. There is a particular emphasis on professional development through workshops, guest speakers, and training programs to foster continuous learning.

In collaboration with the TCNJ Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Baker aims to create learning communities focused on these areas. These communities will allow faculty members to share best practices for engaging students across various learning environments. External experts will be invited to discuss integrating data literacy and AI into undergraduate curricula at their institutions.

“Our students deserve a curriculum that doesn’t just teach them about the world but allows them to acquire the tools to analyze it, interpret it, and shape it through computation and data literacy," says Baker. "The work I am proposing to engage in as the Barbara Meyers Pelson ‘59 Chair in Faculty-Student Engagement will help our campus achieve that goal.”

Baker's three-year term begins on July 1, 2024. The chair supports faculty who have demonstrated excellence in collaborative scholarship and teaching with students. It involves organizing activities like collaborative research or creative projects with students and hosting campuswide events such as the annual Barbara Meyers Pelson Lecture.