June 26, 2014

Dr. Jerry Baker has announced his resignation from Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, which is effective July 31, 2014. Since 2008, Baker has served as the Society’s chief executive officer, executive director, and publisher of its magazine, American Scientist.

Baker is leaving the Society to become dean of the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia. This is a return to academia for Baker, who previously worked at Texas A&M University – College Station and University of Georgia – Tifton Campus.

“I leave Sigma Xi knowing that the organization is putting in place a strategic, five-year plan for revitalization. The plan creates new opportunities for engagement by the chapters and members through social media and online networks. It calls for increasing the number of active chapters and members,” said Baker. “The Society has a positive future.”

During his time as executive director, Baker represented the Society at numerous conferences and science and engineering competitions for students. He also traveled to meet with chapter officers. 

He initiated the creation of Sigma Xi’s newest publication, Chronicle of The New Researcher, which is a refereed journal that exclusively publishes the outstanding research of pre-collegiate students.

“It has been an honor to know Jerry and to have worked with him these past six years,” said Dr. Linda K. Meadows, Sigma Xi president. “He is a person of the highest integrity and his compassion for others is inspiring. He is deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of scientists and has tirelessly traveled the country to open doors and opportunities for young researchers. His faithfulness to the mission of Sigma Xi and dedication to its benefit to the world community have translated to its meaningful value to the scientific enterprise.”

The Board of Directors expects to recruit a new executive director by January of 2015. In the meantime, an interim executive director will be named.

More About Sigma Xi: Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society is the international honor society of science and engineering. One of the oldest and largest scientific organizations in the world, Sigma Xi has a distinguished history of service to science and society for more than a century. Scientists and engineers, whose research spans the disciplines of science and technology, comprise the membership of the Society. Sigma Xi chapters can be found at colleges and universities, government laboratories, and industry research centers around the world. More than 200 Noble Prize winners have been members. The Society is based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. www.sigmaxi.org. On Twitter: @SigmaXiSociety.