This past spring, Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes became the first full-time staff member in the 40-year history of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC), a conference of historically Black colleges and universities that compete under the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
Today marks 50 years since the signing of Title IX, which expanded athletic opportunities for females. Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes, a Minden native who went on to star in basketball at UNO, before serving as athletic director at Dillard University for almost 20 years, and is now commissioner of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, says she is a proud beneficiary of that legislation.
She Leads: Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes becomes first black woman commissioner of the Gulf coast athletic conference.
Barnes joins Cari Champion, Candace Parker, Tyrann Mathieu and Master P to reflect on impact of landmark legislation
After 17 years of dedicated service, Dr. Kiki Barnes, Ph.D., director for Dillard’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, has announced her resignation from Dillard University. Barnes is slated to become the next commissioner for the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC), making her the first Black female commissioner in the conference’s history.
Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes Is Dedicating Her Own Legacy to the Next Generation of Black Women. The Dillard University athletic director knows the pressure of being the “first” or “only” in her position, which is why she wants to elevate those coming up behind her.
NEW ORLEANS – Women Leaders in College Sports has named Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes, athletics director of Dillard University, the 2021 Nell Jackson Nike Executive of the Year. Formerly known as the Administrator of the Year award, the Nell Jackson Nike Executive of the Year awardee is determined by peer nominations and selected by the Women Leaders Awards Committee for their service during the 2020-2021 academic year.
Host, Ralph Newell, chats with Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes about best practices to empower student-athletes and foster their success in part 2 of the HBCU Leadership at Dillard University series.
One thing for sure is that the athletics communications department everywhere have seen rapid changes in recent years that stretched resources. As Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes at Dillard University recall it was a rapid progression of increasing responsibilities.
In conjunction with National Girls and Women in Sports Day, Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes, the athletic director at Dillard University and a noted athletic leadership coach and consultant has announced the launch of So You Want a Career in Athletics™ (SYWACIA) Getting in Formation Sports Leadership Academy for Teens and SYWACIA Summer Leadership Intensive for Aspiring Professionals.
New Orleans, LA — Fidelity Bank features Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes as their P.O.W.E.R.ful Woman of the Month for April 2020.
Local students joined Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes, VP of Basketball Operations and Team Development, Swin Cash plus several female Pelicans staff members at So You Want A Career in Athletics™event, exposing girls to careers in the sports field.
October 18, 2019
After Hurricane Katrina hit, Dillard University in New Orleans had to shut down its athletics program. To bring the program back to life, the school relied on the leadership of Kiki Baker Barnes, Ph.D., who stepped into the role as Dillard’s Athletics Director.
June 11, 2019
In the world of college athletic directors, Kiki Baker Barnes stands out, but she’s hoping to change that. Most athletic directors at the collegiate level are white men. Barnes, an African American woman, has been leading Dillard University’s athletic department since 2006. Among all ADs in the state of Louisiana, she’s the only woman.
June 7, 2019
Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes, AD at Dillard and Interim Commissioner of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, visits the 1.Question Podcast on the topic of balancing priorities while serving two organizations. Dr. Barnes, in her second stint as Interim Commissioner for the conference while leading Dillard Athletics, discusses her methods of making decisions that need to be objective for one, but subjective for the other. Prioritize, strategize, and organize are the three steps that help keep her operating at a high level.
April 15, 2019
Dr. Barnes shares her thoughts on being named as the interim athletic director of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, how she has built Dillard’s athletic profile and the increasing appeal of women’s sports.
April 8, 2019
NEW ORLEANS (GCAC/DU) – The Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Council of Presidents has announced that Dillard University’s Director of Athletics Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes will serve as the interim commissioner of the conference.
March 06, 2019
NEW ORLEANS (NACDA/DU) – Dillard University’s Director of Athletics Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes has been named a 2018-19 Under Armour Athletics Director of the Year recipient, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced Wednesday.
February 20, 2019
New Orleans, LA – In the male dominated world of sports, female athletes and professionals say it’s important to support young girls and women to change current stigmas for future generations. To support this goal in sports education, Dillard University hosted their second annual National Girl and Women in Sports Day in their student union building on Feb. 9, 2019.
