Cora Masters Barry has a long history of public service and commitment to the District. She is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Recreation Wish List Committee. In this capacity, Ms. Masters Barry has helped lead the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center where youth in Washington, DC can learn about tennis. In 1980, she was appointed as the first woman on the three-member DC Boxing and Wrestling Commission, where she ultimately became chairman. Ms. Masters Barry is a former University of the District of Columbia political science professor and began her career in Washington, DC completing community projects the Anacostia and Shaw neighborhoods. Ms. Masters Barry worked as a counselor for teenage girls with Operation Sisters. A Ward 8 resident, Ms. Masters Barry received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas Southern University and a Masters of Arts degree from Howard University.
Mrs. Barry is at the forefront in the current national movement of Black Women Leaders advocating for pro democracy reform and voting rights advancement. She has also been a champion in addressing the health disparities in the Black community as evidenced by the disproportionate numbers of Black deaths from COVID-19. Among her initiatives, in collaboration with DC and private sector health partners, she brought the first, full-family "Don't Miss Your Shot" vaccination program to Ward 8.
Contact Email: [email protected]
Commissioner Since: January 21, 2020
Current Term Ends: June 30, 2027
