New Executive Director Chosen To Lead Ross Historical Society

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(Chillicothe) – The Ross County Historical Society Board of Trustees has selected Professor Darren Baker as the organization’s new executive director. Professor Baker will fill the vacancy created by the departure of Tom Kuhn who is retiring at the end of June after 30 years. Baker is a southern Ohio native and lives on a farm at the Ross/Pike county line. He and his wife Carma have three children ranging in age from 15 to 26. Their oldest, Gwen, is expecting their first grandchild this fall. Professor Baker is interested in a wide variety of subjects, from fine woodworking, vineyards and historical farming to graphic design, photography, and the history of printing.

Professionally, Baker is a former Professor of Art at Ohio University and Shawnee State University and the former Director of Visual Arts at the Southern Ohio Museum and Cultural Center in Portsmouth, Ohio. Recently, he has been instrumental in building and managing the Don E. Adleta TypeShop and Bindery in Seigfred Hall at Ohio University, as well as helping to establish The Printing Stewards, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and reviving historical type casting and printing equipment.

Baker’s diverse professional background and range of personal interests will serve him well in his new position where he will have a wide variety of duties and responsibilities. “We look forward to his leadership and the renewed energy he will bring to our organization, and we encourage everyone to meet and welcome him into the community,” said historical society president, Dana Martinko.