Barbee Myers Oakes, Ph.D. has more than 30 years of experience in higher education and she currently serves as UNLV’s Chief Diversity Officer.
Oakes held three administrative appointments at Wake Forest University before joining UNLV in September 2017. She was their first Chief Diversity Officer (2015-2017), first Assistant Provost for Diversity and Inclusion (2009-2017), and Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs (1995-2009). Oakes held faculty appointments at Wake Forest, Arizona State University, and Penn State University (1985-1995) and is the co-author of seven textbooks. Oakes’ career work has earned her several national awards and recognition, including being named one of “25 Women Making a Difference” in Diverse Issues in Higher Education Magazine in 2012.
Oakes earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees from Wake Forest. Upon completion of her Ph.D. in Exercise Science and Nutrition from the University in Tennessee, Knoxville, she became the first Black woman with a doctoral degree in the American College of Sports Medicine.