With decades of experience addressing inclusion, diversity, equity, throughout her work, Twyla brings a critical perspective considering education and leadership in URU’s DEIA and leadership development program.

Outside of URU, Twyla is the President of Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College in New Town, on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. Baker is also the principal investigator for the National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative (NIEJI), both at the Center for Rural Health (CRH) at The University of North Dakota (UND) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) in Grand Forks. Baker has published her research on diabetes, cancer, and suicide prevention in academic journals and popularly. She was previously the project director of the National Resource Center on Native American Aging.

Twyla holds a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental geology and technology and earned a Master of Science degree in education general studies, and a Ph.D. in Teaching & Learning/research methodologies. She is a citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa, & Arikara Nation and Bush Foundation Native Nation Rebuilder (Cohort 2).

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