”Meet the AACRAO Staff” is an occasional Connect feature. It’s one way for members to get to know some of the folks hard at work in the AACRAO office. Another way? Come see us in D.C. – we’ll roll out the welcome mat for you!
This issue, we talked with tireless and warm-hearted Associate Executive Director Janie Barnett. You can meet Janie at any of our AACRAO meetings and at some of our state and regional meetings.
What do you do at AACRAO, and how long have you been here?
I am fortunate to have a great team who work with me on association marketing, communications and professional development. AACRAO’s professional development includes meetings and conferences, FERPA consulting, webinars and online courses. We also work to increase our corporate partnerships, secure exhibit hall participation, company presentations and sponsorships. In addition, I work to expand and negotiate AACRAO's relationships with international associations and organizations. This effort meets one of the association's strategic goals by increasing international outreach and reciprocal relationships .
I’ve been here for almost 16 years and AACRAO has gone through many changes. It’s been fun building a team that works with our leadership and member volunteers to improve services to our members.
How did you get started with AACRAO?
Briefly, I worked for Jerry Sullivan, our former Executive Director, who was the Director of Financial Aid at Iowa State University. He went on to serve as the Director of Financial Aid at the University of Colorado, Boulder. I would have followed him there when he offered, but I did not want to make this kind of move until my daughters were both in college. In 1998, I was fortunate to participate in a staff exchange program and worked at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. When I came back from this fun opportunity, Jerry Sullivan called me. He had just been offered the Executive Director job at AACRAO and wanted me to work with him. I jumped at the opportunity to work for my mentor again and live in DC.
What was your higher education experience prior to AACRAO?
I have 43 years of higher education experience at three institutions and AACRAO. The first job I held was at the Community College of Denver (CCD) where I helped expand the Manpower Development Training program that worked to get students off of welfare, earn their degree and enter the workforce.
At the University of California San Diego, I worked at the Gifford Mental Health Clinic which was a part of the training for medical students attending the university. I worked in the business office and at the day treatment facility.
At Iowa State, I worked in financial aid. During this time, I was also the president of the National Student Employment Association (NSEA) and the Midwest Student Employment Association (MASEA). I was also active with the Iowa Association of Student Financial Aid (IASFA) and the Midwest Association of Student Financial Aid (MASFA).
In fact, Jerry and I hired Mike Reilly (current executive director of AACRAO) in the early 80s as a college work study student!
One of the ways I hope that I have contributed to AACRAO's success is hiring student interns. AACRAO was using temp agencies and instead we started hiring both work study and non-work study graduate and undergraduate students. I am happy to say that several have been hired full time and we are fortunate to have their passion and expertise!
We have great relationships with our state and regional (S&R) organizations and continue to expand our work together. AACRAO sends material and/or exhibits at several S&R meetings every year and hold a Leadership Meeting for the S&R officers yearly in December. We also have developed close partnerships with other higher education associations such as NASPA, NASFAA and NACAC.
What is something that most members don’t know about you?
I am the oldest of nine kids — six brothers and two sisters. I was a Navy brat, born in Bermuda, and lived in many places in the U.S. By the time I was in the sixth grade, my family settled in San Diego and I call California my home.
What do you do in your spare time?
I try to visit my two daughters and sons-in-law in Colorado and Montana a few times a year. I also have three grandchildren, ages two, four and seven, and I try to be the best Nana ever! Oh – I work at AACRAO…what spare time?!
I love to travel and I do it for work and pleasure! In the last year for personal travel, I went to Italy with AACRAO past president, Ange Peterson, to San Diego for my brother’s birthday, to New London and Sunapee, New Hampshire, with a friend, and to Mexico with my sisters. I am ALWAYS planning my next adventure! In fact, I just finished a fun trip last week when I traveled to Aspen, Colorado, for my daughter’s wedding. The scenery was breathtaking!
[Note: the photo that accompanies this article is from the Aspen wedding and includes two of Janie's three (soon to be four!) grandbabies.]