If not for Martin Methodist, I would not be where I am today. –Brandon Baker

Brandon Baker is originally from Asbury, AL, and he is one of Martin Methodist College’s alumni heroes. He always knew he wanted to go to college, but his family questioned whether a four-year institution was in their budget at the time when Brandon was looking at college options.

Therefore, when he learned about the Church Leadership Scholarship (aka Alford Scholarship) at UTS (formerly MMC), he went for it and won the competition, receiving a full-ride scholarship to Martin Methodist.

‘That was a life changing moment for me because it allowed me to attend a four-year institution, and I quickly realized Martin Methodist was simply where I was supposed to be. It was my home for the next four years,” said Brandon.

“I flourished at UTS (formerly MMC). The academic rigor was excellent, but my experience there was much bigger than the knowledge I gained in the classroom. I grew as a person and as a leader. The success I have had in my career is a direct result of my Martin experience. I had mentors at UTS (formerly MMC) who saw talent in me and encouraged me to develop my leadership skills. I thought my path in life was to enter the medical field, but because of my Martin experience, I realized my talent was in helping other people achieve their own goals. I learned that my true calling was to work with philanthropists to help provide opportunities for students to attend college, to create a better life for not only themselves, but their families and the world around them.”

After graduating from UTS (formerly MMC) in 2006, Brandon moved to New York City and attended New York University (NYU) where he received his master’s degree in Higher Education Administration. During his graduate program, he was offered an internship in the office of external relations at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business. Those experiences and opportunities at Columbia and NYU propelled him to where he is today, at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as the assistant dean of external affairs at the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science. At this point in his career, Brandon has raised over $100M to support financial aid for students, research for innovative technologies and new buildings for research and teaching.

Brandon concluded, “I am proud to be a Martin Methodist College RedHawk! The campus will always hold a special place in my heart. The friends I made and the experiences I had in and out of the classroom shaped me into the person I am today.”