DaWon Baker
Consultant, Public Speaker, and Director in Denver, CO
Hello, I’m DaWon. I’m a speaker, strategist and consultant living in Denver, CO. I am a fan of Sports, Diversity, and Networking. I’m also interested in innovation and Leadership. DaWon Baker serves as the first-ever Associate Athletic Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at the University of Colorado-Boulder.
Baker joined the Colorado staff from the University of Nebraska, where he had served in a similar role as the Huskers’ Diversity & Inclusion Director in Life Skills and Enrichment since September 2018.
In August 2019, Baker co-founded the Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Council of Excellence (DIECE), a membership organization that provides support and resources for diversity officers who work in athletics. He is also an advisory board member for Return On Inclusion (ROI) and an advisory committee member for the Winning Edge Leadership Academy.
Baker is a 2015 graduate of the University of Missouri, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism and also participated in track and field (long jump). It is also where he received his first experience working in intercollegiate athletics as a marketing intern for the volleyball team and as a student customer service representative for the ticket office. His passion for DEI started while he was attending Missouri; born and raised in St. Louis, the tragic death of Michael Brown nearby his hometown of St. Louis, an event that drew national attention, prompted his initial interest.
Baker earned his Master’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s in Sport Business Management from the University of Central Florida in 2016. While attending UCF, he served as an academic mentor and game day intern in the athletic department, as well as a student assistant in the Office of Student-Athlete Welfare and Development. In addition, he was also a graduate research assistant for The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES), where he was under the tutelage of Dr. Richard Lapchick, the well-respected national expert in diversity management, race relations, academics, sports and social issues.