December 31, 2019
I had the pleasure of interviewing Kiki Baker Barnes, Ph.D.. Kiki Baker Barnes, Ph.D., is athletic director at Dillard University and a trailblazer in national intercollegiate sports. She utilizes her dynamic leadership skills and powerful speaking and coaching abilities to empower leaders, teams, individuals, and organizations to unlock their full potential. As Dillard’s athletic director, Barnes facilitated the return of the shuttered athletic department following Hurricane Katrina, ultimately transitioning the program into a national model of student-athlete success and community service. Barnes is the only female athletic director for intercollegiate sports in Louisiana. Nationally, she directed organizational growth as the first elected female and first African American president of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Barnes is President & CEO of Kiki Baker Barnes LLC where she provides executive leadership and training..
August 11, 2018
New Orleans, LA – Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes is one of fifty honorees who has been chosen for the 2018 class of CityBusiness “Women of the Year” for her professional and community achievements.
July 31, 2018
Newark, DE – Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes, is featured in Women of More Magazine issue honoring women who coach, lead and mentor everyday in sports. Other notable features include, Christine Simmons, COO LA Sparks, Linda Cohn, ESPN Sports Anchor, and Tamica Smith-Jones, PhD, Athletic Director, University of California at Riverside.
March 09, 2018
New Orleans, LA – March is women’s history month and one local university is focusing on developing the next generation of women leaders. Click here to listen to Fox 8 Live anchor, Liz Reyes interview with Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes, Adria Kimbrough, Esq., and Adriiana Jackson.
February 27, 2018
CLEVELAND – The Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) will welcome Kiki Barnes (Dillard University), Jason Horn (Xavier University of Louisiana), Darryl Pope (Fort Valley State University), Shondell Reed (University of Washington), Curtis Spence (New York University), and Cheryl Wong (Pac-12 Conference) to its Board of Directors beginning after the 2018 Symposium.
February 15, 2018
The Pelicans’ honored Dillard University Athletic Director Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes for Black History Month at the February 14, 2018 game against the Lakers.
January 03, 2018
Westlake, OH – NAIA-ADA 2nd Vice President, Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes answers 20 Questions in this Member Spotlight.
December 20, 2018
New Orleans, LA – Ever wanted to work in sports? Come and learn about the different career opportunities in sports. The first half of the day will feature two interactive workshops and a question/answer session with sports industry professionals. During the 2nd half of the day, participants will have an opportunity to go behind the scenes with Louisiana’s only female college athletic director, Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes, to get a close-up view of game day responsibilities for a college athletic director. Participants will attend the women’s basketball game and be acknowledged at half-time.
November 17, 2018
New Orleans, LA – Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes will be a featured speaker at the inaugural Fit, Fyne & Fabulous Fitness conference hosted by Founder, Nicole Dyer-Twman in Los Angeles, CA June 8-10, 2018. For more information visit www.fitfynefabulous.com/live.
June 08, 2017
New Orleans, LA – The American Cancer Society held its Announcement Party at the Shops at Canal Place to announce the 2017 Belles & Beaus.
July 16, 2018
(Kansas City, Mo.) Dillard University Director of Athletics Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes has been elected to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Athletics Directors Association (ADA) Board of Directors as Second Vice President. She assumed the leadership role in Dillard’s athletic department in 2006 and has served on the ADA Board since 2014 as an inaugural member. She is also President of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference.
June 04, 2017
New Orleans, LA – The American Cancer Society held its Announcement Party at the Shops at Canal Place to announce the 2017 Belles & Beaus.
April 24, 2017
Kansas City, Mo. – To honor the 45th anniversary of Title IX’s passage and celebrate more than four decades of female participation in high school and college sports, Women Leaders in College Sports is launching a #BecauseofTitleIX campaign on social media and on womenleadersincollegesports.org from today until June 23.
Every week day for 45 days, the organization will feature a woman who, because of Title IX, has benefited personally and professionally. The website will feature a Q&A profile in which each woman explains how the academic and athletic opportunities afforded to her because of Title IX have impacted her life, how other women have influenced her throughout her career, and how she’s paying that forward by championing other women and girls in sports.
January 11, 2018
Minden, LA – During the weekend of the 30th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, Sunday will be a time of reflection and commemoration in honor of the late civil rights leader. The theme for this year will be “The King in Me.” At 3 p.m., at St. Rest Baptist Church, located at 611 East Union, a commemorative service will take place to honor and reflect on King’s legacy. The keynote speaker for the service will be Dr. Kiki Baker-Barnes, a Minden native and Dillard University Athletic Director.
