Katina Barnes

My past positions really culminated to where I am today. I have worked extensively with families and community engagement specifically. I have a master's degree in urban education with a concentration in community counseling. While working at a nonprofit years ago, I knew that I wanted to be in education, so I stepped out on faith, left the nonprofit, and moved into the community college sector doing academic advising. That led to co-curricular student engagement and becoming the inaugural Student Center Director for Tidewater Community College, where I served for 5 years. I wanted to do a little bit more with detail in academia, so I became the dual enrollment coordinator for that particular community college, wanting to expose high school students more to the college sector. I did that for 4 years, and when this position became available, I went for it. I love a good startup, and this was a new program to this institution. We really are the trailblazers for this institution and the region. We're the only stand-alone center in Virginia and in this region. I currently provide advisement and placements into work-based learning, helping prepare students for real-world experiences by giving them work-based learning opportunities before they graduate. Many employers want students to have some type of experience, and our goal is to help students understand that the workforce has changed. A typical day involves working closely with students, advising them, listening to their industry interests and major, brainstorming options, and looking at different internship opportunities. I also build relationships with employers, helping them create formal internship programs or craft unique internship opportunities for our students.