Alex Gervais ’28
Managing Editor
Last year, at the end of an interview with the Tripod, Joe Barber remarked, “I don’t know if I’ve ever had a dream job. I just feel like I’ve been really lucky to be in this one.” For those of us in the Trinity community, it feels that we’ve been lucky to have crossed paths with Barber’s 30 years of service to the college and the community.
Initially coming to Hartford as a member of AmeriCorps, a chance encounter on campus landed him a job as a graduate assistant in the Community Service Office. Since then, Barber has left a true mark on campus, defined both by discrete efforts like the Bantam Bus Pass and the Coop, but also by the impacts made on individuals. The Tripod feels that Barber’s legacy is best honored by hearing directly from the very people he left a mark on at Trinity. Printed below are submissions from alumni and community members about the impact he made on them. A special thank you to Coach John Michael Mason ’12 M’14 and Lilliana Poley ’21 M’23 for bringing together the people that made this article possible.
“Joe and I began work at Trinity close to the same time. Throughout, Joe has been a friend, confidant, and someone I could rely on for a listening ear, a good laugh, and a helping hand. We share a deep commitment to the students and our work, as well as longevity at Trinity. Can’t imagine the last decades without Joe around!”
Laura Lockwood M’95, Director of WGRAC
“Joe was a constant in my Trinity experience. We got to know each other my freshman year and I will always be grateful for his encouragement. He gave me many opportunities to explore my interest in graphic design and I wouldn’t be where I am today in my career without his support! I was also immensely honored by his endorsement for Phi Beta Kappa. Thank you, Joe!”
Diana Rose Smith ‘19
“Working with Joe has been inspiring. His dedication to Trinity College, community service, and civic engagement has been remarkable and deserves celebration. It has been an honor having you as a colleague for the past five years. Thank you, Joe, for 30 years of service to Trinity, its students, staff, faculty, and the Hartford community.”
Liliana Polley ’21 M’23, Executive Director, Center for Hartford Engagement and Research (CHER)
“Joe helped greenlight a mentoring program that started at MD Fox Elementary and then moved to the Kennelly School. Joe was always there to problem solve and support wide-eyed students.”
Jake Prosnit ’12
“One of the largest impacts Joe has had on my life is in my confidence in myself. As a student director for Trinity Film Festival, I always looked to Joe’s expertise with planning events and working with a team of students. His advice was always helpful, and he always encouraged me to believe in myself and believe that I was capable of success. His dedication to our event, and most importantly, his students, is apparent in every single one of his actions. Joe has been and continues to be an amazing mentor to so many students, and I count myself lucky that I was fortunate enough to spend so much time working alongside him. I don’t think I would be the person I am today without his confidence in me! Thank you Joe, congratulations on 30 years at Trinity!”
Cecelia Morello ’24
“I will always remember fondly the impact Joe made on my Trinity College student experience through his dedication to community service and involvement in the Trinity Film Festival. It was incredible to be able to witness such dedication, hard work and community building which made it possible to be able to put on community events such as the Trinity Film Festival. I will always look back fondly on these memories and they have touched me deeply as well as given me skills I use daily.”
Shirin Dadina ’24
“Joe has been my noon-time running partner for 26 years, and my partner as liaisons to the cross country and running teams. I have loved learning all the ins and outs of Do It Day, Ditch the Dumpster and the Thanksgiving Food Drive. Joe is someone who cares about doing good.”
Tim Curran, Vernon K. Krieble Professor of Chemistry
“Joe made such an impact on my life. His office was always a welcoming space with open arms when you needed it most.”
Brooke Agro ’22
“Joe was the most down-to-earth person I knew at Trinity. Oftentimes, it felt easy to get trapped inside the campus bubble, but he was one of the few who reminded me there was a world and community outside it that mattered. One of my fondest memories was during my senior year working on the Trinity Film Festival. It was a particularly stressful year because I was also juggling two theses, but in that community service office, I always felt supported and challenged in the best ways. A lot of the details are a blur, but I clearly remember leaving that office every time believing my ideas were worth building, and that I had people behind me willing to put in the work. What I admired most about Joe is his commitment to service over recognition. He was instrumental in so many things I was part of at Trinity, yet he rarely paused to take the credit he deserved. That kind of leadership and humility is what I try to emulate even now. Joe shows up every day and works to make students’ ideas real. He makes students feel like we matter and have something worthwhile to contribute.”
