Jim Baird: ‘Immeasurably cool' resident hippie

		Jim Baird, associate professor of English, strives to teach his students about finding the true meaning of success and learning how to deal constructively with failure.

Resident hippie of the English department, connoisseur of the blues, frequenter of the Texas Motor Speedway and consummate classroom teacher are all descriptions colleagues use for Jim Baird, associate professor of English.

Baird, a native of Oak Cliff, maintains a list of hobbies ranging from photography to auto racing. His diverse interests make him a vibrant character in the English department. He is well known as an expert on Bob Dylan and even teaches a class about the singer/songwriter. He uses Dylan and Dylan's lyrics as a vehicle to teach his students about failure and how to define success.

"American society is so oriented toward success based on money that many people don't know what to do in spiritual terms when faced with failure," says Baird. "Dylan's songs describe this condition and help the listener to deal with this problem." 

Baird also strives to show his students that literature has the capacity to change people's lives. He aims to teach more than just plot lines and character analysis. Baird says he has spent his career teaching students to look at literature from a different perspective and it is his goal to produce independent thinkers.

"Literature has made my world wider and more interesting by continually reminding me that there is more going on than what might concern me at any moment, particularly if what I am concerned about is a problem. I hope that I can help the students acquire this perspective," says Baird.

For as long as he can remember, Baird has been preoccupied with the operation of his mind. He credits his family with nurturing him mentally and teaching him the importance of being intelligent and serving as a "fountain of positive energy."

He built on these attitudes as he earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1962, a master's degree from Harvard in 1963 and a doctoral degree from the University of Washington in 1967.

Baird's eccentric charm and eclectic persona make him a magnet for people around him. He is both well-respected and venerated by his students and his peers. Alex Pettit, fellow associate professor of English, describes him.

"The important facts to know about Jim Baird are that he knows everything, he is a truly kind person and he is immeasurably cool," Pettit says.

BY CATHY CASHIO ccashio@unt.edu

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• Grant to motivate young Americans into election process participation
• Study to help online retailers keep customers
• UNT to train Air Force logistics faculty
• UNT professor warns about the drawbacks of popular low carbohydrate diets
• Grant to train teachers of American history
• UNT toy and food drive begins Nov. 8
• Faculty Senate approves bylaws changes
• Staff awards presented at sack lunch
• American Heart Walk raises $50,000 plus
• Grant to fund Miranda warning study

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