Arapahoe County Open Spaces is thrilled to announce the appointment of new CSU Extension Director Dina Baker, following a four-month extensive search. Dina began her new position at the County on August 8.

Dina will head the Arapahoe County CSU Extension division, overseeing nine staff members, and will be responsible for managing volunteer committees, serving as liaison between CSU Extension leadership and Arapahoe County, providing overall leadership on priority educational programming based on community needs and being the public face of Arapahoe County CSU Extension. Her greatest passion is connecting children and adults of all ages to nature and being able to provide educational opportunities to diverse audiences.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dina to the team,” says Open Spaces Director Shannon Carter. “Throughout her interviews, we were impressed with how much she embraced science, education, and the importance of serving diverse communities. She is a wonderful fit for us as we look to maximize our impact, relevancy and reach, and build on the successes of existing CSU Extension services. With Dina’s background in environmental education, we also see great opportunity to develop new programming and partnerships to strengthen the connection between Open Spaces and our community.”

Dina most recently worked for Evergreen Audubon and the Denver Zoo. She considers herself a naturalist with a focus on birds and native plants. She holds certifications as an Audubon Master Birder and Native Plant Master through CSU Extension. Her education background includes a Master of Science degree in Biology and undergraduate degrees in Spanish Literature and Studio Art.

Originally from Illinois, Dina lives in Conifer with her husband and two dogs. In her free time, you’ll find her trail running, painting, making ceramics, and volunteering.

Dina’s office is located at the Arapahoe County CSU Extension Office (6934 South Lima St., Suite B). Welcome Dina!

Special thanks to Horticulture Agent Lisa Mason for serving with great success as Interim Director for the past eight months.