Elizabeth Baker, Ph.D., Receives Terry Leet Teaching Award
Each year, students in Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice nominate a faculty member who exhibits the qualities of the beloved Dr. Terry Leet. From the many exceptional teachers nominated, one faculty member is selected. The 2025-2026 recipient of the Terry Leet teaching award is Elizabeth Baker, Ph.D.
Baker is a professor of behavioral science and health equity in SLU's College for Public Health and Social Justice.
Dr. Terry Leet was a faculty member at the Saint Louis University School of Public Health for more than 10 years. He battled non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and passed away on April 29, 2009. Dr. Leet was a gifted leader and researcher, but he was best known for his extraordinary ability to distill complicated information into simple concepts. He was considered challenging yet fair, fastidious yet down to earth. Dr. Leet left a legacy of teaching excellence, which the college honors every year at graduation by recognizing the College Teacher of the Year.
“Dr. Baker exemplifies the qualities demonstrated by Dr. Leet. Students consistently praise her ability to translate complex concepts into real‑world applications, and I have heard more than one student say that Dr. Baker inspired their decision to pursue a concentration in behavioral science and health equity,” said Dean Leslie McClure, Ph.D.
According to one student who nominated Baker for the award: “Dr. Baker demonstrates knowledge for public health and her classes are structured with our final projects in mind. She is energetic and intentional when teaching and speaking about her field, and provides honest, equitable and great feedback to her students. She offers additional perspectives to think about but always values everyone’s opinion and values us individually. A great learning tool is her use of her real-life examples, which adds to why Dr. Baker is a great professor and deserving of this.”
College for Public Health and Social Justice
The Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice is the only academic unit of its kind, studying social, environmental and physical influences that together determine the health and well-being of people and communities. It also is the only accredited school or college of public health among nearly 250 Catholic institutions of higher education in the United States.
Guided by a mission of social justice and focus on finding innovative and collaborative solutions for complex health problems, the College offers nationally recognized programs in public health, social work, health administration, applied behavior analysis, and criminology and criminal justice.