Wanda Barnard-Bailey, PhD, LCSW, ACSW Biography

Dr. Wanda Barnard-Bailey was appointed Deputy City Manager for the City of Chesapeake, Virginia, in August 2005. In her capacity as Deputy City Manager, she was designated the City’s first Chief Equity Officer in June 2020. She is responsible for the Departments of Human Services; Human Resources; Parks, Recreation and Tourism; Libraries; Call Center; and Integrated Behavioral Healthcare. During her tenure with the City, she has worked with employees to establish the City's employee customer service standards known as the CARE Standards, developed the City’s Youth and 55+ Comprehensive Plans, and organized employees in the development of the Chesapeake Employee Hardship Assistance Program. Dr. Barnard-Bailey serves as the City's United Way Campaign Contact, Chair for the United Way Regional Advisory Council, Co-Chair for the Mayor’s Task Force on Youth Initiatives, and Chair of the late City Manager Dr. Clarence V. Cuffee Endowed Scholarship Committee.

 

Dr. Barnard-Bailey earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Recreation Administration (Recreation Therapy) and her Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of North Carolina, in Chapel Hill. She graduated from Norfolk State University’s Doctor of Social Work Program in 2001 after defending her dissertation entitled “An Exploratory Study of Cognitive Behavioral Group Treatment Outcomes of Males Who Abused Their Female Partners.” She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the State of North Carolina, a graduate of the University of Virginia’s Leading Educating and Developing Program, and a graduate of the Hampton Roads CIVIC Leadership Institute.

Dr. Barnard-Bailey’s career began as a hospice social worker and later, Home Health/Hospice Coordinator with Albemarle Home Care in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. She was the first school social worker for Currituck County Schools in North Carolina. For five years, she served in that capacity which included the responsibilities of the Dropout Prevention Coordinator and Alcohol/Drug Prevention Coordinator. Dr. Barnard-Bailey served as the Navy Mid-Atlantic Region Counseling and Advocacy Coordinator for Fleet and Family Support Programs. As the Regional Coordinator, she had the responsibility of overseeing policy implementation for the Family Advocacy Program (Child and Spouse Abuse), Counseling, Sexual Assault Violence Intervention (SAVI), and Victim Advocacy programs for eight installations in three states: Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Dr. Barnard-Bailey supported the USS Cole Family Assistance Center as part of the Navy’s Fleet and Family Services Program, facilitated the Hampton Road Military and Civilian Family Violence Prevention Task Force, and later served as the Chair of the Hampton Roads Military/Civilian Council on Family Violence Prevention.

Her professional/organization memberships include: International City Management Association, National Forum for Black Public Administrators, National Association of Social Workers, Virginia Association of Local Human Services Officials, Co-Chair of Norfolk State School of Social Advisory Board, and Old Dominion University Advisory Board for the School of Public Service.

Her awards include: Famous Former Girl Scout Award in 2014, Chesapeake Medical Reserve Corps Outstanding Champion Award in 2013, Hampton Roads YWCA Women of Distinction Award, the Chesapeake Department of Human Services Thirteenth Director’s Visionary Award in 2011, Ignite Chesapeake – Making a Contribution (MAC) Award, the Martin Luther King Leadership Award in 2007, and she received Department of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Medals in 2003 and 2005.

Dr. Barnard-Bailey resides in Chesapeake with her husband Kevin. She has 3 sons, Kevin II (bonus child); Courtney, US Marine; and Coby, a Senior at Indiana Tech. She enjoys traveling with her family and friends and sporting events, especially Track and Field. She is member of the Chesapeake/Virginia Beach Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Basilica of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.