Kathleen Barker is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Medgar Evers College, part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system. She holds a PhD in Social-Personality Psychology from The Graduate Center, CUNY, earned in 1990. Dr. Barker has served in various leadership roles within CUNY, including as Chair of the Medgar Evers Faculty Senate (2022-2024), Vice Chair of the University Faculty Senate (2016-2020), and member of the UFS Executive Committee (2012-2016). Dr. Barker's educational background includes a doctorate in Social-Personality Psychology from The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, completed in 1990. Her academic journey has positioned her as a social psychologist with expertise in both theoretical and applied aspects of the field. Her research interests span multiple domains within social psychology and beyond. As a social psychologist, she conducts multidisciplinary research focusing on nonstandard work arrangements, higher education systems, social justice issues, and methodological concerns in research. Her work on bibliometrics has been particularly influential, examining how citation analysis and impact factors can be used (and potentially abused) in academic personnel decisions. She has extensively studied self-efficacy as a construct for evaluating student outcomes, developing assessment tools like the Evaluation Self-Efficacy Scale. Her research also addresses gender issues in the workplace, particularly examining the experiences of women in full- and part-time employment. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on bibliometrics and self-efficacy measurement within social work education. Her scholarly output demonstrates a consistent focus on methodological rigor and the application of psychological principles to real-world issues in education and employment. The interdisciplinary nature of her work bridges psychology, social work, education, and organizational behavior, with a particular emphasis on developing valid assessment tools and examining research impact through bibliometric analysis. Co-edited book 'Contingent Work: American Employment Relations in Transition' selected as noteworthy book in industrial relations and labor economics by Princeton University's Firestone Library Named to the American Psychological Association's 2005 and 2006 panels on the Work Force in Psychology Assisted in establishing the APA Center for Workforce Analysis through her panel work Contributed to the development of the Evaluation Self-Efficacy Scale, widely used in social work education assessment Dr. Barker has been actively involved in mentoring through her role as a professor and her service on university committees. Her leadership roles in the University Faculty Senate and Medgar Evers Faculty Senate have positioned her to influence academic policy and governance across CUNY. While specific grant information isn't detailed in the provided texts, her extensive publication record suggests successful research funding. She has served as a network member for the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, indicating recognition of her expertise in workforce issues. Her leadership extends to committee work, including chairing the Committee on the Faculty Experience Survey of the University Faculty Senate, which produced the comprehensive FES:09 report documenting faculty experiences across CUNY. Dr. Barker has been instrumental in revitalizing the Medgar Evers College Faculty Senate, establishing its first web page and programming speakers on topics such as shared governance, budget processes, parliamentary procedures, and workplace bullying. Her work with the University Faculty Senate's Academic Affairs Advisory Committee and her participation on the CUNY Board of Trustees' Committee on Faculty, Staff and Administration demonstrate her commitment to institutional improvement. She has also served as Senior College Representative on the Executive Council of the Professional Staff Congress (the faculty and staff union) and as a Grievance Counselor, showing her dedication to faculty rights and workplace issues.
