MEd, 2021 Parris Baker-Coley graduated from the University of Georgia's Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education in December 2021 (M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration). He also holds a degree (B.A. in Political Science) from the University of Florida where he conducted original research as a Ronald E. McNair Scholar for two years. During that time, he studied political theory, black political participation, and Hip-Hop culture. He presented his research findings at the Leadership Alliance National Symposium and the Ronald E. McNair National Conference. Parris began his college journey in the Interdisciplinary Honors Program at Valencia College in Orlando, Florida. He currently works as the Business Support Leader in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES) at the University of Georgia overseeing the financial and administrative matters for the Department of Plant Pathology and for the Department of Horticulture. Before his time in CAES, he worked as the Business Manager in the Center for Vaccines and Immunology at the University of Georgia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to working at the University of Georgia, Parris worked at Georgia State University in the Department of Anthropology. In 2020, he won the College of Arts and Sciences award for Outstanding Junior Staff member for his work as Administrative Coordinator and as Business Manager in the Department of Anthropology. While at Georgia State, he volunteered with a coalition of faculty, staff, students, and Atlanta leaders to find solutions for those experiencing homelessness on campus and in Downtown Atlanta. His career in higher education began in 2014 at Bethune-Cookman University, a Methodist-related Historically Black College and University (HBCU) located in Daytona Beach, Florida. During his time there, he served as the Executive Assistant to the Vice President and General Counsel, and later served as the Executive Assistant to the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Undergraduate Studies. While there he spearheaded the implementation of an internship work program designed to help students reduce their outstanding debt. Parris’ research interests include religion, political theory, Hip-hop culture, black political participation, the religious foundations of higher education, and anthropological theory and praxis. Contact Information Email: parris.baker@uga.edu
