His service in the U.S. Navy helped prepare Rodney Baker to step up and lead in the most challenging of times.
As manager of Facility Services, Baker supervises the 125 staff members responsible for making sure some 5.2 million square feet of indoor campus space is clean, sanitized and safe for use. When the pandemic started, he and his team incorporated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines into their cleaning protocols. A year and a half later, they are still sanitizing twice a day — instead of once — as well as deep cleaning classrooms, labs and common spaces with electrostatic disinfectant sprayers each night.
“For myself and my staff, there is a pride and professionalism that goes into being a housekeeper that some people may miss,” Baker said.
Baker received this year’s Chancellor’s Staff Award for Outstanding Service. Created in 2003, the award recognizes a staff member for exemplary service and contributions to the welfare of the campus community. The winner is chosen from a nominee from each of TCU’s eight divisions.
“Rodney has elevated the participation of supervisors and assistant supervisors and has provided a listening ear to the complete facility services staff and our clients,” said Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. when he announced the winner. “With Rodney’s years of service and experience, he gladly assumed new career and life challenges.”
Baker joined the TCU staff as a campus water treatment technician 17 years ago. He took the reins as manager of Facility Services soon before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
“When Rodney accepted the charge to replace and assume the partial duties and responsibilities of the top three levels of management in our department, it was at an extremely challenging time,” his nominator wrote. “I feel that he has more than met the challenge.”
Baker believes he is truly part of a team.
“I was honored to be in the room with everyone that was nominated,” Baker said, “and just to know that the work that my staff has done has placed me in this position where the campus recognizes me for the work, but it’s actually everything they do every day.”