Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes is a distinguished sports executive, trailblazing as the first African-American female commissioner in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the HBCU Athletic Conference. She plays a pivotal role in advancing athletic programs, offering strategic consultancy to national sports bodies, and fostering leadership through her So You Want A Career in Athletics™ program.
She is the author of Blazing Your Own Trail: Faith, Focus and Forward Momentum in Leadership and was named one of the 100 Influential Black Women in Sports by Sports Illustrated and EmpowerOnyx. In 2025, she received the SportsPower Brunch Spotlight Award, celebrating the most powerful women in sports.
Her contributions have garnered national acclaim from NBC Sports On Her Turf, Essence, BizBash, FanSided, Sports Illustrated, Black Enterprise, The Grio, the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans, and the Girl Scouts of Louisiana Southeast. She also appeared as a Title IX expert on TBS’s The Arena.
Among her many accolades are the Nike Nell Jackson Executive of the Year (2021), Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year (2019), and Administrator of the Year (2015) awards.
Dr. Barnes earned her undergraduate and doctoral degrees from the University of New Orleans and a master’s from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. A proud native of Minden, Louisiana, she resides in New Orleans with her husband, Dr. Marc A. Barnes. She is active on several boards and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and The Links, Incorporated.
Learn more at KikiBakerBarnes.com.
