Gwendolyn Calvert Baker

Gwendolyn Calvert Baker (December 31, 1931 – March 7, 2019) was an educator, activist, and nonprofit executive. Positions included being the National Executive Director of the YWCA, a member of the New York School Board, and president and CEO of UNICEF.

Early life and education Gwendolyn Calvert was born December 31, 1931, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to Burgess Edward Calvert and Viola Lee Calvert. She was the oldest of five children. Burgess Calvert was an automobile assembly-line worker who created a successful trash-carting business.

Baker graduated from Ann Arbor High School and enrolled at the University of Michigan. She left during her freshman year after marrying and becoming pregnant. She began her teaching career at Wines Elementary, Her dissertation was on the effects of training in multi-ethnic education.

Career in nonprofits In 1984, Baker became the National Executive Director of the YWCA. The organization had low membership and staff morale, so she worked to streamline the staff's work. Baker computerized operations, commissioned a study on how to save money, and focused marketing efforts on the YWCA's role as an advocate for women and people of color. Baker launched "Project Redesign" to restructure the organization and cut expenses by 45 percent in her first year while increasing programs. In 1990, she convinced the board to adopt its first affirmative action plan. Baker also became the first African American to serve as president in 1990. However, her authority was challenged by anonymous sources in the New York Times which accused her of being "indecisive, unable to mold an effective majority of the Board of Education, and autocratic." Baker was also still working full-time at the YWCA, which required her to split her time among the organizations. After only a year in the position, she resigned "For the sake of unity of the Board and the education of our (already) short-changed children."

In 1993, Baker became president and CEO of the U.S. Committee for UNICEF with the goal of focusing UNICEF's work on education. She was the first African American and second woman in the position. Baker introduced UNICEF Month, expanding the"Trick-o-Treat for UNICEF" campaign to the full month of October. Under her leadership, UNICEF partnered with The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, helping children in fourteen war-torn countries on the occasion of the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta. She retired in 1996.

In 1995, Baker was elected to join the U.S. Olympic Committee, which she served on until 2000. In her retirement, she also served on the boards of the Howard Gilman Foundation, and the American Educational Research Association (AERA).

Baker founded and became president of Calvert Baker & Associates, an educational consulting firm specializing in global education.

Baker also served on the boards of the United Nations Development Corporation, the New York Women's Forum, Inc., the Overseas Development Council, the International Development Conference, Recruiting New Teachers, and the Greater New York Savings Bank.

Personal life Baker married her high school sweetheart James Grady Baker in 1950.

Select publications

1994: Spirit of the City Award-Global leadership for the 21st century, Cathedral of St. John the Divine 1995: Ellis Island Medal of Honor 1995: Honorary degree, Chicago State University 1997: Honorary law degree, University of Michigan 2014: Gwendolyn Calvert Baker Collegiate Professorship of American Culture and Screen Arts established at the University of Michigan Leadership in Action Award, Women's Action Alliance