Joan Baker is an American voice-over artist, actress, and author who has contributed to the English dubs of several anime projects, most notably the M.D. Geist film series. Her professional career extends far beyond anime, encompassing voice work for major television networks, video game franchises, and commercial campaigns, alongside significant work as an educator and advocate for the voice-over industry.

Born on October 14, 1960, Baker began performing at a young age, appearing in local theater and on a children's television show in 1972. After studying dance at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City, she transitioned into voice-over work, which became a primary focus of her career. Her voice can be heard across a wide range of media, including television programs such as Saturday Night Live and Guiding Light, as well as the Grand Theft Auto series of video games.

Within the anime genre, Joan Baker is best known for providing the English voice of the character Vaiya. She performed this role in both the original M.D. Geist film, released in 1986, and its sequel, M.D. Geist II: Death Force, released in 1996. In the sequel, she also contributed additional voices for minor characters. These productions, distributed in North America by Central Park Media, are recognized as notable examples of the action-oriented original video animation (OVA) titles released during that era.

Beyond her performance credits, Baker has achieved significant recognition for her contributions to the voice-over profession. She is the author of the 2005 book Secrets of Voice-Over Success, which features interviews with prominent voice actors and provides career guidance for aspiring professionals. All royalties from the book are donated to the Alzheimer's Association. Her work in the industry has earned her multiple Telly Awards and Promax Awards for her performances in television commercials, promos, and documentaries.

In 2013, Baker co-founded the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences (SOVAS), a professional organization, and she serves as its vice president. Through SOVAS, she helped establish the Voice Arts Awards and has been a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion within the voice-over industry. Additionally, she has worked as an educator, coaching students and developing voice acting curricula, including as an adjunct professor at the Hartt Theatre Division at the University of Hartford.