Written in Partnership with Amir Bakian
The success of a society depends on its education system. Education prepares individuals to improve their standards, think out of the box, and indulge in progressive activities that lead them to the path to success. In addition, education also reforms society by reducing poverty, providing more jobs opportunity, and ensuring stability. History proves that no society grows without education. Instead, they face enormous issues leading to poverty, hunger, and unemployment. Education is the key to success. But today’s educational system is much different from the systems in the past. There is always room for improvement in the education system through advanced technology and various innovations. There are people who understand the power of education. They aim to improve the education quality for a well-settled society and a bright future for individuals. These people are educational leaders responsible for leading societies towards huge success. They work with a mission to develop their society through education. One such individual is Kathleen Hildreth Barnes – an educational leader and a licensed physical therapist.
Education is every individual’s basic right, just like food, shelter, and health. An individual’s success depends on how educated they are and how effectively they implement what they learned in school. It develops both individuals and society. An educated person understands new things in the environment. Educated people are more likely to create better solutions for the ongoing issues in society. Education improves thinking ability and allows an individual to have critical views on anything. They have great judgment skills, helping them understand the world around them. As a result, these educated individuals can improve their own lives and the lives of others. Education is the best solution for creating better opportunities for vulnerable populations, both for individuals and societies as a whole.
Education improves the quality of life in several ways. It reduces poverty in society. Lack of education is one of the important reasons why individuals and communities have been victims of poverty for generations. When people acquire knowledge and new skills, they can get high-paid jobs. On the contrary, education also encourages a healthy lifestyle. Well-informed individuals are more likely to ensure safety precautions and the proper development of their children. When people learn the importance of healthy habits in school, it improves an individual’s lifestyle and nation’s health.
The role of educational leaders plays a vital role in spreading quality education that teaches youth how to face life challenges. These leaders are passionate about working for a better change in society. Kathleen H. Barnes is one such passionate leader working in the field of student-centered education. She is one of the educators who are working to improve lives and society. Dr. Barnes is a key example of how educators can bring better change in society. She has contributed a lot to the development of the education system. Kathleen has held numerous roles and responsibilities in higher education, including interim president of Endicott College.
Born on October 11, 1952, Kathleen Barnes is a former pediatric physical therapist and an educational leader. She has served more than 28 years at Endicott College, serving multiple roles, including Interim President and Interim Provost in the college. She is the mentor of students and guides them to choose the right path and achieve academic goals. She takes pride in helping students understand the consequences of every decision.
Kathleen’s expertise is well-known for student retention and completion. She is also an expert in accessibility services, designing curriculum, and assessments. At Endicott College, she led campus-wide retention strategies, which increased retention rates by 21% and graduation rates by 19% in the college. Being a physical therapy graduate, she also taught different courses to the students during their first-year college experience. Her courses include physical therapy, exercise science, athletic training, and special honors courses.
Dr. Barnes was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, and she spent her early years in Monson. In 1962, she moved to Connecticut along with her family. Kathleen attended Old Saybrook Senior High School, where she studied her high school education. She earned her associate degree in Arts and Science from Endicott College. Later, Dr. Barnes went to Quinnipiac University to earn her bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy. In addition, she also holds a master’s degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Indianapolis. Dr. Barnes completed a Ph.D. in Arts and sciences from the Union Institute and University in Cincinnati, Ohio, specializing in Ethics Education.
Before starting her educational leadership career at Endicott, Barnes had a successful career in physical therapy. She was a pediatric physical therapist with a focus on assistive technology. She was also an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the Rehabilitation, Engineering and Assisting Technology Society of North America. She had various responsibilities in the physical therapy industry. Dr. Barnes handled state chapters of the neuro-development treatment therapist group.
Kathleen won numerous awards for her true contribution to the physical therapy and education industry. She received Distinguished Service Award in 2010. from the Federation of State Boards in Physical Therapy. She received the same award from the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA). She received two Distinguished Service Awards from RESNA, one in 1999 and another in 2002.
During her career in the education industry, Dr. Barnes received three Women of Impact & Bright Light Awards at Endicott College in 2017, 2018, and 2019. She also received Service Awards for Endicott College in 2003, 2008, 2013, and 2018. Kathleen received Excellence in Teaching Award in 1998.
Currently, Dr. Kathleen H. Barnes is a member of the Registry, the Gold Standard for Interim Placements in Higher Education. Plus, she is also a licensed physical therapist in the states of Massachusetts and Maine.
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