Honoring Barbara Jordan’s Legacy: Meet BJNF Co-Chair Miles Baker

Second-year Master of Public Affairs student and co-chair of the 30th Barbara Jordan National Forum (BJNF) at the LBJ School, Miles Baker is helping lead one of our most enduring traditions. 

“One of the things that inspires me most about Barbara Jordan is her integrity and ethics as a public servant. Her unwavering commitment to her principles is inspiring and something I hope to emulate in my career.” 

The annual BJNF honors the life and legacy of Congresswoman and LBJ professor Barbara Jordan by bringing together students, scholars, policymakers, and community members for a week of programming centered on public service, civic engagement, and ethical leadership. For Baker, the forum represents both a responsibility and an opportunity to carry forward Jordan’s values at a pivotal moment in American history. 

Baker’s interest in policy grew out of an interest in cities and the systems that shape them. As an undergraduate at Furman University studying Sustainability Science, he became deeply interested in questions of climate crisis, urban development, and how communities adapt to a changing world. 

This interest eventually led Baker to the LBJ School, where he is pursuing a Master of Public Affairs degree with a focus on sustainability, climate policy, and urban policy. He is expected to graduate in May 2026 and credits his path to LBJ in part to Dr. Patrick Bixler, whose mentorship helped shape his policy and research interests and solidified his decision to pursue graduate study. 

Now, as a co-chair of the 30th Barbara Jordan National Forum, Baker is stepping into a leadership role during a milestone year for one of the LBJ School’s most meaningful traditions. He is especially excited to explore the history of the BJNF and to document the lasting impact of Barbara Jordan through the stories of past leaders who have helped shape the forum over the years. 

The timing of this year’s BJNF feels especially significant to Baker. He sees the Forum as arriving at a critical moment in American history, one that calls for thoughtful reflection, open dialogue, and renewed commitment to democratic institutions. 

“Knowing that Barbara Jordan strongly believed in the Constitution, I believe this forum will allow space to examine our own commitments to the Constitution and to evaluate how we can better protect institutions from erosion.” 

Through its panels, events, and conversations, Baker hopes the 30th BJNF will foster meaningful discussions within the LBJ community and beyond by providing space for engagement across different perspectives. 

As the BJNF approaches, Baker encourages LBJ students to get involved. Opportunities to participate, including volunteer roles such as reading to elementary school students during the week, will be shared as the Forum approaches.