Barbara Avery is best known publicly as the wife of James Avery, the actor who became internationally recognized for playing Philip Banks, or Uncle Phil, on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Yet her own professional story developed far beyond Hollywood. Barbara built a long career in higher education, student affairs and university administration, eventually reaching senior leadership positions at several institutions.
Her career included leadership at Loyola Marymount University, Holy Names University, Occidental College and the University of Michigan-Flint. University records describe her as an experienced student advocate whose work covered student development, inclusion, residential life, counseling, career services and other areas of campus life. Her professional achievements provide an important part of her story alongside her 26-year marriage to James Avery.
Quick Facts
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Barbara Avery |
| Profession | Educator and higher-education administrator |
| Primary field | Student affairs and university leadership |
| Undergraduate degree | B.A., University of California, San Diego, 1974 |
| Master’s degree | M.A., 1976 |
| Doctoral degree | Ed.D., Pepperdine University, 1998 |
| Loyola Marymount role | Dean of Students |
| Holy Names role | Vice President for Student Affairs |
| Occidental role | Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students |
| University of Michigan-Flint role | Vice Chancellor for Campus Inclusion and Student Life |
| Husband | James Avery |
| Marriage | 1988 until James Avery’s death in 2013 |
| Son | Kevin Waters |
Barbara Avery’s Professional Background
Barbara Avery developed her professional identity in higher education, concentrating on the areas of university life that support students outside the traditional classroom. Her work included student affairs administration, campus programs, student development and services designed to help students remain engaged with their education. By 2015, the University of Michigan described her as having more than 20 years of higher-education experience.
Her career also reached well beyond a single administrative specialty. University records describe responsibilities involving career services, residential life, housing, intercultural affairs, women’s leadership, disability support, health and counseling, student conduct, veterans, first-generation students and community engagement. That broad portfolio helps explain why her career became closely associated with student advocacy and institutional leadership.
Barbara Avery’s Education and Academic Foundation
Barbara earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, San Diego, in 1974. She continued her education and received a master’s degree in 1976, building an academic foundation that later supported her advancement through increasingly senior university positions. Her connection with UC San Diego also became significant in her family’s philanthropic work.
She later completed an Ed.D. from Pepperdine University in 1998. Her doctoral-level education complemented a career that increasingly involved institutional leadership, student development and administration. The combination of academic preparation and years of practical experience became a defining feature of her professional profile.
Barbara Avery’s Career in Higher Education
Barbara’s career progressed through several levels of student-affairs leadership. The University of Michigan’s 2015 appointment record describes her as having served in positions ranging from dean of campus life and dean of students to vice president for student affairs, with more than ten years as a chief student-affairs officer. This progression placed her among the senior administrators responsible for shaping students’ wider university experience.
Her professional work also included teaching. The University of Michigan record states that she served as an adjunct faculty member at several community colleges and taught for ten years at Springfield College’s Los Angeles campus, where adult students were working toward master’s degrees. Her approach emphasized the experiences and skills those returning students brought into the classroom.
Her Years at Loyola Marymount University
Barbara spent a substantial part of her career at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where she served as Dean of Students. Professional records place her in the role for roughly eleven years, making LMU one of the most important institutions in her career. Her responsibilities placed her directly within the university’s student-life structure.
Her influence at LMU extended beyond an administrative title. The university’s digital oral-history archive includes a recollection from alumnus John P. Crocker Jr., who specifically identified Barbara Avery as one of the mentors who influenced him. That record provides a personal example of how her professional work was remembered by members of the university community.
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Leadership at Holy Names University
After her years at Loyola Marymount, Barbara moved into another senior university position at Holy Names University in Oakland, California. The university’s 2004–06 catalog identifies her as Vice President for Student Affairs and lists her Ed.D. from Pepperdine University, providing institutional documentation for both her executive role and doctoral credential.
The position continued the direction of her career in student affairs. Rather than moving into entertainment or a celebrity-related profession through her marriage, Barbara remained focused on university administration and student services. Her work at Holy Names became another stage in a career built around helping institutions develop programs and environments that support students.
Barbara Avery at Occidental College
In 2005, Barbara joined Occidental College in Los Angeles as Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students. She remained in that senior role for about a decade. Occidental’s own publication later noted that she left the college in October 2015 to take a leadership position at the University of Michigan-Flint.
Her Occidental responsibilities reflected the broad scope of her student-affairs career. She worked with areas involving student life, housing, counseling, health, career services, disability support and student conduct. Occidental’s records also document the high level of responsibility attached to her position, confirming that she was part of the college’s senior administrative leadership.
Her Role at the University of Michigan-Flint
In November 2015, Barbara became Vice Chancellor for Campus Inclusion and Student Life at the University of Michigan-Flint. The University of Michigan Board of Regents approved the appointment, describing her as an experienced student advocate and administrator who had established programs and services designed to improve the college experience.
