Staff snapshot: Wendy Hunter Barker, staff advisor designate to the Regents

“It was kismet,” said Wendy Hunter Barker, assistant dean of Strategy and External Relations for UC San Diego’s Rady School of Management and UC’s next staff advisor designate to the Board of Regents. “I was reading a newsletter I don’t normally take the time to read, and the ad to apply just jumped off the page.”

Becoming staff advisor is a fitting next step for Wendy, following a 30-year history with UC that began as a UCLA undergraduate and has spanned a career across two campuses (UCLA and UC San Diego) and across positions from international relations to business development to human resources.

“I never want two days to look the same, so UC has been the perfect place to build my career. I’ve held just about every position within administration — constantly learning and growing — all while working for UC.”

That growth eventually led Wendy into leadership — a shift that motivated her decision to apply to be the next staff advisor.

“I’ve come to a point in my career where I’m embracing my leadership role and trying to be the best leader I can be. One of the most important things I’ve learned is that when we listen to frontline staff before we make decisions, we’re all better off. Doing the work of elevating staff voices, perspectives and expertise on a systemwide level, in partnership with the Board of Regents, is an incredible opportunity.”

Wendy’s commitment to UC’s mission was shaped early, by her experience as a first-gen student from a lower-income background. “My UC education transformed my life, so I’m passionate about supporting access and success. And a key component of success is a sense of belonging — and this extends to staff as well as students. “Each year I made the time to analyze our UC San Diego staff at work survey, reading every single line of feedback. It’s critical that we do everything we can to make UC a more inclusive, welcoming place to work so we can retain our excellent talent.”

With her extensive experience at UC, Wendy is eager to learn more. “I can’t wait to talk with staff on every campus! I want to understand each location’s flavor, and what their staff can teach the rest of us.”

She’s also curious about the Regents and how they approach their work. “Agreeing to a 12-year term for such a demanding role is a huge investment in UC. I want to understand more about who they are as people, and how they navigate the difficult decisions that come before them.”

Meet Wendy

• Name: Wendy Hunter Barker
• Title: Assistant Dean, Strategy and External Relations

• Department/Unit: Rady School of Management
• Location: UC San Diego
• When did you start working for UC? 1995 as a student employee
• Describe what you do at UC in five words or less: Collaborate and lead for impact
• Why do you love working for UC? I believe in the transformational power of education
• What’s something people don’t know about you? I once won a Mercedes Benz in a Habitat for Humanity raffle!
• Who’s your dream dinner guest (living or dead) and why? I would give the main chair to Martin Luther King, Jr, and then invite Mahatma Gandhi and Gene Roddenberry. I have a degree in peace and conflict resolution, and I learned that working for peace requires incredible strength and compassion. I’d love to speak with Dr. King about his faith and ability to hold love in his heart.  I’d discuss systemic change with Gandhi and approach Roddenberry as a futurist. I’m a big fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation, in part because of the shared humanity represented by the Federation. Yep, I’m a nerd!
• What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received? Fake it until you make it. I understand wanting to be fully prepared for every role you take on, but sometimes you have to stretch yourself. The important thing is to approach each challenge with a healthy balance of humility and confidence and just go for it.