Nakia White Barr
Nakia White Barr, secretary of the Board of Trustees at Michigan State University, will join Princeton University as assistant vice president in the Office of the President.
Barr will start her new role on August 30, reporting to Hilary A. Parker, the University’s vice president and secretary.
“Nakia White Barr brings great strength to Princeton and I am delighted that she will be joining our team,” said Parker. “Her strategic perspective, broad expertise and deep commitment to the University’s mission will enhance our work in innumerable ways. It is a true pleasure to welcome her back to Mercer County, and I am confident that she will be a key partner to colleagues within and beyond the University as we work together to advance Princeton’s highest priorities.”
As assistant vice president, Barr will support and manage a range of projects related to strategic initiatives, advancement, writing, research, and the Board of Trustees. Her responsibilities will vary depending on the agenda of the Office of the President and will include preparing high-level communications, supporting a range of projects to advance University priorities, and staffing administrative and trustee committees such as the Council of the Princeton University Committee on Naming, the Faculty Advisory Committee on Diversity, and the Trustee Committee on Honorary Degrees.
“I’m honored to join the Office of the President and I look forward to helping advance the mission and strategic initiatives of the University,” said Barr. “Education was the difference maker in my life, so serving as a higher education administrator is especially meaningful to me and I’m grateful to be able to do so at an institution for which I have such high regard.”
In her most recent role as secretary of Michigan State University’s Board of Trustees, Barr served as a university officer with administrative responsibilities related to board meetings, university governance, and courtesies. She also taught a course on contract drafting as an adjunct professor at Michigan State University’s College of Law.
Prior to joining Michigan State, Barr worked in the Trenton Municipal Prosecutor’s office as the chief municipal prosecutor. She also worked in the city’s law department as acting director and as assistant city attorney.
Barr earned a bachelor’s degree in government and politics from the University of Maryland and a juris doctor degree from Harvard Law School. She is admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan, the State of New Jersey, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.
