College of Education and Human Development

Robert Baker, Professor Emeritus of Sport, Recreation, and Tourism Management, is Recognized for His Lifetime Achievements in Sport Management

Robert Baker, Professor Emeritus of Sport, Recreation, and Tourism Management at George Mason University, was recently honored with the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) Master Professor Award in recognition of his lifetime achievement and contributions to the field of sport management. During the awards ceremony held earlier this year, Baker was also inducted into the COSMA Hall of Fame. As described on its website, COSMA is a specialized accrediting body whose purpose is to promote and recognize excellence in sport management education worldwide in colleges and universities at the baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral levels through specialized accreditation.

Baker previously announced his retirement from George Mason after a long career spanning several decades during which he served as interim dean of the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) and director of the university’s Sport Management Program within the School of Sport, Recreation, and Tourism Management (SRTM). His leadership on countless initiatives helped build the reputation of George Mason’s Sport Management Program as one of the best of its kind among higher education institutions across the country.

Throughout his career, Baker worked diligently in support of several prominent organizations within the sport management field that are engaged in academic research on the impact of sports and sport practices worldwide. Among these, Baker was founding commissioner of COSMA where his leadership contributed to the growth and success of that organization. He was also a founding Board member of the World Association for Sport Management (WASM) and President of the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM), organizations dedicated to producing scholarship on the theory and teaching of sport practices.

Upon learning the news that he had been selected for the award bestowed upon him by COSMA, Baker stated, “I am very humbled to have been nominated by a triad of administrators, past Hall of Fame awardees, and current colleagues. It is a very satisfying, although entirely unexpected acknowledgement that I have had a successful career.”

Baker offered his thoughts on the Sport Management program within George Mason—a program to which he has devoted his passion and enthusiasm in providing students with a wide range of learning opportunities and in building a faculty of renowned experts in the sport industry. “While our location is unbeatable, our strength lies in our people,” he emphasized. “I believe that both expanding our research-based knowledge and our actions to improve the conduct of sport through the application of knowledge are significant.”

He continued, “The faculty within our Sport Management program walk the walk. We excel both in our knowledge generation and in its application. In other words, we keep a foot in both the academic and sport worlds. A lot of our faculty have been with George Mason for well over a decade, all of them have had experience in the sport world, and they’re all excellent teachers who genuinely want the best for our students.”

When asked about the most fulfilling parts of his career as faculty within SRTM, Baker emphasized the satisfaction derived from serving as a mentor. He elaborated, “Mentoring students and aspiring faculty members have been the most rewarding aspects of what I do. I hope that I provided an example of how to engage in both knowledge discovery and application by staying active in sport research and practice. The administrative roles that I have held, such as school director and interim dean, allowed me the opportunity to have a significant effect within and beyond SRTM and CEHD.”

Baker shared some of the advice he often gives students who are just starting their careers in sport management. “Stay grounded in what is important to you,” he emphasized. “Always conduct yourself with integrity. Have a strong work ethic. Be determined, prepared, persistent, and unyieldingly engaged. It’s the ‘soft skills’ that can separate you. Put the work in. We can teach you the content and expose you to the sport settings, but you have to go beyond that and invest in yourself!”

Baker expressed his gratitude for the opportunity he was given to play a key role in advancing the mission of CEHD and SRTM during his career at George Mason. He remarked, “It has been a pleasure contributing to the outstanding culture we have built in CEHD and SRTM. I am satisfied retiring at a point in my career where, not only am I being recognized for my contributions to my chosen profession, but I am still viewed as being a valuable contributor by my colleagues and other stakeholders in SRTM and the college.”

The admiration and respect that SRTM faculty have for Baker is evident throughout the school. Craig Esherick, associate professor and Academic Program Coordinator of the Sport Management Program within SRTM, provided his perspective on Baker’s many contributions and achievements. Esherick stated, “Bob has been an instrumental part of our Sport Management Program. He founded the program when he started at George Mason and has worked tirelessly to evolve it into the dynamic program it is today. Bob’s service has been focused on highlighting the importance of the sport management discipline in our everyday lives. He has held leadership positions in organizations such as NASSM and WASM. He has also conducted a variety of research, publishing multiple books and book chapters.”

“Bob’s vision gave rise to many exciting endeavors that helped promote the importance of sports and sport practices not only here in the United States, but throughout the world,” Esherick continued. “Among these, Bob was the driving force in securing a $7 million U.S. State Department grant in support of the Sport Diplomacy initiative which was established to strengthen relations between the U.S. and other nations through sport-based cultural exchange programs. This unique program demonstrates how sports can be leveraged as a means of facilitating greater understanding between cultures and in achieving conflict resolution globally.”

Esherick also referenced Baker’s success in enhancing the Sport Management curriculum at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and his efforts that led to the creation of minors in Sport Coaching, Sport Communication, and Sport Analytics—important subfields popular among students. Concluding his remarks, Esherick stated, “I am grateful I had the honor and privilege to have Bob as my colleague here at George Mason. His accomplishments will leave a lasting mark on SRTM and CEHD greatly benefiting students and faculty alike.”

George Mason alums who took classes taught by Baker also hold him with high regard, praising his natural ability to connect with his students and willingness to support them as a trusted mentor. One former student is Niamh Massie, a George Mason alum who received her Master of Science in Sport and Recreation Studies with a concentration in Sport Management. She stated, “I was lucky to be one of Bob’s students while completing my master's degree at George Mason. Bob is the best kind of teacher; he’s one of the teachers you remember years after you've left their classroom. As one of his students, you knew he truly loved and had a passion for teaching. He truly enjoys being around his students and is the opposite of the stereotype of a stuffy professor. He always had a great sense of humor and an innate ability to relate to his students. He always welcomed discussions and different perspectives in classroom discussions. His lessons were always fun, and you felt more like you were sitting and having a discussion with friends as opposed to a structured lesson plan.”

She continued, “Bob’s care for his students’ success didn't stop at the classroom door. He would be your biggest hype man and has helped numerous students find their start in their careers. I would not have the career I have today if I hadn't been a student in Bob's classroom. I'm honored to call Bob a mentor and friend and can think of no one more deserving than him for this award.”

The honors conferred by COSMA complements Baker’s many other achievements which include his selection for the Distinguished Sport Management Educator Award presented by NASSM and the Outstanding Achievement in Sport Management Award from the North American Society for Sport and Physical Education.

The CEHD community offers its warmest congratulations to Robert Baker for being named the recipient of the COSMA Master Professor Award and his induction into the COSMA Hall of Fame. These well-deserved recognitions reflect his steadfast devotion as well as his stature and many achievements in the field of Sport Management and higher education leadership.