Taking Flight

America was in the midst of the 2016 Presidential Election when two people from different walks of life are immediately connected during a four hour flight. One is a young African-American woman and the other is an older white WWII pilot; both having very different political views. This chance encounter takes place within the context of a contentious election year and in the midst of social discord. This unexpected connection leads her to California. She comes to learn more about him, his perspective, and how he came to believe what he believes. What she discovers is a gentle, compassionate man who is deeply committed to his country and community. Along the way, she discovers things about herself through her journey to learn more about him. This is a narrative about an unlikely journey to finding common ground in the face of civil and political unrest.

Dr. Uchenna Baker currently serves as the Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA. She earned her M.Ed. in counseling psychology and a B.A. in English and sociology from Rutgers University. She completed her Ph.D. in educational policy with a focus on urban education through a joint program of Rutgers University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Her research focuses on the role of ontological inquiry in examining how deeply-rooted, unexamined assumptions about ourselves and others inform how we show up in the world. Her award-winning dissertation earned her the 2016 Illinois Qualitative Dissertation Award presented by the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry. Dr. Baker's publications chronicle her own ontological journey in claiming her agency as a woman of color. Dr. Baker remains committed to helping others discover their fullest potential and show up authentically in the world.