Barry University

History

Beginnings

Barry College was founded as a women's college by a pair of siblings: Patrick Barry, Bishop of St. Augustine, and his sister, Mary Gerald Barry, OP, then prioress of the Adrian Dominican Sisters. The construction of what was then the Barry College for Women began in 1940, in what had previously been "a tract of tropical vegetation". The empty lot was soon transformed into the main campus in Miami Shores, Florida. The original campus consisted of five buildings. Mother Barry served as president from 1940 to 1961.

Barry College became Barry University on November 13, 1981. Barry University continues to be sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Adrian, Michigan. It is an independent 501(c)(3) organization and has an independent board of trustees.

Presidents

The university has had six Adrian Dominican Sisters serve as president since its inception: M. Gerald Barry, 1940–61; M. Genevieve Weber, 1962–63; M. Dorothy Browne, 1963–74; M. Trinita Flood, 1974–81; Jeanne O'Laughlin, 1981–2004; and Linda Bevilacqua, 2004–2019. Mike Allen began his tenure as the seventh president of Barry University on July 1, 2019. He is the first man and lay person to lead Barry University since its founding in 1940. The motherhouse of the sisters is in Adrian, Michigan.

Cor Jesu Chapel

The Cor Jesu ("Heart of Jesus") Chapel is intended to be the spiritual and physical heart of the campus. It was financed with the aid of Margaret Brady Farrell, a parishioner of St. Patrick's Church in Miami Beach. Soon after discovering that the construction of the Cor Jesu was postponed due to insufficient funds, Farrell donated all the funds needed for completion the chapel's construction. In her honor, the Division of Business and Finance building was dedicated as "Farrell House". The chapel is topped by an 80 ft tower holding carillon chimes. It seats 500 persons. Traces of Romanesque architecture can be seen in the inside of the chapel which "was built in choir style with wood wainscoting and a canopy over the altar". A stained-glass window of amber color, containing the image of a Celtic cross, is visible from the main entrance of the campus.

Facilities

Barry University's main campus is in Miami Shores, Florida. While the main campus is in Miami Shores, Barry University offers several continuing adult education classes at other locations in Florida. Barry University has a campus in Orlando containing the Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law.

There are more than 40 buildings at the Miami Shores campus. These contain technology laboratories and indoor and outdoor sporting facilities.

The Monsignor William Barry Memorial Library contains more than 710,000 items, including 2,600 periodical titles, 5,000 audiovisual items, 150 electronic databases, and an "excellent Catholic American collection". The library also contains a collection of documents pertaining to Operation Pedro Pan.

Expansion

While Barry University is primarily a liberal arts college, the university has expanded its programs of study to include specialized programs in nursing, teacher education, medical technology, and social work.

Barry began graduate programs for men and women in 1954, a continuing education program in 1974, a school of business in 1976, a division of biological and biomedical sciences in 1983, and a school of podiatric medicine in fall 1985.

In 1999, the Barry University School of Law was established in Orlando, Florida. Barry University's law school is named the Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law.

Academics

Barry University offers more than 50 traditional undergraduate programs, accelerated bachelor's programs designed specifically for working adults, and more than 40 graduate programs (many of these with evening/weekend classes) in 9 schools. As of 2019, student to faculty ratio was 12:1.

Schools and colleges

• School of Arts and Sciences
• Andreas School of Business
• Adrian Dominican School of Education (ADSOE)
• Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law (Orlando)
• College of Health Professions and Medical Sciences
• Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine
• School of Professional and Career Education
• School of Social Work

Branch campus

Main article: Barry University School of Adult and Continuing Education – Tallahassee Campus

Rankings

Forbes' 2015 Ranking of America's Best Colleges ranked Barry University 615th on their list of America's Top Colleges. In 2022-23, Barry University was ranked #331-440 in the National Universities category by U.S. News & World Report.

Student activities

Athletics

Main article: Barry Buccaneers

Barry University became a member of the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) in June 1988 and a member of NCAA Division II since 1984. The Buccaneers have won 16 NCAA Division II national championships (women's soccer 1989, 1992, 1993; volleyball 1995, 2001, 2004; men's golf 2007, 2013, 2014; men's tennis 2010, 2013, 2015; women's tennis 2011, 2014 and rowing 2015, 2016) and 65 SSC titles. The Bucs have produced 309 All-Americans and 361 Scholar All-Americans.

The SSC sponsors championships in 14 sports for men and women: baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, rowing, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's tennis, and women's volleyball.

