Terry Baker
Terry Baker
Terry Baker is a seasoned forester currently serving as the CEO of the Society of American Foresters, a professional society for forestry professionals. He previously worked as a forester in various leadership capacities with the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
Terry Baker’s appreciation for the outdoors started on his grandfather’s farm, where during the summer and after school, he and his brother would help with various farm tasks, from harvesting crops to taking care of livestock. When preparing for college, he received a call from a USDA Forest Service recruiter at Florida A&M University. The recruiter worked on the department’s Multicultural Workforce Strategic Initiative that focused on increasing diversity in the forestry and natural resources sector. This led him to pursue a degree in agriculture from Florida A&M. Durig this time, he also earned a B.S. in Forest Management/Forester Resources Management from the University of Florida. He obtained his Master of Forestry from Yale University.
Baker's first position after graduating with his bachelor's was as a Forester in the Apalachicola National Forest. He soon became a Legislative Assistant at the USDA Forest Service National Office, starting a long and impactful career with the department. With the Forest Service, he worked as a Forester in Florida, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, and Nebraska. Baker quickly advanced within the organization, starting as a Forester in 2005, to District Ranger of Nebraska National Forests in 2010, and to Deputy Forest Supervisor of Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland in 2017. He is currently the CEO of the Society of American Foresters. As a long-time SAF member, he oversees the organization and helps young professionals as the organization did when he started in the field.
The same recruiter, Ted Willis, who called Baker a young man, was a mentor throughout his early career, helping him navigate the field. Throughout his career, Baker's colleagues, including former Chief of the Forest Service Vicki Christiansen and current Chief Randy Moore, served as mentors and role models in his development as a forester. These individuals provided time and support, which Baker cites as helping shape him as a leader.
Baker advises young professionals, especially Black Americans, to be willing to try new things that may be out of their comfort zone. Moreover, he highlights the importance of being a collaborative team member and learning to be politically savvy to navigate groups and organizations. Doing so will highlight the value of your knowledge and work.
Black Faces in Green Spaces: The Journeys of Black Professionals in Green Careers. Sustainable Forestry Initiative and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences. (2023). Retrieved February 16, 2024.
Terry Baker. LinkedIn. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2024 from https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-baker-3335196/
Terry Baker. Society of American Foresters. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2024 from https://eforester.org/Main/About/Terry_Baker.aspx
Terry Baker [Photo]. Society of American Foresters. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2024 from https://eforester.org/Main/About/Terry_Baker.aspx
Terry Baker [Photo]. Society of American Foresters. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2024 from https://eforester.org/Main/About/Terry_Baker.aspx