You may recognize the first lady of Massachusetts from the ads she did during her husband's 2014 campaign. But now that Charlie Baker is the state's governor, Lauren Baker has backed away from the political spotlight.
She has continued with her own work, including her support of Marion Court College, a small, seaside school in the Baker's hometown of Swampscott.
Baker, the chairman of the board, just won the school's Beacon Award for her advocacy of the small Catholic college.
"It is a really special place and that's because most of the students who come here are first generation college students," she said.
"You couldn't ask for a more dedicated or tireless advocate for the college," said President Denise Hammon. "She opens doors, she's hands on. She's so deeply believes in the mission of the college and helping children to succeed."
The first lady was brought up in Westport, Connecticut, until she was a sophmore in high school and was told the family was moving.
"My father took a new job in Chicago, and there wasn't any discussion about whether or not we were going," she said. "We were going."
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Baker finished up at Illinois' New Trier High School and went off to Northwestern University, where along with academics, she continued a childhood passion.
"I was a gymnast all the way through college," she said. "I competed all the way through middle school, high school and college."
To this day, Baker teaches gymnastics.
She went on to Northwestern's Kellogg Business School, where she specialized in marketing and brand management.
"And I met my husband there, which was a bonus," she said.
After business school, Baker took a job on Madison Avenue with the New York ad agency, Dancer Fitzgerald - a career path she continued in Boston, working for Hill Holiday.
"It was really, really interesting and fun, fast paced, really creative people," she said. "It was great, I loved it."
When Charlie Baker ran for governor in 2010, Lauren Baker largely stayed off the campaign trail to be home with her kids. But in the 2014 race, with two college students and a high school senior, she says she went from all out to all in.
"It's really hard to be the spouse of a candidate if you're not really involved with the campaign, because you're not part of the action," said Baker.
Baker was able to put her branding and marketing skills to use, and is credited with bringing more women voters on board.
"it's inspiring, it's awesome. I'm pinching myself everyday," she said of being first lady. "I can't believe I'm getting to meet all of these people. It's incredible.
Baker says she would like to shine a bright light on organizations and individuals by whom she has been so impressed and inspired, such as people working with children, with veterans, doing research and fighting disease.
"It fills my heart with pride and awe at all the great things that are happening," she said. "I'm so lucky that I get to meet them all."
