Brooke Baxter

Brooke Baxter believes every weakness has a hidden strength, and that you just need to figure out the strength. She used this strategy to mine the challenges of a PTSD diagnosis to persist and excel as a student at Salt Lake Community College and then at the University of Utah.

"I used my hypervigilant mind to pay close attention to detail. And I used my constantly racing mind to sustain focus and memorize material,” recalls Brooke, who graduated from SLCC in 2017 with an associate’s degree in General Studies.

SLCC’s Alumni Leadership Council has selected Brooke as the 2024 recipient for the Rising Star Award, which recognizes SLCC alumni who have made a profound and positive impact in their communities and beyond, and who have graduated from the College within the last seven years.

“The College’s commitment to educating the future generation is often rewarded with outstanding individuals who go above and beyond in their respective careers and community involvement,” says Mike Bird, a member of SLCC’s Alumni Leadership Council. “The Rising Star Award is an opportunity to highlight some of these amazing graduates who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, career development, and commitment to their community.”

“Receiving this award means a lot to me. It really made me feel good about myself and challenges the self-doubts that sometimes get stuck in my head,” says Brooke who works at the U of U Huntsman Mental Health Institute as a behavioral technician, with children who are on the autism spectrum or have other intellectual and developmental disabilities. She plans to apply to graduate school to become a board-certified behavioral analyst.

“I hold Brooke in high regard,” stated David Hubert, PhD, associate provost for Learning Advancement. He recalls her drive as a SLCC student to complete her education in one year, consistently landing on the dean’s list, while she was working two jobs and initially facing homelessness and food insecurity. “Brooke Baxter exemplifies what can happen when a determined student overcomes difficulties while pursuing their education at a community college,” adds David.

The associate provost also recalls the stiff competition Brooke faced in receiving SLCC’s 2017 Graduate of Excellence recognition. “The competition to be chosen as the Graduate of Excellence in General Studies is extremely stiff, as the majority of our graduates are in General Studies. I get more applications and nominations for this award than do all the deans combined for the specific school graduates of excellence.”

Deep Commitment to Children Facing Challenges

The first time Brooke started at SLCC, she had just finished high school [Viewmont High]. Not long after, she dropped out. A 90-minute bus commute and juggling multiple jobs was just too much. “Plus, I wasn’t even sure of what I wanted to do,” recalls Brooke.

It was during these two years, while working with children who were homeless, that Brooke realized her career path. “I wanted to work with children who had experienced trauma and have a greater impact on these kids. I knew an education was a path in that direction,” says Brooke, who transferred from SLCC to the U of U where she earned a bachelor’s in Sociology and minors in Criminology and Diversity.

“I chose SLCC because I had heard good things about it—in searches it ranked high in quality of education and it was affordable,” recalls Brooke. She had also heard the teachers were passionate about their work and many had worked in their fields. “One of my professors had been a cop for 30 years in New York City, had a PhD in Sociology, and was teaching criminal justice classes—he had some great stories.” Brooke remembers approachable professors and lively debates in classes. “I loved it there.”

To pay for school, Brookes relied on financial aid, grants, a scholarship, and her own income working several jobs to pay for college.

In her free time, which is hard to deduce where that might be, Brooke wrote. She wrote to escape stress. She wrote to process her PTSD. She wrote until she had self-published a fantasy book, titled Heiwa by B.A. Baxter, which is now part of a trilogy. “I put my internal voices and perspectives into the characters,” says Brooke. The title means “peace” in Japanese.

Don’t Debate It, Do Something About It

“A big part of who I am is advocacy and human justice issues,” says Brooke. “It is important to notice the people who are disadvantaged. And instead of turning an issue into a debate, do something about it.”

She volunteered in the homeless community during the COVID lockdown in Seattle and at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) education department during the Seattle Black Lives Matter protests. She was a crisis worker and counselor at a Housing First operation in Seattle. She has continued her advocacy work here in Utah, particularly for the disadvantaged and mentally ill.

Council member, Mike, notes that Brooke’s advocacy work stood out. “Brooke’s selection came with strong support and praise for all the hard work and accomplishments she has had in and out of the College. Her advocacy and service to many groups and organizations have benefitted the lives of countless individuals.”

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About Salt Lake Community College

Salt Lake Community College is Utah’s largest two-year college, proudly educating the state’s most diverse student body in 8 areas of study at 10 locations and online. The majority of SLCC graduates transfer to four-year institutions, and thousands more are trained in direct-to-workforce programs. This year, SLCC is celebrating 75 years of providing Utahns with education and training in fields that contribute to the state’s vibrant economy and high quality of life.

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