Multiple alumni of Barry's baseball team have gone on to play Major League Baseball, including pitcher Henry Owens, catcher Yan Gomes, pitcher Tyler Kinley, and second baseman Alex De Goti. MLB pitcher Josh James also briefly attended Barry before transferring to Western Oklahoma State College.

Student organizations

Barry University has more than 60 student organizations, two fraternities and one sorority, honor societies, and a student government.

Student media

The Barry Buccaneer is the student newspaper, ranging from 8 to 16 pages, and is published at the first of every month starting in September and ending in May. The Buccaneer serves as a laboratory for journalism minors. All work, including writing, editing, advertising and design, is completed by students.

WBUJ, 99.5 FM, is Barry University's student-run campus radio station. Sponsored by Barry's Department of Communications, WBUJ provides students the opportunity to gain knowledge of radio-industry practices and standards, hands-on technical skills, and marketable on-air experience. Student DJs cover a wide range of music genres, from hip hop and classic rock to classical music and blues. Other programming includes sports shows, talk shows, and daily news.

Campus ministry

Barry has a Department of Campus Ministry. The sacraments of the Catholic Church are administered in accordance with the guidelines of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami.

Notable alumni

Footnotes

References

1. (February 12, 2025). "U.S. and Canadian 2024 NCSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2024 Endowment Market Value, Change in Market Value from FY23 to FY24, and FY24 Endowment Market Values Per Full-time Equivalent Student". National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO).
2. "Quick Facts". Barry University.
3. "IPEDS - Barry University".
4. "ACCU Member Institutions".
5. "About Barry : Barry University, Miami Shores, Florida".
6. (January 2–15, 2009). "Ground is broken for Florida's first Catholic college". [[Florida Catholic]].
7. (2003). "Catholic Women's Colleges in America". [[Johns Hopkins University Press.
8. "History and Legacy". Barry University.
9. Prioress-General, Adrian Dominican Sisters
10. "Chapel".
11. "Farrell".
12. [[Barry University School of Adult and Continuing Education – Tallahassee Campus]]
13. "Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law : Barry University".
14. "Library Services".
15. [https://www.barry.edu/law/future/AboutUs/default.htm "About Us: Law School Mission Statement"], Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law, Barry University.
16. "Barry University Quick Facts".
17. (April 27, 2017). "ADSOE Programs Selected to Join Carnegie Project on Education Doctorate". Barry University.
18. Peterson-Withorn, Chase. "The Full List Of Forbes' Top Colleges 2015".
19. (September 12, 2022). "Barry University U.S. News and World Report 2022-23 Best Colleges Ranking".
20. "Athletics".
21. "BARRY UNIVERSITY BASEBALL PLAYERS WHO MADE IT TO THE MAJOR LEAGUES".
22. "2012 Baseball Roster, Josh James".
23. [https://www.barry.edu/studentactivities/organizations/directory.htm "Student Organizations Directory (A to Z)"], Center for Student Involvement, Barry University.
24. "99.5 The Mix".
25. [https://www.barry.edu/radiostation/ WBRY], Barry University Radio.
26. "Campus Ministry". Barry University.
27. "Multi-Faith Services".
28. (5 December 2017). "JuJu Announces She's Graduating With Her Masters".
29. Carr, Sarah E.. "Profile of Alberto Carvalho, 2014 Superintendent of the Year".
30. Wakefield, Rebecca. (May 17, 2016). "Oscar-Winning Screenwriter Alex Dinelaris Returns to Barry". Barry University Magazine.
31. (2013). "Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient". Barry University Alumni Relations.
32. "Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients".
33. "Gomes' unique path aided by mom".
34. Jones, Carolyn. (2000-06-14). "The Glory Years / S.F. Fillmore District of the '40s and '50s revisited in photo exhibition".
35. Rodriguez, Juan C.. (June 8, 2013). "Miami Marlins pick Barry University and Nova High School product Tyler Kinley in 16th round". South Florida Sun Sentinel.
36. Watson, Kathryn. (August 18, 2020). "Far-right candidate Laura Loomer wins GOP primary for district that covers Mar-a-Lago".
37. Curry, Colleen. (May 2, 2012). "Shaquille O'Neal Receives Doctorate Degree". [[ABC News (United States).
38. Rodriguex-Soto, Ana. (Fall 2011). "Barry Doctoral Candidate Named Chicago Bishop". Veritas.
39. "Events : Alumni Relations : Barry University, Miami Shores, Florida".
40. "Saima Wazed Putul gets Distinguished Alumni award from Barry University".