BOONE, N.C.—Cynthia Lawrence “Cindy” Barr will be the next associate vice chancellor for enrollment management at Appalachian State University. She will begin work Aug. 1, having most recently served as vice president of enrollment at Catawba College.

“Cindy exhibited a clear understanding of our university’s commitment to diversity and inclusion,” said Dr. Darrell Kruger, provost and executive vice chancellor at Appalachian. “She will be a tremendous asset to fulfilling our strategic goals in these areas.”

Reporting to the provost, Barr will oversee the Division of Enrollment Management, which includes the Office of Admissions, the Office of Transfer Services, the Registrar’s Office, College Access Partnerships, the Office of Financial Aid and University Scholarships.

“I have a sincere passion for higher education and am honored to serve Appalachian as it seeks to provide a transforming educational experience for its students,” Barr said. “I look forward to building on my experience in such areas as diversity, admissions, discount administration and strategic planning as I lead enrollment management efforts at the university.”

One of Barr’s priorities will be sustaining Appalachian’s steady enrollment growth of between 1 and 2 percent a year.

Another priority will be achieving “an optimal enrollment picture” which would reflect an increase in not only the matriculation and retention of high-achieving students, but also in student populations that would make Appalachian more diverse and international.

Barr, who was born and raised in Reidsville, has worked at Catawba College since 2014. She has been instrumental in growing Catawba’s traditional undergraduate enrollment, informing the institutional strategic plan and reimagining Catawba’s scholarship and financial aid policies. During her tenure, the college enrolled its largest first-year class since 1975 and applicants were wait-listed for the the first time in Catawba’s history.

At Elon University, Barr served as assistant dean of admissions from 2007 until 2012 and as associate dean of admissions from 2012 until 2014. She also served as interim director of international admissions at Elon beginning in 2013. Under her leadership, the enrollment of students with international backgrounds increased by 35 percent between 2008 and 2013 and the enrollment of multicultural students increased by 44.6 percent between 2007 and 2013. Multicultural in this case refers to students of color and to students from the LGBTQIA communities.

Prior to her employment at Elon, Barr held admissions positions at UNC Charlotte between 2002 and 2005.

Barr received a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in theatre from East Carolina University. She holds her master’s degree in clinical/community psychology from UNC Charlotte.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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