LAFAYETTE TODAY
Family Man
Throughout a 39-year Lafayette
career in which he has earned national and international recognition as an authority in his field, one thing has remained at the heart of it all for Barry McCarty, who retires June 30 as dean of enrollment services: dedication to helping families.
“Countless Lafayette families have
benefited from his talent for describing a daunting process in a way that is clear, candid, and reassuring,” President Dan Weiss says.
“It’s very rewarding to help families through what they perceive as a ‘maze’ of college planning and financing,” McCarty says. “That was also the purpose in writing Making College Affordable and op-eds in
the New York Times. Helping ease the process and giving families a higher comfort level
is very satisfying.”
McCarty began his career as assistant director of admissions in 1967. In 1997, after serving 22 years as director of financial aid, he was named dean of enrollment services. The author of two books, How to Pay for Your Child’s College Education and Making College Affordable, he has written articles in the Times, Chronicle of Higher Education, and other papers and appeared on The Today Show, CBS This Morning and other national programs.
“You have worked tirelessly to raise the academic profile of the student body and to allocate the College’s financial-aid resources wisely and equitably,” the trustees said in a message of appreciation. Lafayette is establishing in his name an annual award that recognizes outstanding service by a volunteer Alumni Admissions Representative and placing a plaque honoring him in the admissions reception area of Markle Hall.
While retirement will not mark the end of McCarty’s affiliation with the Lafayette family (he’ll continue with part-time duties, including a recruiting trip to Asia this fall and a new international alumni outreach initiative, among other activities), it will allow him to spend much more time with his wife, Pam, and their family, including three adopted grandchildren with special needs. He is
very much looking forward to that.
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