Penn State Graduates

I need your help for Change

BIO

Darlene (Rauch) Baker earned a BS in Computer Science (1980) and enjoys a highly successful career in IT development and innovation.  She has held leadership positions in three industries – pharmaceutical services, insurance, and financial services – for companies including Prudential, Vanguard and IMS.  Currently, she is the VP of Operations for PSKW LLC which was named the fastest and second fastest growing company in NJ in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

Through tenacity and focus, along with a sense of personal accountability, Darlene has brought a strategic approach to operational excellence by ensuring explicit communication, leveraging technology, aligning tactical objectives to strategic goals, providing best-in-class customer service and removing operational obstacles.   During her career, she has maintained a passion for her alma mater and has actively recruited Penn State students for internships, co-ops and full-time positions.

Brainwashed by having their annual pictures taken at the Nittany Lion, Darlene’s two children, Kevin (’12 EBF) and Julie (’12 Kinesiology) proudly graduated from Penn State last year.   Despite their senior year of turmoil, they made the most of their time at Penn State and both actively participated in THON.  Darlene and her husband Dave hosted several THON canning weekends and enjoyed meeting students dedicated to this worthy cause and well-run organization.

An athlete, sports enthusiast, and children’s advocate, some of Darlene’s proudest accomplishments have been coaching swimming and a travel soccer team along with being a Big Sister.   She is currently the volunteer chairperson for Friends of Warminster Parks.

Position Statement

Penn Staters – we need a change on the Board of Trustees.  I am passionate about Penn State.  I want to serve on the Penn State Board of Trustees to make a difference by reinstituting common sense, ensuring open communication, insightful planning and thoughtful decision making.  It is important to me that the proud traditions and values that were instilled in each of us continue.   

 We need new leadership.  We need board members that want to do the job not just to boost their resumes.  Penn State needs a board that is proactive, accepts accountability for decisions, provides sound governance and is strategically aligned with its mission.   I vow not to be a blind follower.  As those who know me will attest, I will constructively challenge decisions and actively voice my opinions to ensure that common sense prevails and the right thing is done.   I have been extremely successful as an operational leader so I know how to get things done!

 As a business professional for thirty years, twenty of which have been spent in executive leadership roles developing company strategies, I want to ensure Penn State continues to be recognized as a leading institution with high values and a place where Joe Paterno’s legacy will continue.   I ask for your support.