Instagram story viewer> @willbakeriii> Posts

William Henry Baker III

@willbakeriii

2.2K

followers

5926

following

Tech whisperer @sanquentinff 🎞️
Event wrangler @calstatela 🦅
Running on caffeine, cues & creativity

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Happy birthday to the human who knows how to be incredible. This next trip round the sun will be your best one yet. ❤️ by @willbakeriii

42

1

a month ago

A day in the life of Director of Events and Operations at Cal State LA.

Never a dull moment. Always a new project, a new deadline, a new task. Yesterday it was producing the service year portraits with @presidenteanes, honoring colleagues marking 5 to 45 years with the university.

Grateful to @jemilioflores and @joren.photography for being some of the best photographers. They keep the flexibility and fun alive. The best days on this job are the ones where the team just makes it work.

#CalStateLA #GoldenEagles #DayInTheLife #EventsAndOperations by @willbakeriii

29

1

a month ago

Emma Baker 2011-2026.

Born in Chicago. A cute little angel who can be seen on our first night together in pic1. She knows how much she saw me change. From the wild twenties to cancer to getting to see me here now.

She was a real trooper through it all and for many. She’s crossed the rainbow road and I know she’s sleeping on some lil patch of sun on a staircase just ready to give joy to whomever.

Rest easy Emma, cause you let everyone around you rest easy during a lot of hard times. Your memories are the warmest ones to remember - even the potty train era.

I love you so much- thank you for loving me too. by @willbakeriii

100

24

2 months ago

Happy year 6 to a guy I could have never dreamed of. @jklmdeleon by @willbakeriii

41

5

10 months ago

I truly enjoyed celebrating the holiday season with the Cal State LA community last week. Helping plan and organize this event reminded me how powerful shared spaces and meaningful moments can be. Every year, this celebration shows how coming together transforms our campus into a place of hope, gratitude, and possibility as we move into 2026. ✨

@presidenteanes introduced a new tradition, asking our @calstatela community to share their gratitudes, hopes, and dreams!

Here are some of mine….

I’m grateful to help create events that bring our Golden Eagle family together and strengthen the sense of belonging that defines Cal State LA. 🖤💛

I am hopeful for a year of new achievements, collective growth, and continued success for our Golden Eagles.

And I am dreaming of a 2026 full of possibility — a year of firsts, celebrations, and history-making moments for our students, alumni, faculty, and staff. ✨

#calstatela #holidaytime #goldeneaglescommunity by @willbakeriii

23

0

10 months ago

Your wisdom lingers, your love still steadies me, and your memory lights the way. Happy birthday, Dad. Missing you. 🤍

One thing my Dad always did on long drives was choose a single song to play as we crossed each state line—so even if we were asleep or lost in our own worlds, we’d wake up to that song.

To this day, I still think about every one of those songs when I hear them. by @willbakeriii

47

1

a year ago

It’s been three years. How I wish I could call you to tell you how wild life has been lately. You’re still such a part of it all — in the stories, in the laughter, in the quiet moments. Always. by @willbakeriii

65

2

a year ago

Guess it’s time to earn my second pair of Golden Eagle Wings! 🦅✨

A little backstory…

In 2012, I made the tough decision to drop out of DePaul University because I felt out of place. I built a wonderful career in hospitality, creating moments that connected people — but somewhere deep down, I think I subconsciously knew I wanted to finish what I started.

It wasn’t until after I heard the words “you’re cancer free” and returned to work that something inside me shifted. My subconscious woke up — reluctant to stay in restaurants — and the universe opened a new door. I moved to LA, went back to school, and in 2023 I proudly earned my B.A. in Television, Film, and Media Studies (Production) from Cal State LA, graduating Magna Cum Laude. 🎓

There were so many moments when I could have stopped — when life could have easily pulled me off course again. But thanks to the incredible @CalStateLATVFM department, I not only earned my degree — I thrived. I couldn’t have done it without their guidance, encouragement, and belief in me. 💛

It feels especially meaningful to receive this news just two days before the 3-year anniversary of my dad’s passing. I know he’s beaming — seeing how far I’ve come and the person I continue to grow into.

From cancer, to the dark depths of depression, and then some — it’s been a journey. But thanks to my amazing husband and my family, who have been my anchors and my constant source of strength, I’ve been able to keep going, even on the hardest days. ❤️

To everyone who continues to cheer me on through every big win and quiet milestone — thank you. I can’t wait to see where this next chapter leads. 💫

Here’s to growth, resilience, and the courage to rewrite your own story — no matter how long it takes.

#GoldenEaglePride #CalStateLA #CalStateLATVFM #GoldenEagles #NeverTooLate #Resilience #MagnaCumLaude #FilmAndMedia #BAinProduction #ProudAlumni #GrowthJourney #KeepGoing taken in California State University, Los Angeles by @willbakeriii

123

15

a year ago

Thanks to @skylightbooks for getting me two copies of #johnirvings sequel to cider house rules. One for me. One for a library!!! Can’t wait to crack this gem open!!!! by @willbakeriii

14

0

a year ago

We had a unique experience screening at the 2nd Annual San Quentin Film Festival—the first-ever film festival held inside a prison showcasing films by incarcerated filmmakers and filmmakers who take on stories about criminal justice and/or incarceration. Producer-Director-Cinematographer @SisaBueno of @FORVENIDAFORKALIEF captured here at the San Quentin Film Festival @sanquentinff with SQFF jury member Tony and attendee Paredes.

#forvenidaforkalief will stream online as a part of the #SQFF25 Virtual Festival through November 9, 2025 at SQFF.eventive.org

🎟️ Watch online now: SQFF.eventive.org
🗓️ Available through November 9

FOR VENIDA, FOR KALIEF exposes systemic injustice while centering a mother’s unwavering love, a family’s journey toward healing, and a community determined to see Rikers close by 2027.

Through Venida’s poetry, we’re reminded that every news story represents real people. Every number in a report is somebody’s loved one.

Our film challenges us to remember, embrace difficult truths, and continue building the future where families like the Browders never have to suffer such loss.

#SQFF25 #SanQuentinFilmFestival #KaliefBrowder #endsolitaryconfinement #renewablerikers #closerikers #endmassincarce
ration #Documentary #SocialJustice #nycpoetry #filmfestival #indiedoc by @willbakeriii

134

3

a year ago

@preciouspaulame is incredible and seeing her last week on @jklmdeleon birthday was iconic!!!

@thebrandonlim knows how to throw a party yall. Get your bits and butts to @akbarsilverlake - it’s giving how drag race viewing parties used to feel when we congregated during thee week. Bring back drag race weeknights! @mtv you could single handedly save queer spaces.

Off my soap box now. taken in Los Angeles, California by @willbakeriii

15

0

a year ago

You are the one I love traveling, exploring, experiencing this world with. Here’s to another trip around the sun with my no.1.

Happy birthday @jklmdeleon taken in Los Angeles, California by @willbakeriii

32

4

a year ago