Harriet E. Barlow, Ph.D.
Executive Director, The Intersection
Biography
Harriet E. Barlow is executive director of the The Intersection, UNLV's academic multicultural resource center. Since January 2016, she has been working to establish a center that emphasizes and supports student development through personal advising, advocacy, leadership development opportunities, cultural diversity education, and cultural programming, and a connection to campus and community resources.
The center is designed to foster a supportive campus community that educates and provides resources for students, faculty, staff, and the greater Southern Nevada community about issues related to the experiences and perceptions of underrepresented students.
Barlow came to UNLV in 1997 as director of student recruitment for the Graduate College. She was promoted to associate dean and developed a strong suite of student service programs, including thesis/dissertation compliance workshops, Graduate Student Professional Development programs, New Graduate Student Orientation, and coordination of the college's publications and handbooks. In 1999, she planned and implemented the first graduate student research symposium, now recognized as one of the signature programs coordinated by the UNLV Graduate and Professional Student Association. She also worked with the UNLV Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach as the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Summer Research program. Other Graduate College initiatives attributed to Dr. Barlow of note include the coordination of new graduate student orientation and the doctoral hooding reception.
In June 2011, Barlow joined the UNLV Office of Diversity Initiatives as an assistant vice president. She developed, implemented, coordinated, and collaborated on many programs and initiatives that support UNLV’s diversity mission to nurture equity, diversity, and inclusiveness and that promote respect, support, and empowerment. These programs and initiatives include the establishment of the Diversity Leadership Forum Series, the Cultural Competence Academy, the 2011 Got College! Rally and Tailgate, and faculty focus group sessions. In addition, Barlow served as UNLV’s Title IX compliance coordinator from 2011-15.
A native of Illinois, Barlow earned a B.S. in Secondary Education (Speech Communication), an M.S. in Guidance and Educational Psychology (Human Learning and Development) and a Ph.D. in Education (Academic Administration and Budgeting) all at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. While at SIUC, she served as adjunct assistant professor in both the College of Liberal Arts and the School of Social Work. She also served as the coordinator of the minority student enrollment and associate director of student development.
Barlow was appointed the first director of the Illinois Minority Incentive Grant program (now Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois), a statewide initiative to increase the number of minority full-time tenure track faculty and staff in the state's two- and four-year, public and private colleges and universities.
In addition, to her extensive background in student services and affairs, Dr. Barlow has served on many UNLV service committees, including
- Chair of the UNLV Department of Public Safety Advisory Board
- Student Recruitment and Retention Task Force
- Just, and Inclusive Campus Community Committee
- Planning Initiative Award Committee
- Regents Outstanding Undergraduate and Graduate Advisor Awards Committee
- Full Participation Committee
- University Advocacy Support Response Team Against Violence
- University Climate Survey Task Force.
She has also served on the Faculty Senate Peer Review, Grievance, and Ad Hoc Executive Administrative Hires Committees; Distressed Student Task Force; Commencement Committee; Minority Student Recruitment and Retention Task Force; Administrative Faculty Council; and the Marketing Council.
In recognition for her excellent service to students and the university, Barlow has received numerous honors and awards, including the 2014 Greek Woman of the Year awarded by the Pi Pi Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. of Henderson, Nevada. She is the recipient of numerous congressional recognitions from current and former members of Congress, including Sens. Harry Reid, John Ensign, and Dean Heller.
Other honors include Mentor of the Year Award from the Black Graduate Student Association, establishment of the Harriet E. Wilson Barlow Scholarship by the National Pan-Hellenic Council, the Buick Outstanding Volunteer Spirit Award, Fred L. McDowell Award for Academic Achievement and Service to Higher Education, the Dwight D. Eisenhower High School Distinguished Alumni Award, National Society of Collegiate Scholars Inductee, and Ally nominee.
A life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Barlow resides in Henderson, Nevada, with her husband Ernest. Her daughters, Ashley and Amber, are both UNLV alumnae.