by Ryan Cornell for EMU and available here
Why they LovEMU: Akiel Baker ’21 says human connection feels central to EMU
Editor’s Note: This profile is the fifth of six about students and alumni leading up to LovEMU Giving Day on April 10. For more information about the day and to donate, visit love.emu.edu.
EMU alumnus Akiel Baker ’21 says a turning point in his life came while on a cross-cultural trip to Guatemala during his junior year. Being in a country where he didn’t speak the language or understand the culture was a humbling experience for the Bowie, Maryland, native.
“I came back a new person,” Baker said. “Before that, I was always doing the bare minimum.”
When he returned to the U.S., his whole approach to college changed. The social work major became more engaged in his coursework and more involved in the EMU campus community. He joined clubs such as the Black Student Alliance (BSA), the International Students Organization and the Student Government Association.