Her portfolio at Michigan-Flint was extensive. It included areas such as student activities, intercultural programs, housing, counseling, accessibility, financial aid, student conduct, women’s educational programs, veterans support and first-generation student initiatives. The position also placed her on the chancellor’s senior staff and gave her oversight of a division with approximately $6 million in its budget, alongside more than $23 million in financial aid, according to the 2015 appointment document.
Barbara Avery and James Avery’s Marriage
Barbara Avery married actor James Avery in 1988. Their marriage lasted until James’s death on December 31, 2013, giving them a relationship of approximately 26 years. James was already developing a substantial acting career and later became best known worldwide for playing Uncle Phil on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Although James became a familiar face on television, Barbara maintained a separate professional identity in higher education. Their lives therefore connected two very different fields: James worked in acting and entertainment, while Barbara worked in universities and student development. Their shared interests also extended to education through their philanthropic support of UC San Diego.
Barbara Avery’s Family Life
Barbara’s family life included her son Kevin Waters, who was James Avery’s stepson. James did not have biological children, but he became Kevin’s stepfather during his marriage to Barbara. Established accounts following James Avery’s death identified Barbara and Kevin among his surviving immediate family members.
The family connection was also reflected in coverage of James’s final years and his death. Major publications identified Barbara Avery as his wife of 26 years and Kevin Waters as his stepson. These details place Barbara’s family relationship at the center of the personal side of James Avery’s public biography.
Philanthropy and the James Avery Scholarship
Barbara and James Avery shared a meaningful connection with UC San Diego, where James studied and where Barbara was also an alumna. In 2014, UC San Diego reported that the couple had established the James Avery Scholarship to support African American students studying performing arts. The scholarship connected their educational backgrounds with their commitment to helping future students.
The scholarship is particularly significant because it reflects both sides of their professional lives. James used his success in entertainment to support aspiring performers, while Barbara brought a long background in higher education and student advocacy to the partnership. Their contribution created an enduring educational link between performing arts, opportunity and student support.
Barbara Avery’s Professional Legacy
Barbara’s professional legacy is closely tied to the students and university communities she served. Her work covered a wide range of issues affecting campus life, from student health and housing to inclusion, career development, disability services and leadership programs. Her 2015 University of Michigan appointment described her as an administrator committed to creating an inclusive environment that supported learning and personal development.
Another important part of her legacy is her work with adult learners and students from different backgrounds. She taught returning adult students pursuing master’s degrees and participated in professional organizations including ACPA and NASPA. She also worked with initiatives involving women’s empowerment and foster youth, showing that her professional interests extended beyond conventional administrative duties.
Barbara Avery’s Later Professional Legacy
Barbara’s appointment at Michigan-Flint represented the continuation of a career that had already included decades of higher-education work. The university’s records show that her leadership role involved a wide network of student programs and administrative services, making her responsible for areas that touched many parts of campus life.
Her successor, Christopher M. Giordano, was appointed vice chancellor for student affairs in 2018 after Barbara Avery’s tenure ended. University of Michigan-Flint reporting specifically identified Giordano as following Avery in the role, providing a documented endpoint for her leadership at the institution.
Interesting Facts About Barbara Avery
- Barbara Avery earned her B.A. from UC San Diego in 1974 and later completed an Ed.D. from Pepperdine University.
- She spent about a decade as Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Occidental College.
- Her 2015 University of Michigan appointment described her as having more than 20 years of higher-education experience.
- Barbara and James Avery helped establish a UC San Diego scholarship for African American students studying performing arts.
- James Avery was the stepfather of Kevin Waters, Barbara’s son, during their marriage.
Conclusion
Barbara Avery’s story extends far beyond her connection to a famous television actor. She built a substantial career in higher education and student affairs, serving in senior positions at Loyola Marymount University, Holy Names University, Occidental College and the University of Michigan-Flint. Her professional record shows a sustained focus on student development, inclusion and campus support.
Her marriage to James Avery connected her life to one of television’s most recognizable actors, but her own accomplishments stand independently. From earning advanced academic degrees to leading major university divisions and supporting educational opportunities through philanthropy, Barbara Avery developed a legacy rooted in education, student advocacy and community service.
FAQs
Who is Barbara Avery?
Barbara Avery is an educator and higher-education administrator who held senior student-affairs roles at several universities.
Who was Barbara Avery’s husband?
Barbara Avery was married to actor James Avery, best known as Uncle Phil on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
When did Barbara Avery marry James Avery?
Barbara and James Avery married in 1988 and remained together until his death in 2013.
What degree did Barbara Avery earn?
Barbara earned a B.A. in 1974, a master’s degree in 1976, and an Ed.D. from Pepperdine University in 1998.
Did Barbara Avery work in education?
Yes. Her career included senior university leadership, student affairs administration and teaching adult graduate students.
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