Kappas

From Tougaloo to Top Advisor: Kappa Alpha Psi’s Trey Baker is a Senior Advisor to the Harris-Walz Campaign

(This article was paid for by Harris for President)

Did you know that a Senior Advisor for the Harris-Walz campaign is a brother of Kappa Alpha Psi from Tougaloo College?

Trey Baker’s commitment to leadership and public service began early, rooted in his experience as a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and enriched through years of public service. As a Fall 2003 initiate of the Gamma Rho Chapter of the fraternity, Baker distinguished himself as an undergraduate leader and served as Junior Vice Polemarch of the Southwestern Province. After completing his studies at Tougaloo College, he pursued a law degree at the University of Denver, launching a career that included roles as counsel to Congressman Bennie Thompson and as City Manager of Grenada, Mississippi. These roles deepened his sense of duty to community and equity, ultimately leading to his role as National Director of Black Engagement for the 2020 Biden-Harris campaign, where he mobilized Black voters nationwide.

Following his success with the 2020 campaign, Baker was appointed Senior Advisor for Public Engagement in the White House, bringing his expertise in governance and public policy to the national stage. He later became a partner at an Am-Law 100 firm and founded his consulting firm, Springhill Road Strategies, offering strategic public affairs guidance to clients. Now, as a Senior Advisor for the Harris-Walz campaign, he brings years of experience and a passion for equity and representation to the forefront.

Watch The Yard did an exclusive interview with Baker where he reflects on his journey, the importance of D9 leadership in today’s political landscape, and why the upcoming election is crucial for the future of the country.

Read the full interview below:

What were some of the biggest values you were instilled as a D9 member and how do you see those reflected in your work/life today?

Being a member of a Black Greek Letter Organization taught me some of the most important lessons in leadership including getting the most out of members of your team. Leadership in my chapter and across fraternity helped me understand that everyone has inherent strengths and one of the keys to leadership is to leverage people’s strengths to produce the best performance. Everything isn’t for everybody so instead of being overly critical of my team, I try my best to choose good personnel to work with and align their skills with the organization’s goals – a lesson taken directly from the Gorgeous Gamma Rho Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi.

What does it mean to have a fellow D9er in contention for the presidency?

It will mean a great deal to have a member of a D9 sorority in the presidency. Divine 9 sororities and fraternities are dedicated to service in their communities. This is the ultimate demonstration of the value and relevance of these organizations and what they can mean for our country. Specifically, Vice President Kamala Harris is not only a member of the organization but she is readily identified as an AKA. She has line sisters who she is still close to. We can all see ourselves in that shared experience.

In what ways do you think that might make her an ideal candidate?

It makes her an ideal candidate because it is yet another example of the shared experiences that she has that will make her identify with all Americans in their everyday lives. From being a member of a sorority to going to an HBCU or even her working class family upbringing, Kamala Harris represents all of us in her life experiences and will continue to do so in her presidency.

Why is this election so important?

This election is so important because we’re making a clear choice about what kind of future we want. We’re answering the question of whether we want a new way forward with Kamala Harris featuring an emphasis on an opportunity economy for all, greater options for healthcare for our families, and protection of our freedoms versus a future filled with looking back at personal grievances, freedoms being taken away, and who knows what other awful outcomes. This is the most important election of our lives and the most important thing that we can be working on right now.

Why are you supporting VP Harris and working for the campaign?

During my time in the White House, I had the chance to see the Vice President at work. Her economic opportunity tour set up her current support of small businesses. She was at the table and helped to shape a historic legislative agenda. And she consistently fought for people like the ones I know and grew up with. I’ve seen that she is strong, capable, and has an expectation of excellence. That’s the kind of proven leader I want to lead us into the future and that’s why I support Vice President Kamala Harris and why I plan on leaving it all on the field to help her become the next President of the United States.

—

As Trey Baker’s journey demonstrates, leadership, service, and advocacy are deeply woven into the fabric of his career. From his days as a young leader in Kappa Alpha Psi at Tougaloo College to his influential roles in national campaigns and the White House, Baker embodies the values of Black Greek Letter Organizations—dedication, teamwork, and uplifting others. Now, as the National Director of Black Engagement for the Harris-Walz campaign, Baker is once again at the forefront of a pivotal moment in history, working to ensure that Black voices are heard and represented in the democratic process.

Through his experiences, Baker has shown that leadership isn’t just about holding titles—it’s about fostering community, identifying strengths, and working toward a greater goal. As the country faces one of its most crucial elections, Baker’s insights offer a reminder that the principles of leadership he learned in Kappa Alpha Psi continue to guide his mission to create lasting change.