Deborah Baker, Ph.D., is a retired academic in the field of speech communication who taught a variety of courses in interpersonal, small group, and intercultural communication. She also served in several positions in academic administration. Deborah now serves as a volunteer patient advisor on the patient and family-centered council for Kaiser Permanente, Hawaii region. She is continuing her lifetime commitment and devotion to creating spaces for others to discover, to listen, and to express their own voices.