Dr. Kiki Barnes featured notable keynote speaker
June 08, 2016
Washington, DC -(Excerpts from PRNewswire-US Newswire) Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes is one of thirty prolific speakers who will be featured at the National Black Chamber of Commerce 24th Annual Entrepreneurial Convention, in New Orleans, Louisiana, July 20-23, at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside hotel. Click here to read more.
Episode 16 of ‘THE PRIVATEER PODCAST’ Now Available for Download
May 19, 2016
New Orleans, LA (Excerpts from Richie Weaver, Director of Athletic media Relations, University of New Orleans) – Also dropping by the pod was former women’s basketball standout Kiki Baker Barnes, who starred on the Lakefront from 1995-97. In addition to her time on the hardwood, she also was a member of the UNO track and field team and still holds the school record in the triple jump with a leap of 12.19 meters. Today, she is the athletic director across town at Dillard University
Q & A with Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes
Athletic Management Magazine, April/May 2016, Vol XXVIII, No.3, pgs. 15-16
Allied Moxy and Verbal Slick present an Influencer Screening in New Orleans, LA
Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes honored as a “Top BOSS” of New Orleans
April 4, 2016
New Orleans, LA (Excerpts from Anglea L. Young, http://alymediarelations.weebly.com) Verbal Slick will present a VIP Influencer screeing of the film, THE BOSS in New Orleans, LA. The BOSS AWARDS and Councilwoman Nadine Ramsey will acknowledge four (4) influential women from new Orleans, (Anita Demps, Tonya Boyd Cannon, Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes and Tracee Dundas) who are making “boss” moves through their networks. The honorees are “bosses” who are making an imprint as entrepreneurs, community leaders and women who create opportunities to help others.
March 04, 2016
(New Orleans, La.) Are you a professional woman looking to climb the corporate ladder? Managing your first employee or team? Or, are you an entrepreneur looking to expand your territory?
If you answered yes to any of the aforementioned questions your leadership and management skill-set will be the biggest determinant of your success.
Join Walker’s Legacy and Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes for a discussion on tips and tools for leading and managing your career and teams. Click here to register.
July 16, 2016
(Kansas City, Mo.) Dillard University’s Director of Athletics Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes has been selected as the 2015 Administrator of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA). NACWAA is the premier leadership organization that empowers, develops, assists, celebrates, affirms, involves and honors women working in college sports and beyond. NACWAA takes a proactive role in advancing women into positions of influence and powerfully shapes the landscape of women leaders.
Junior League of New Orleans invites Kiki Baker Barnes to serve as a guest panelist
December 10. 2014
Kiki Baker Barnes was selected to participate in a guest panel entitled – How She Did It: Four Women Surviving and Thriving in Male Dominated Industries
November 07, 2014
Take a bow, Kiki Baker Barnes, athletic director at Dillard University; Gayle Benson, business professional, philanthropist and first lady of the Saints and Pelicans; Mionne LaShe Gooch, a nuclear field electrician’s first mate first class (SW) in the U.S. Navy; and Sally-Ann Roberts, anchor of WWL-TV’s morning show and founder of Each One Save One. Three were Girl Scouts.
September 13. 2014
New Orleans, La. (GCAConf.com) – Kiki Baker Barnes, athletic director at Dillard University has been named to the National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) inaugural Board of Directors. NAIA Athletic Directors Association (ADA) President, Kevin Steele announced the formation of board this morning.
September 01, 2014
As Athletic Director of Dillard University, Kiki Baker Barnes “provides strategic leadership, administrative direction and oversight of all intercollegiate programs.”
July 07. 2014
(New Orleans, La.) The Gulf Coast Athletic Conference announced that Kiki Baker Barnes is the 2013-14 GCAC Athletics Director of the Year. Barnes recently completed her eighth year in the position at Dillard University, and she also serves as GCAC President. She first won the award back in 2010-11.
November 05, 2013
An annual look at 40 New Orleanians who are making the city a better place.
March 17, 2012
Dillard University Athletic Director and Coach Kiki Baker Barnes knows a thing or two about leading girls into greatness. Her past achievements in school as a student athlete and her current status as head of the Athletics Department demonstrate her ability to make things happen.
Kiki Baker Barnes Voted GCAC Athletic Director of the Year
May 05, 2011
