Lois J. Baker began working for the University at Buffalo's News Bureau in 1991, covering the university's health sciences schools. Before coming to UB, she earned a degree in journalism from Penn State University and was a reporter for the Chautauqua Daily, the Post Journal in Jamestown, New York, and the Daily Press in Newport News, Virginia. While working at UB, Baker earned a master's degree in Medical Anthropology. She retired from UB in 2010.