Melissa Baker

Melissa Baker is an experienced leader in the field of parks and recreation management, currently serving as the Director of Virginia State Parks since January 2020. Prior to this role, Baker directed the North Dakota Department of Parks and Recreation and held the position of Chief of Operations at Montana State Parks. With a strong background in program development and operations management, Baker has also contributed as Operations and Visitor Services Regional Team Leader at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and as an academic instructor at multiple universities, including the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point and the University of Maine. Melissa Baker holds a Ph.D. in Forestry from the University of Montana and a Master of Science in Forestry from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.