Southern Connecticut State University Hall of Famer, former coach and university legend James Barber, ’64, MS ’79, was recently inducted into the Northeast-10 Conference Hall of Fame Class of 2024. Earlier in the year, Barber was named one of the finalists for the prestigious NCAA Division II 50th Anniversary Gold Award.
Barber gave 58 years of dedicated service to Southern and crafted a legacy of change, using his career to advance inclusiveness and access at the institution. A record-setting hurdler as a student-athlete in the early 1960s, and captain and Most Valuable Player of the football team, Barber went on to become a successful Owls coach for almost 25 years, training numerous track champions and 75 All-Americans.
In 1971, Barber launched the Southern Educational Opportunity Program (SEOP), which over time opened the door to a college degree for scores of minority students. He also led the university’s affirmative action office, served as director of Student Supportive Services for more than 20 years and, in his last professional role at the school, helped to advance the university’s mission as director of community engagement. A committed community activist, he founded New Haven’s track and field outreach program for young people, working with more than 4,000 youths over the years.
Read the full story on the Southern Connecticut State University athletics site here.
