Ken Barr Jr.
Director of Student Strengths Development, Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Ken Barr Jr. is the Director of Student Strengths Development at Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC). He has worked in KVCC's Student Success Center since its inception in 2007. Ken was introduced to StrengthsQuest during his first month on the job. After researching the program, he began using strengths in his role as a career advisor/success advocate. Ken completed Gallup's Strengths Advocate certification training in June 2008. In July 2009, KVCC decided to expand the use of strengths on campus, and Ken was chosen to lead the program as its Director.
Curriculum integration has proven to be the best gateway for participating in StrengthsQuest at KVCC, and Ken is responsible for seeking out and recruiting instructors who also want to incorporate StrengthsQuest in their courses. He assists instructors by providing group and individual facilitation and interpretation of Clifton StrengthsFinder results. Ken also oversees the Student Strengths Development office, a resource center for students and instructors. There, students can take StrengthsQuest on a walk-in basis and receive feedback on their talent themes.
Ken has experience using the StregthsQuest Activity Workbook, and he has expertise in group assessment and promoting of StrengthsQuest. Ken also has used the Strengths Impact Measure (SIM) and conducted videotaped-qualitative interviews for evaluation and assessment. His strengths-related interests include career advising, employment services, team-building, group dynamics, and relationships.
Ken earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Michigan and a master's degree in counselor education and counseling psychology from Western Michigan University. He is certified in strength-based education and serves and as a Gallup StrengthsQuest Advisor. His top five talent themes, as identified by the Clifton StrengthsFinder, are Input, Maximizer, Arranger, Woo, and Learner.
