<p><span class="p-body">Baker is originally from Boise, Idaho, but her passion for sports and relentless pursuit of opportunities brought her to the bustling East Coast. Growing up a dedicated sports fan, her love for the game goes back as far as her birth—the day before the Super Bowl, no less—and has been a constant throughout her life.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">When Baker began her search for a master's program in sports, the MS in Global Sport at NYU caught her eye. As someone who works full-time, she needed an online program with flexible learning options, but she also craved real human connection—something many online programs lack. For her, the MS in Global Sport program was the perfect balance, offering a unique way to engage with both academic coursework and real-world global experiences. "There was just no other program like it," she reflects. "It just clicked that this program was perfect for me and also happened to be at my dream institution."</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">Looking back, one of her favorite sports memories was watching FC Barcelona at Camp Nou in 2016, during the era of Messi, Suarez, and Neymar. "The passion and atmosphere were unmatched," Baker recalls. "It was one of those pinch-me moments and I will cherish [it] for a lifetime." This memory serves as her reminder of the power of sports to create these kinds of experiences.</span></p>