Dr. Brenda Baker

Brenda Baker, PhD, RN, FAAN, is the Director of Policy for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and a 2021-2022 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow working in Senator Bill Cassidy’s office.

Dr. Baker’s work has focused on the care of women and newborns, maternal well-being and advocating for incarcerated pregnant and postpartum women. In a unique partnership between the Georgia Department of Corrections and the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, the Georgia Prison Motherhood Project was formed. Through the partnership, volunteers provide prenatal education, labor support, and a postpartum support group for women in the Georgia Department of Corrections. To date, over 400 incarcerated women have benefited from the programs.

Prior to joining AACN, Dr. Baker was an associate professor at Emory University, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing and worked as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in perinatal settings. Dr. Baker serves on state and national committees representing the unique needs of incarcerated pregnant women.

Dr. Baker earned a diploma in nursing from Roanoke Memorial Hospital School of Professional Nursing, a MN from Emory University, a Ph.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond Virginia, and a Juris Masters from Emory Law School.