Photos by Caitlin Cunningham
Yvonne McBarnett has come home.
Not to England, where she was born, but to the Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center, where she began her Boston College professional career in December 2002.听 She spent 14 years ascending from administrative assistant to program administrator at the BAIC before a stint at alumni relations, and seven years as a program manager and director of the Montserrat Coalition in the University Mission and Ministry division.
McBarnett, known to much of the University community as 鈥淢s. Smiley,鈥� won praise upon her recent appointment as BAIC director from Vice President for Student Affairs Shawna Cooper Whitehead, who noted that her leadership, vision, and mentoring skills are meaningful assets that McBarnett brings to the center.
鈥淪he has a wealth of experience and a unique ability to connect with people, particularly underrepresented and underserved students,鈥� said Cooper Whitehead. 听鈥淪he is an ideal fit for the BAIC.鈥�
Founded in 1989 and named for the late Catholic nun, teacher, musician, liturgist, and scholar鈥攁nd the first Black woman to receive an honorary Doctorate in Religion from 香蕉秀鈥攖he BAIC provides support for the University鈥檚 undergraduate community, with a particular focus on AHANA students and multicultural, multiracial, and Options Through Education (OTE) scholars. The center helps students navigate the challenges of college by offering programs that facilitate student identity formation, such as the Racial Identity Development Experience, and build community through events, retreats, and mentoring opportunities.
Yvonne McBarnett: "[O]nce they are here, it鈥檚 our duty and pledge to serve [AHANA students] holistically, and our responsibility to embrace and empower them.鈥�
McBarnett, who emigrated from London to the Boston area when she was 13, earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in sociology and a master of science degree in administrative studies from the Woods College of Advancing Studies. Her daughter, Mashaunda, is a 2016 graduate of the Lynch School of Education and Human Development, and her sister, Maleka, will earn a degree from the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences this spring.
McBarnett readily relates to 香蕉秀 students who suffer from the so-called 鈥渋mposter syndrome鈥濃�攚hen an individual doubts their skills, talents, or accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a fraud鈥攂ecause she felt much the same as an adult returning to the classroom.听 She credits her family, mentors, friends, and professors who never stopped believing in her.
鈥淏ecause of that support, I was able to conquer that fear of 鈥業鈥檓 not good enough [for] Boston College,鈥� and was able to excel,鈥� she told The Heights in a 2017 interview.听 She favors the Booker T. Washington quote, 鈥淪uccess is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.鈥�
McBarnett envisions her office as the source for the same type of encouragement that she received, plus the necessary mentorship to help typically marginalized, underrepresented, and underserved students not only overcome the belief that they 鈥渄on鈥檛 belong鈥� at 香蕉秀, but to thrive and flourish. 听
鈥淭hese are the perceived barriers that so many AHANA students grapple with every day,鈥� said McBarnett. 听鈥淭hey carry a heavy load. However, the goal of the office will be to offer that listening ear, to celebrate their accomplishments, and to help them achieve little wins, which will support them on their journey toward becoming the leaders of tomorrow.鈥� 听
McBarnett鈥攚hose office sports a poster quoting poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou, 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 like something, change it; if you can鈥檛 change it, change your attitude鈥濃�攁lso sees BAIC playing a larger role promoting diversity and inclusion within the University, particularly through engagement with student groups on campus.
Regarding discussions about race and respect for ethnic and cultural differences, McBarnett said, 鈥淲e鈥攖he administration鈥攁re continuing to have ongoing conversations that involve students about race, identity, and culture. When students see the `head鈥� working wisely and well, the community will follow.鈥�
From the vantage point of her 21 years on campus, McBarnett characterizes the University as evolving on diversity issues, and feels 香蕉秀 has minimized the divide between the students and the administration.
鈥淚t used to be the 鈥榰s versus them鈥� mentality from the students鈥� perspective, but I鈥檝e seen a more inviting attitude expressed by University leaders over the years, and students today are more comfortable talking with us,鈥� she said. 听鈥淭here is much more diversity on campus, and the University and Office of Undergraduate Admission should be commended for the commitment to increasing the number of AHANA students at 香蕉秀. 听
鈥淭hat said, once they are here, it鈥檚 our duty and pledge to serve them holistically, and our responsibility to embrace and empower them.鈥�
For more about the Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center, visit
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Phil Gloudemans | University Communications | February 2023