Julie Barefoot, 35 years

Tell us a little about the work you’ve done at Emory throughout your career.

In my 35 years, I've worked solely at the business school but in a few different roles: For my first six years at Emory, I was responsible for Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) student recruitment and student services.  And then, for over 25 years I oversaw student recruitment, admissions, and enrollment for our five Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs. During that time, I also oversaw the offices of MBA Career Services and Student Services which was a very educational experience.  And, in 2019 I had the honor of leading our Centennial Celebration.  I now serve as Chief of Staff to the Dean. 

What are some of your favorite memories of your time at Emory?

I have many favorite memories! I love interviewing prospective students, learning their personal story, and hearing about their MBA goals and career aspirations.  I have also enjoyed following those students as they become alumni and observing their career and personal success. I have especially enjoyed recruiting students for Goizueta around the globe. I’ve had the privilege of traveling to Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, Mumbai, Medellin, and many more amazing cities.  I’ve learned so much from these travels.  During these trips, I have also re-connected with treasured alumni.  And, of course, working with Emory colleagues who are now lifelong friends has been a fabulous experience.  

What are some of the most significant changes you have witnessed over the course of your career?

I would say the two biggest changes are in the diversity of our student body (on every measure) and the incredible changes in technology and speed of information flow. When I started at Emory in 1988, Goizueta did not recruit outside the US and that changed early-on in my career.  And, 35 years ago we had one computer lab, there were no personal computers and there was no internet so communicating with prospective students was a paper-intensive endeavor.  In the early 1990s, everything changed---we started proactively recruiting international students overseas and we promoted our MBA programs on the web.   

Is there anything you miss from “back in the day”?

We were a much smaller school then and I knew all my staff and faculty colleagues by name.  That’s no longer true.  

What do you hope for the future of Emory?

That Emory will continue to thrive and provide a transformative learning experience for our students. 

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I’ve always been very proud to work at Emory as I have witnessed firsthand the devotion of my faculty and staff colleagues to providing our students with an exceptional and supportive learning experience.