Shawn Baker

Shawn K. Baker, director of Nutrition, leads the foundation’s work to deliver proven interventions and creating new tools and strategies to ensure that pregnant women and young children receive the nutrition they need for healthy growth and development.

Prior to joining the foundation he was with Helen Keller International, as Vice President and Regional Director for Africa. In that role he oversaw expansion from four to 13 country programs and an 80-fold increase in program funding. Flagship programs that he has shaped include vitamin A supplementation through child health days reaching over 50 million children twice-yearly and food fortification programs reaching over 130 million consumers. He led development of strategic regional relationships, particularly with the 15-nation West African Health Organization. In addition, he served as country director for in Niger and Bangladesh.

Other responsibilities during Mr. Baker’s 30 years career include: Co-Promoter of the Niger Health Information System, Coordinator of the Tulane University Center for International Health and Development, and Coordinator of the Famine Early Warning System in Southern Africa, and representative in Niger. He served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaïre).

Shawn received a Master’s of Public Health degree from the Tulane University School of PublicHealth and Tropical Medicine in 1989 with concentrations in international health and nutritional epidemiology. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Miami. He is the author or co-author of over 80 peer-reviewed publications, presentations at international conferences and monographs. Shawn received the “Officier de l’Ordre du Mérite du Niger” by the Presidency of the Republic of Niger and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He currently chairs the Technical Review Panel for The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis.