Bruce Baker

Biography

Education: BS, California Institute of Technology, 1978; MBA, Stanford University, 1981; MDiv, Fuller Theological Seminary, 2001; PhD, University of St. Andrews (Scotland), 2010. At SPU since 2004. Bruce Baker’s research explores the intersection of the modern moral imaginary with our business-driven culture. His doctoral dissertation — “The Transformation of Persons and the Concept of Moral Order” — examines how theological and cultural ideas about human nature affect our understanding of moral responsibility, with crucial implications for teaching and moral discernment. He co-founded Four Pi Systems Corporation in 1986, and earned five patents for his inventions in X-ray physics, computer software, and machine vision. When Hewlett-Packard bought the company in 1992, he joined Microsoft as general manager to lead the newly formed business unit responsible for developing Microsoft’s first entry into the market for palm-sized mobile computing devices. He left Microsoft to attend seminary, and was ordained to pastoral ministry in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 2001. He began teaching business ethics at Seattle Pacific University in 2004 while serving as the executive pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue. He has also served twice in interim roles at University Presbyterian Church in Seattle. He currently teaches a variety of ethics courses at SPU, primarily in the graduate programs for the MBA and MIS degrees. Dr. Baker is a principal contributor to the scholarship and research activities of SPU’s Center for Integrity in Business. He also serves on the boards of Scholarleaders International and Reconciliation Ministries, which he founded to support Palestinian-Israeli peace-making efforts.

Research Interest

Rev. Dr. Baker brings a rare combination of experience to his teaching: theological study, pastoral experience, and many years in business management and scientific innovation.