Welcome.

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Welcome.

Meet Dr. Liz Barr

Meet Dr. Liz Barr

Dr. Liz Barr is a dedicated activist, transdisciplinary researcher, and passionate teacher. She’s committed to health equity, gender justice, and social change.

Her research program has roots in street-based activism, biomedical sciences, feminist politics, humanities, and social science research–a unique skillset that enables her to seamlessly communicate information to diverse audiences.

Dr. Barr completed her PhD at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where she studied Rhetoric, Politics, and Culture in the Communication Arts Department. Her dissertation, Queer Traces: Counterpublic Memories of Scientific AIDS Activism, explores the interplays of public memory, queer theory/activism, and science.

She has Master’s-level training in Women’s and Gender Studies and rhetorical studies. Barr undertook independent research for both degrees–focusing on artistic responses to the US HIV crisis for one, and The Icarus Project, a radical mental health collective, for the other. 

A Baltimore native, Dr. Barr completed her undergraduate work at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and received two Bachelor’s degrees in 2009 — one in Gender and Women’s Studies and one in Interdisciplinary Studies (Art as Activism). She completed an undergraduate thesis project for each of these degrees; both theses looked at AIDS activism and embodiment.

While completing her academic training, Liz remained highly involved in HIV treatment activism–a second full time job. Activist work has provided Liz with a wealth of mentors who inspire her every day.

In her free time, Dr. Barr likes getting outside, functional fitness, and cooking for friends.

June2020
Contact Dr. Liz Barr

Testimonials

  • Dr. Barr makes her classrooms a safe, welcoming environment for all of her students to learn and grow as individuals.

    I had the pleasure of having Dr. Barr as my professor last semester, and i’m truly grateful to have met her. Not only does Dr. Barr inspire her students, she also cares about them deeply. Dr. Barr makes her classrooms a safe, welcoming environment for all of her students to learn and grow as individuals. Through her teaching, I discovered the incredible work of feminist writers and scholars that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Dr. Barr is an incredibly passionate, helpful professor who wants nothing more than for her students to succeed in every aspect of their own lives. I believe that, because of Dr. Barr, I have gained an enormous amount of knowledge on subjects that matter, and I have found an ability to relate to many authors that I never would have discovered if it weren’t for her class. I have always had an intense hesitation disclosing my transgender status to professors, although I have never directly experienced discrimination from them during my time at University. Dr. Barr incorporates intersectionality in her classes, and makes it a clear point that transgender people have unique, important experiences that deserve to be shared. I looked forward to each class with Dr. Barr, and I believe that her style of teaching has been the most effective educational experience during my time at University.

    Former Student
    Undergraduate

  • A class that was fun, open, challenging critically and artistically, and a judgement free zone where students from different background shared different perspectives on a common subject.

    Dr. Liz’s class was my favorite class during my fall semester and is STILL my favorite class I have taken so far. She treats the students like adults and takes our thoughts and opinions seriously. She made the class a safe haven for me, where I was comfortable sharing my thoughts. A class that was fun, open, challenging critically and artistically, and a judgement free zone where students from different background shared different perspectives on a common subject. I have learned a lot during Dr. Liz’s class and have become very active in women’s right after the class, from attending the women’s March, donating to planned parenthood, signing petitions that will allow me to regulate my own body and also educating the men in my life. Dr. Liz is a very amazing professor and any student to take her class are in for an amazing semester!

    Former Student
    Undergraduate

  • Dedicated to ensuring effective academic – community partnerships

    “Liz Barr is knowledgeable and passionate about meaningful involvement of communities in biomedical research, particularly infectious diseases research.  I cannot think of a better person to provide technical assistance around diversity efforts, education and engagement of community stakeholders, and capacity building for outreach and engagement programs. She is dedicated to ensuring effective academic – community partnerships, meaningful engagement and win-win partnerships.”
    Karine Dubé, DrPH
    Assistant Professor, Public Health Leadership Program
    UNC-Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health