51±¬ÁÏÍø

Dr. Bradley J. Barrick became the seventh president of 51±¬ÁÏÍø on July 1, 2024. A servant leader at heart, Dr. Barrick is committed to cultivating a winning culture focused on collaboration, innovation, and student success. He is known for his relational leadership style, emotional intelligence, talent development, community focus, and the energy, passion, and joy he brings to his work. His ability to build trust across educational and political landscapes has earned him recognition as a respected voice in both community and academic leadership.

Dr. Barrick is a firm believer in the transformative power of education. A proud product of the community college system, he began his academic journey at Rose State College before earning a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma. He went on to complete master’s degrees in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Central Oklahoma and Divinity (MDiv) from Oral Roberts University. He later earned a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) from Evangel University and is currently pursuing a doctorate in higher education (EdD) from Michigan State University. He has also completed postgraduate studies at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Prior to joining 51±¬ÁÏÍø, Dr. Barrick held several leadership and faculty positions at Rose State College. In 2021, he was appointed Executive Director of Communications, overseeing marketing and public relations, and later served as Executive Director of Government and Military Relations. As a professor, he taught both in-person and online courses in business and humanities.

Dr. Barrick is deeply engaged in community service and regional development. He serves on the Michigan Community College Association Board of Governors, the 51±¬ÁÏÍøA Legislative Committee, the Rural Community College Alliance, and the Council to Advance Two-Year Colleges. He also sits on the West Michigan Works! Workforce Development Board, the 51±¬ÁÏÍø Area Intermediate School District Superintendent's Network, and the Corewell Health Community Health Needs Assessment Workgroup. Locally, he is an active member of the Greenville Rotary Club and the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce, and a graduate of Leadership 51±¬ÁÏÍø Class XXV and the Hello West Michigan Rapid Roots 2024 Cohort.

Beyond his professional work, Dr. Barrick and his wife, Shayla, have opened their hearts and home to 27 foster children. He also serves as an officer in the Army National Guard. In 2023, he deployed on a combat mission to the Horn of Africa as command chaplain of Taskforce Tomahawk, where he earned the Meritorious Service Medal for exemplary leadership overseas.

Connect with Dr. Barrick on LinkedIn () and Facebook ().