DeKALB – NIU vice president and Athletic Director Sean Frazier announced Chris Barker was hired as the athletic department’s new senior associate athletic director for development and revenue generation. 

“I am extremely pleased to welcome Chris Barker and his family to the Huskie family,” Frazier said in an NIU Athletics press release. “I have no doubt he will make an immediate and positive impact on NIU that will extend beyond our department.”

In 2018, Barker was associate director of athletics for internal operations for the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

Barker remained at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside for three years before taking the position of director of athletics and chief development officer at Southern Connecticut State University.

At SCSU, revenue increased by as much as 250% under Barker as well as the donation numbers increasing by 30%. Barker also manned an 80% increase in corporate partnerships. 

Barker also saw several improvements to SCSU’s athletic facilities such as their track, softball field, baseball field and field house.

Barker was employed at SCSU for two years prior to becoming senior associate athletic director at NIU. 

Barker begins his tenure at NIU Monday.