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�������ý��Ƶ Board of Trustees member and former Duke University Board of Trustees member Barker French has had a profound and lasting impact on education in Durham. 
His experience with multiple nonprofits and educational institutions has helped French see intersections of common purpose and where partnerships should be built.
His involvement with secondary education led him to build a relationship with �������ý��Ƶ, and his deep ties with Duke have also given him the opportunity to build partnerships and see pathways to strengthen the community.
In 2008, French (Duke Class of 1963) became involved in a project to bring more opportunity to low-wealth children and families in Durham after he and three other community leaders read Paul Tough’s book “Whatever It Takes.” Duke University’s Child Environmental Health Initiative identified East Durham as one of the city's most distressed neighborhoods, so the 120-block attendance zone for Y.E. Smith Elementary became the service area initially for the East Durham Children’s Initiative (EDCI).
Based on the program’s success, EDCI expanded its services and service area. In 2020, EDCI merged with Partners for Youth Opportunity to form the Durham Children’s Initiative (DCI).
Through his work with EDCI, French began developing relationships with Durham Public Schools’ leadership. In their discussions, he learned that many DPS students didn’t have a clear pathway into the workforce or to pursue higher education after graduating.
French and area businesses began working with DPS to provide information and opportunities to high school students to create more awareness of fields like carpentry and welding. 
“Then �������ý��Ƶ became the obvious place to go,” French said. 
In addition, many students didn’t think they’d have the resources to continue their education after graduating high school, but �������ý��Ƶ provided an affordable option. 
The more he stayed connected to schools, French said, the more he began to understand the need for collaborative relationships among local institutions.
French joined others in creating a stronger partnership between �������ý��Ƶ and DPS. A trip to Portland, Ore., gave then-�������ý��Ƶ President Bill Ingram, French, other community stakeholders and Durham Public Schools’ leaders the chance to look at how such a partnership could work.
He also applied with the county to be appointed to �������ý��Ƶ’s Board of Trustees. 
“As I realized what we had down there [at �������ý��Ƶ], I went to the county and put my name in to be on the board,” he said.
He has served on the board for 16 years, first as a county appointee and later as an appointee by the governor.
French said he got involved with �������ý��Ƶ and his other endeavors because he wants to make a difference. 
“For students, you can’t imagine what a dream it is having our two institutions – �������ý��Ƶ and DPS – figuring out ways for kids who can’t go elsewhere, who can’t get the support, to have the option to go to this wonderful community college and get their workforce certificate or a two-year degree to then go on to a four-year school.”
�������ý��Ƶ President J.B. Buxton said French’s knowledge of the integral relationships among educational institutions in Durham has been a great asset for the College.
“Barker brings great insights based on his experiences with secondary and higher education,” Buxton said. “His vision for how all our organizations can work together to create a stronger Durham have brought about real change in this community.”
French originally came to Durham to attend Duke because of its reputation as one of the leading higher education institutions in the country.
“I was glad to graduate and go into a career,” French said. “Things turned out very well, at least in part because of the connections I made at Duke. Attending a good first-class school pays dividends along the way. I can say with great certainty that attending Duke did a lot of good things for me.” 
French has maintained his ties with Duke through a variety of roles. He helped organize events when he moved to Chicago after graduating, finding alumni and building connections. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees, he served on the Alumni Advisory Admissions Council, interviewing students who wished to attend Duke. French also was a member of the DUMAC board, which manages Duke University’s endowment assets.
For French, the third leg of the stool for aligning institutional goals in the city is connecting �������ý��Ƶ and Duke.
“There are lots of ways to make differences,” he said. “I’ve always had in mind that �������ý��Ƶ should be more aligned with the school system and Duke. It’s not always obvious what those connections will yield and what the compelling reason at a given moment. But that has a way of becoming clear over time.”
He cited successful partnerships Duke has forged with �������ý��Ƶ to provide a skilled workforce in health care where there are worker shortages.
“Both institutions have vested interests in the community,” French said. 
He also applauds the 2025 launch of the Durham Early College of Health Sciences as a perfect example of what can happen when �������ý��Ƶ, Duke and DPS partner to create strong opportunities in education and build strong talent pipelines.
“It’s all about education and creating job opportunities,” French said of the relationship among the three institutions. “It’s all about helping Durham.”