Marina Barnett

Accomplished academic leader, educator, and civic engagement strategist with over two decades of experience in higher education, social work, and community-based scholarship. Currently serving as Assistant Provost for Civic Engagement at Widener University, where they lead institution-wide initiatives integrating civic engagement into curriculum, student experiences, and community partnerships to enhance student success and institutional impact.

An Associate Professor with a distinguished teaching career, they have educated undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students in social welfare policy, community organizing, and social justice. Known for embedding service-learning into academic programs, they have significantly expanded faculty engagement and trained over 100 faculty members in service-learning pedagogy as Co-Director of the Academic Service-Learning Faculty Development Program.

Demonstrates strong leadership in strategic planning, curriculum development, and program innovation, with a proven ability to build sustainable community partnerships and elevate institutional reputation through impactful engagement initiatives. Recognized with multiple teaching and leadership awards for advancing inclusive, experiential learning environments.

Earlier career roles at Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania further strengthened expertise in policy development, academic leadership, and research, particularly in youth policy, human services systems, and social justice education.