David Barnett

David Barnett is the Chief Human Resources and University Relations Officer for DeVry University, responsible for identifying, attracting and engaging key talent with a focus on driving exceptional student outcomes. He also oversees the communications architecture designed to inform and build a culture of care with colleagues, students and alumni, and foster goodwill with the community and other stakeholders.

Prior to joining the university in 2017, Barnett was the senior director of Culture and Talent Development at Adtalem Global Education, where he was responsible for guiding and driving talent management and culture-shaping efforts across its 10 institutions of higher education.

With more than 20 years of experience, Barnett has worked with numerous universities to help drive large-scale change during times of high growth and turnaround, including large land-grant institutions and proprietary education providers.

Barnett earned his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in Chicago, and a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. A certified master trainer and Targeted Selection Administrator, he holds numerous certifications, including Senior Professional of Human Resources (SPHR) and Registered Corporate Coach (RCC). He has been recognized by the American Society for Training and Development, Training Magazine, and the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Awards.