Dr. Linda Baer was the principal senior consultant for i4Solutions focusing on inspiring leaders to new levels of innovation, integration, and implementation of solutions to improve student success and transform institutions for the future. She recently served as a senior program officer in postsecondary success at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Previous to that, she was the senior vice chancellor for academic and student affairs for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities as well as senior vice president for academic and student affairs at Bemidji State University as well as interim president. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from South Dakota State University. Her research and most recent publications have focused on smart change, shared leadership, innovation in higher education and analytics as a tool to improve student success. She presents nationally and internationally in academic innovations, educational transformation, the development of alliances and partnerships, the campus of the future, shared leadership and action analytics.
Dr. Baer has over thirty years of leadership in higher education. She is known throughout the country for her work in improving student engagement and success and building analytical capacity in higher education. She has been recognized for her role in developing the award-winning Minnesota Online and ISEEK. She served on the Board of Directors for the Society for College and University Planning and is currently on the Board of Directors for the Shank Institute for Learning Innovations.
