Rate My Professor Sarah Baker

Professor Sarah Baker is Professor of Cultural Sociology in the School of Humanities, Languages and Social Science at Griffith University, a position she has held since 2008. Her academic journey began with a PhD investigating pre-teen girls' negotiations of music and identity, which informed her foundational contributions to popular music studies, girls' and youth studies, and cultural labour. Prior to her professorship, Baker held research fellowships at The Open University and the University of Leeds. At Griffith, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership, serving as Deputy Head of School (Research) in the School of Humanities, Languages and Social Science, Deputy Director of the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research from 2016 to 2018, and Higher Degree Research Programme Director for the Arts, Education and Law Group from January 2015 to April 2016. She was also awarded the Griffith University Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor Special Support Award for 2019–2020. Currently, Baker is a member of the Australian Research Council College of Experts from 2023 onwards.

Baker specialises in critical heritage studies, with a focus on community archives, cultural justice, and popular music heritage. Her research has attracted substantial Australian Research Council funding, including the Discovery Project 'Playing for Life: the everyday music practices of marginalised youth as strategic pathways to agency, employment and socio-economic inclusion' (DP0345917, 2003–2005) and a Fellowship for German-Australian collaboration on similar themes (LX0560412, 2005–2006), as well as the recent Discovery Project 'Co-creating a sustainable future for the community heritage sector' valued at $512,968 in 2024. Key publications include the field-defining Creative Labour: Media Work in Three Cultural Industries (Routledge, 2011), Community Custodians of Popular Music’s Past: A DIY Approach to Heritage (Routledge, 2017), Curating Pop: Exhibiting Popular Music in the Museum (Bloomsbury, 2019), and Popular Music Heritage, Cultural Justice and the Deindustrialising City (Cambridge University Press, 2023). Her scholarly impact is underscored by awards such as the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Griffith University Teacher of the Year (2012), the Griffith University Arts, Education and Law Group Research Excellence Award (2019), and multiple publication prizes. Projects like reimagining Norfolk Island's historic areas highlight her influence on cultural heritage preservation and community well-being.