Dr. Mike Allen, President of Barry University was recently interviewed by INVEST. Below is the article:

How does Barry University balance academic rigor with holistic student support so graduates are ready for future careers?

Higher education has been operating in an environment where no two years are the same. Since 2020, universities have navigated pandemic disruption, inflation that directly impacted families, and challenges within the federal student aid system, all while facing the rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence. Through all of that, the constant has been the need to remain adaptable and focused on delivering value to students.

One way we think about this balance is through four guiding priorities. The first is student success. That means helping students finish what they start and supporting them all the way through graduation, while also ensuring they understand their vocation, gain access to internships, build practical experience, and translate that into strong career outcomes. Graduation alone is no longer enough.

The second priority is meeting the talent and workforce demands of South Florida, Florida, and the nation. We want graduates who are prepared to contribute immediately in their chosen fields.

Third is learning by doing. Hands-on, experiential education is no longer limited to healthcare. It applies across disciplines, and students need opportunities to practice what they are learning in real-world settings.

The fourth priority is partnership with industry and community organizations. We want to listen closely to employers, understand their needs, and make sure our curriculum aligns with the skills students need to succeed.

Together, these priorities allow us to maintain academic rigor while providing the support, experience, and relevance students expect.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping every industry. How is Barry University approaching AI in a meaningful way?

We launched the AI Center at Barry, and what became clear is that this work is not only about creating technology. Today, AI tools are increasingly accessible. What employers are really looking for is the ability to use AI effectively, responsibly, and ethically across disciplines.

Our goal is to infuse AI into everything we teach. Barry University offers more than 100 programs and majors, and AI is reshaping healthcare, business, finance, education, counseling, the arts, and more. The AI Center helps our faculty understand these tools and how to integrate them into coursework, so students graduate with practical confidence, not just theoretical exposure.

The pace of change is real, and the expectation is that graduates can apply technology to deliver immediate value.

You began your tenure as Barry University’s seventh president in 2019 and led through significant disruption. How has your vision evolved?

During the pandemic, I often said the disruption would end, and we needed to be ready for what came next. While navigating those years, we never stopped planning for the future.

Afterward, we released a five-year strategic plan focused on recruiting students, ensuring student success, maintaining academic excellence, and building resources; pillars that will always matter. What has changed is how we pursue those goals.

The tools we use to recruit, advise, and support students are evolving rapidly. As a result, our planning horizon is changing as well. Going forward, our strategic plans will likely focus on shorter timeframes, closer to two years, because the pace of change makes long-range forecasting unrealistic.

In that context, the most important thing a university can do for students is teach them to think creatively and critically. Critical thinking, adaptability, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving are foundational skills that remain more essential than ever, especially as technology advances evolve.

With rising costs and demographic shifts, how is Barry sustaining enrollment while keeping education accessible?

Students and families are asking higher education to be more efficient and affordable, and rightly so. Families make sacrifices to invest in education, and students want a clear pathway from enrollment to employment.

Barry University is focused on helping students complete degrees in the most timely and efficient way possible without compromising quality. That includes clearer degree pathways, stackable certificates, and credentials that allow them to build momentum while working toward long-term goals.

Affordability also requires thoughtful institutional choices and partnerships that allow us to support students through resources and financial assistance. Reducing barriers and making education attainable is central to our mission.

To learn more about President Allen’s vision and outlook for the University, read the full feature here.