Peter B. Barr has been named provost and senior vice president of Coastal Carolina University, according to an announcement by Coastal President Ronald R. Ingle. Barr has served as university provost since August 2002.

“Pete has a distinguished record of commitment to Coastal’s ambitious academic mission, and he is willing to take on additional duties to lead the university to new achievements in scholarship, faculty research and community service,” Ingle said.

As provost and senior vice president, Barr is the chief academic officer of the university. University officials who report to the provost include the deans of Coastal’s academic colleges, the library and enrollment services, as well as the directors of the international and honors programs. Additionally, Barr will oversee information technology and institutional research and assessment.

Barr joined the Coastal faculty in 1987. He served as dean of Coastal’s E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration from July 1992 to October 2000. During his tenure as dean, the Wall College of Business earned national accreditation and developed many innovative programs, including the Resort Tourism Management program, the PGA-endorsed Professional Golf Management program, and the Wall Fellows program, an intensive leadership training initiative for top business students. From 2000 to 2002, Barr served as chief planning and human resources officer for Burroughs and Chapin Company Inc.

Barr has been instrumental in establishing a mentoring program with Horry County Schools in which Coastal Carolina students mentor fourth- through 10th-grade students identified as at-risk. The emphasis on public engagement coupled with academic learning encourages students to forge meaningful community connections while gaining first-hand exposure to social and economic issues. Barr also has a considerable record of volunteer community service throughout the Horry County-Grand Strand area. He was recently named Volunteer of the Year for the City of Myrtle Beach.

Barr earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in business administration from Marshall University and a doctoral degree in business administration from Louisiana Tech University. Prior to joining the Coastal faculty he taught at Marshall University.