James Barber

For more than 50 years James “Jim” Barber has given dedicated service to southern Connecticut State University and it students. A record-setting hurdler as a student athlete, he went on to become a successful Owls coach for almost 25 years, training numerous track champions and many All-Americans. He has also coached the men’s and women’s USA track teams at national and international championships. In 1971 Jim launched SCUS’s first Summer Education Opportunity Program (SEOP), which over time successfully opened the door to a college degree for scores of minority students. In addition, he has led the university’s affirmative action office, served as director of the student supportive services for more than 20 years and has helped to advanced Southern’s mission as Director of Community Engagement.

A committed activist, he founded New Haven’s track and field outreach program for young people, working with more than 4,000 children and youth over the years. He served as president and a long-time board member of the New Haven Scholarship Fund, which has assisted generation of local high school students to pay for a college education. Jim graduated from SCSU in 1964 with a degree in Education. He also earned a MS in Physical Education at SCSU in 1979.