Photo via UNC-Chapel Hill.
After experiencing a vacancy for several months, the UNC Board of Trustees has an addition to round out its ranks going into the university’s next academic year.
The UNC System’s Board of Governors approved Dr. Kristin Baker of Cabarrus County during its meeting on May 21, selecting the psychiatrist to fill the seat left by John Preyer, who resigned from the Board of Trustees in January. Baker will complete Preyer’s four-year term, which runs through the summer of 2027.
Baker — who earned her bachelor’s and medical degree from Carolina in 1985 and 1989, respectively — most recently served in the North Carolina House of Representatives and retired in 2025 after a round of redistricting altered her Cabarrus County-based District 82. A self-described “life-long Republican,” she chaired the House’s health committee and served as vice chair of the appropriations committee during her four years in elected office. Some of her most notable legislative efforts included vocally supporting North Carolina’s updated abortion restrictions in 2023 and helping lead the approval of a bill to outlaw transgender girls from playing on school or college athletics teams that align with their preferred gender identity.
“The first and premier public university in our country, UNC has been foundational for me both personally and professionally,” Baker said. “As a double Tar Heel, N.C. physician and former member of the NCGA, I am keenly aware of the role of our great university in educating our growing populace through changing times. It is a distinct honor to serve on the Board of Trustees as we pursue UNC’s mission to equip the next generation of leaders and enhance the quality of life for all North Carolinians.”
Beyond her time in the state legislature, Baker has served in several leadership roles around the Chapel Hill university. She previously served on the UNC Health and Carolina Alumni boards of directors. As a board-certified professional in both general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry, Baker has worked in a variety of medical settings — including her own private practice, Atrium Health, and Piedmont Behavior Healthcare. Additionally, she is currently a member of the North Carolina Leadership Forum’s steering committee and previously helped lead the nonprofit Mental Health America of the Central Carolinas and the Community Free Clinic in Cabarrus County.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Kristin Baker to the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees,” wrote Chair Malcolm Turner in the university’s release on Monday about Baker’s appointment. “Dr. Baker’s unique and deeply impressive background — spanning decades as a dedicated psychiatrist and impactful legislative leader in the N.C. General Assembly — makes her an invaluable addition to our team.
“Throughout her career, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public service and the well-being of North Carolinians,” Turner added. “As a proud alumna and a proven leader, Dr. Baker brings a wealth of knowledge in both healthcare and higher education policy that will undoubtedly benefit our board and the entire Carolina community.”
The 15-person Board of Trustees oversees UNC’s finances and development, while working with the chancellor’s administration and providing feedback to departments. While six seats on the board are reserved for the North Carolina House and Senate leaders to insert members, many of the remaining seats are chosen by appointment through the UNC System Board of Governors. Baker will likely be sworn in during the UNC Board of Trustees’ next meeting, which is slated for July and the new 2026-27 academic year.
Featured photo via UNC-Chapel Hill.
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