 Baranco's extensive involvement in education has led her to serve as the chairman of the DeKalb County Education Task Force and as a member of the Georgia State Board of Education from 1985 to 1991.She was appointed by Governor Zell Miller to the Board of Regents and in 1995 became the first African American women to chair the board.She is the chair of the Board of Trustees of Clark Atlanta University and also serves on the Board of Directors of Georgia Power Company.