Instructional Leadership, emphasis: K-12 School Leadership (MEd)
Graduates don Northern Arizona University attire, forming the letters N A U.

Who we are: Yelena Baykova


Welcome to “Who We Are,” a series on the University Marketing blog. This series showcases the diverse and talented individuals behind our marketing team. Each installment features a Q&A that delves into the unique stories, roles, and perspectives of our team members, illustrating how each person’s unique contributions shape the identity and success of University Marketing. Join us as we explore the faces and stories that make our team truly exceptional.

Who is University Marketing?

Yelena Baykova is University Marketing

Job title and brief description

Assistant Manager of Videography. I manage the video team that films and edits NAU marketing commercials and program videos. 

Where are you located? 

We are in the Communications Building 16A on North Campus.

Can you tell us about a hobby or pastime outside of work, and what draws you to it?

I like to tinker with cars. I’m no mechanic, but I have some car friends that have helped me swap an engine in my Kia Sorrento. It really makes you feel confident and gives you a sense of achievement when you figure out how to diagnose and fix car problems. Cars are like big puzzles. 

What’s one book you’ve read or movie you’ve watched recently that had a significant impact on you, and why did it resonate with you? 

Movie: Everything, Everywhere, All at Once. I think the film really shows that even when we wish for a different life, there is a special beauty in the simple one we have, and another person might wish, “In another world, I would have loved doing taxes and laundry with you.”

Share a fun or unusual fact about yourself that most colleagues might not know. 

I drove a racecar in the Lemons Race last April at The Ridge in Washington. I drove four hours of laps, and our team placed 88th, but we still finished the race while 50 other cars broke down. 

If you could travel to any destination in the world, where would you go and why? 

I’ve become very interested in ancient archeological underwater sites. There’s a site in the beautiful Bahamas waters called the Bimini Road; there’s debate about whether it’s an ancient man-made megalithic road or just natural formations. I’d love to go back there and scuba dive the site looking for evidence of whether it’s natural formations or forgotten history. 

What’s your go-to way to unwind and de-stress after a busy day at work? 

Fortnite, lol! Video games (I just started Horizon Zero Dawn) or arts and crafts projects at home. 

Can you share a memorable personal achievement or milestone you’re proud of, unrelated to your job? 

I’ve always wanted to travel, and in 2015, I flew to New Zealand alone. I spent three months traveling around the entire country, staying at hostels and car camping. It was an amazing experience that allowed to me connect with locals who shared great tips like visiting the secret Kaikoura baby seals waterfall playground, glow worm caves hidden in farm pastures, and one-thousand-year-old Kauri trees so big that they have gardens growing in their upper branches. While there, two of my acrobatic friends flew out from Utah, and we filmed an acro-yoga video around the country.

What do you love about NAU? 

One of my favorite things about working at NAU is getting to interview some of the amazing faculty, staff, and students on our campus. Just last month, we got to film with a student and professor who are building an infra-red camera going to Mars! WOW! Last spring, we got to film with Dr. Jaime Awe, a famous Belize archeologist who found incredible Mayan artifacts. And Dr. Jut Wynne, an ecologist professor who is right now on a 1917 tall ship traveling to the Easter Islands looking for evidence of whether ancient Polynesians accidentally transplanted insects to Rapa Nui via canoe. I also love that I get to work with such a talented team that wins video awards regularly. I feel really lucky and grateful to have this job at Northern Arizona University.

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