Bettina Gonzalez ’16
“In addition to the countless hours (above and beyond what 30 years could represent) of work and energy Joe has dedicated to the Trinity community, he is also incredibly fun. He would attend the “coffeehouses” (open mic nights) thrown by The Fred during my time as a student – occasionally gracing us with his unique and spirited renditions of 1980s and ‘90s Billboard hits. The fair and kind way with which he guided the student leadership and residents of The Fred has stayed with me and shapes how I approach being an educator. When I returned to Trinity as a member of the faculty, Joe was one of the first people to greet me with open arms, always stopping to say ‘hi’ and catch up when our paths crossed on campus. He remains one of my favorite people and parts of Trinity. He and the work he does encapsulate what Trinity should always be striving to represent: a tireless commitment to being of service to the community on but especially beyond campus, uplifting students and helping them identify how they and their talents benefit our social good and celebrating being one’s own person and true self.”
Teri Incampo ’12
“Joe treats everyone like an adult, and being given that level of respect in my first few years at Trinity helped me grow into a stronger leader. Being trusted relatively early on to run a weekly volunteer org. meant a lot to me, and it taught me that supporting community doesn’t just mean grand gestures, but showing up on a consistent basis to help others can make a meaningful difference.”
Dillard Taylor ’12
“As an international student, accommodations when school was not in session was always a struggle. Not only figuring out where to live, but also where to store stuff and how to transport them etc. Outside of the International Center, I am glad Joe was one of the people within the college I could count on to help me through my final process of leaving Hartford. I may be misremembering this, but I believe he offered space within his own place, asked around his peers for any availability and he ultimately helped move my things from my Crescent Street to a temporary location I had secured by then. As a former TFF team member, I was already aware of his generosity towards the Trinity community and those around him, but this specific experience left a lasting impression on me. It demonstrated Joe’s immense heart even beyond the campus, and will remain one of my fondest memories about Trinity and its people.”
Nirina Randrianarisoa ’21
“I have known Joe for over 20 years, and he is truly one of the most compassionate human beings I’ve ever met. As a first-year student, I was introduced to Joe and his office early on. At a time when I was still figuring out where I belonged on campus, Joe provided a safe and welcoming space for me to explore, find community and begin discovering the kind of impact I wanted to make.”
Haben Abraham ’10
For 30 years, the Office of Community Service has been a magnet for idealistic, ambitious students who care about making the world a better place – and that’s a direct reflection of Joe Barber. No matter what club, religious or multicultural organization, athletic team, or Greek society someone may be a part of – there’s a place for everyone in that Mather basement office. Joe has truly created a space where everyone belongs, no one’s afraid of hard work, and you’re guaranteed to make friends and make a difference in your community. As Joe’s grad assistant for three years, I not only learned tactical professional skills like how to stretch a budget and plan large-scale events such as Do It Day and Relay for Life, but also how to rally people and lead with empathy, trust, and authenticity. Joe profoundly shaped my approach to leadership and I’m forever thankful for all he taught me.
Sarah Hoyle ’05 M’07
Among the many positive memories I have with Joe, the summer of 2011 stands out as one of my favorites. I worked in the Office of Community Service and Civic Engagement with Joe to plan and execute Trinity’s Do It Day. Joe empowered me to coordinate the event and create an opportunity for Trinity students to connect with the Hartford community. I always knew I could rely on Joe for an honest perspective, and it was clear to me that he genuinely cared about making a positive impact—not only for Trinity students, but for the Hartford community as a whole. Working with Joe helped me learn so much about the community I was living in that I would not have known otherwise. The lessons I learned while coordinating Do It Day have stayed with me and continue to influence me throughout my career. I will always appreciate Joe’s commitment to service and the support he provides to students throughout their experience at Trinity. I’ll continue to seek Joe out whenever I visit Hartford or Trinity. No matter how much time has passed, we’re always able to pick up right where we left off. Congratulations, Joe! I’m grateful for your friendship.
Michael Schlesinger ’12
