I was a professor and department head at Cal Poly for 30 years starting in 1983 when a department head served at the pleasure of the university president. I got to work with then President Warren Baker on some critical projects, and to know him well.
The late Warren Baker was what I call, “a real mensch.” What is a “mensch” some may ask?
• A person of integrity and honor.
• A decent responsible person with admirable characteristics.
• A decent, upright, mature, and responsible person.
• A person to admire and emulate; someone of noble character.
• A person with nothing less than character and dignity.
• A person who practices morally correct behavior or thinking.
• A person who is kind and considerate.
An effective president, whether of a nation or an institution, must be one who brings people together; be supportive, be a problem solver, a healer, a critical thinker, a builder, a visionary, and a “can-do” person. To me, Warren Baker was all of these—a real mensch!
Harvey R. Levenson
professor emeritus
Cal Poly
This article appears in Nov 3-13, 2022.