A Legacy of Serving

Dr. Barké to Retire After Impactful Career as Department Chair, Professor

Dr. Charles Barké concluded his tenure as chair of the Department of Psychology and Counseling in August and is teaching his final classes this fall. He will retire in January, leaving a lasting legacy as a visionary leader and fervent advocate for student success.

“Dr. Barké has done an exceptional job of building programs and advancing the study of psychology and counseling at UT Tyler,” said Dr. Wesley Hickey, dean of the College of Education and Psychology. “Student enrollment has grown exponentially under his leadership, and he has put numerous initiatives in place to ensure that students are successful at the University and well-prepared to thrive in their future careers."

A native of Long Island, New York, Barké has served as a teacher and leader in higher education for more than 35 years. He joined UT Tyler as chair and professor in 2007, after chairing departments of psychology and counseling at universities in Missouri and North Dakota. He is married to Dr. Rosemary Barké, who is also a member of the psychology and counseling faculty.

Highlights of his leadership at UT Tyler have included the implementation and accreditation of the Master of Arts degree in clinical mental health counseling, establishment of the first clinical psychology Ph.D. program in East Texas, and development of the Memory Assessment and Research Center, which conducts leading-edge studies on dementia while providing free testing and services to the community. He also created the College of Education and Psychology Mentor Center, which trains graduate students to help undergraduates overcome barriers to success.

In the following Q&A, Barké shares his most memorable experiences at UT Tyler, his hopes for the future of the department and his plans for retirement.

What brought you to UT Tyler?

While residing in Missouri, we encountered a severe ice storm in the winter of 2006. We were without power for 13 days and several trees on our property were down. We lived in a rural community and were pretty isolated. During that process, we began to consider moving to a warmer climate.

We had been to East Texas on a vacation trip and thought it was beautiful country. After the ice storm, my wife saw the announcement about the opening for department chair at UT Tyler. I applied for the position and was invited to come for an interview. We liked everything about the University, including the beautiful campus setting and friendly atmosphere. So everything worked out as far as our readiness to move further south and the UT Tyler position being offered to me.

What have been some of the highlights of your time at UT Tyler?

Being a part of the growth of the department and its programs has been one of the highlights for me. There were about nine faculty when I was hired and we have 18 full-time faculty now. So we've doubled in size. The successful creation and national accreditation of the clinical mental health counseling program was another milestone. Most recently, in 2018, we launched the Ph.D. in clinical psychology, which was one of the department's strategic goals presented to me when I was hired.

Another highlight would be the opening of the Memory Assessment Research Center under the direction of former faculty member Dr. Andrew Schmidt. He and I spent a lot of time generating support and funding from the community and launching the program. Now directed by Dr. Michael Barnett, the center is still thriving. It is a strong research center and provides great educational opportunities for our students while also serving the East Texas community.

What have you enjoyed most about UT Tyler?

I would say the collegiality in the department and beyond the department. And I think the students are fantastic. Every year, we have a great body of students to teach and to get to know.

I have also appreciated and enjoyed the support of the central administration, beginning with Dr. Rodney Mabry, former president of UT Tyler, and Dr. William Geiger, who was dean of the college when I was hired. ... UT Tyler has been a great place to be for the last decade or so of my professional life.

What are your hopes for the future of the Department of Psychology and Counseling?

I hope they continue to look for opportunities to grow and do new things. We have always been willing to step up and take on new directives and initiatives that come our way. When asked to implement entrepreneurial summer activities or to teach online courses, we were eager to take on those challenges. I believe that is one of the reasons why we are perceived as a positive unit on campus. I hope the department continues to reach for new opportunities for our students and for our faculty as well.

What are your plans for retirement?

We have a little place on a lake south of Tyler, so I'll be spending more time on the lake. I'm also looking forward to spending more time with our children and grandchildren. In addition, I want to find ways to become more connected in the community, particularly in terms of volunteering and giving back.

Do you have hobbies?

I enjoy woodworking and I'm looking forward to doing more of it, but our main hobbies are named Angel and Bailey – our 2 ½-year-old black lab-cocker spaniels. We got them as Christmas puppies, so my wife chose their names from the movie, “It's a Wonderful Life.” They keep us active and love us unconditionally, so that's ideal!