Faculty & Staff at our Southfield Nursing School

Deirdre Baker

Executive Director of Enrollment Services

Doctor of Business Administration, Franklin University (2023 candidate)

M.B.A., Business Administration and Management – Argosy University

Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Organizational Communication – Michigan State University

Deirdre Baker started with Arizona College of Nursing in March of 2021. She began her career as a college recruiter and has been an admissions director for more than 11 years, always managing multiple campuses and departments simultaneously. Most recently, Baker served as admissions director at Douglas J Aveda Institute. Prior to that she was Director of Graduate Admissions at Wayne State University, which was preceded by her role as Director of High School Recruitment at the Art Institutes.

She holds a Masters degree in Business Administration and is passionate about organizational culture, change management, and performance. Baker serves as Executive Director of Enrollment Services at Arizona College of Nursing’s first Michigan campus. In this role, she enjoys the opportunities she has to ensure that prospective students can pursue a career they are passionate about.

Kelli Van Buren

Dean of General Education

Doctor of Philosophy – PhD, Qualitative Research and Statistics, Wayne State University

Master’s Degree, Organizational Leadership – Wayne State University

Bachelor’s Degree, Secondary English Education – Kentucky State University

Kelli is a lifelong Detroiter and educator. She has been an English teacher in the Detroit Public School system as well as Edison Schools and Cornerstone Schools. She has served as Director of Enrollment and Student Services at Oakland Community College and Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing at Miller College in Battle Creek, MI. Currently she teaches English Literature and Research Writing at Wayne County Community College and is Dean of Education at the Arizona College of Nursing. Ms. Van Buren has a passion for her community and for young people as proven by her participation on the Board of Directors for Mosaic Youth Theater of Detroit, Matrix Human Services, and the Chandler Park Academy. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary English Education from Kentucky State University, a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Wayne State University, and will complete a PhD in Qualitative Research and Statistics from Wayne State University in December 2022.