Nimisha Barton

Nimisha Barton is an accomplished scholar, equity practitioner, and educator currently serving as a Visiting Researcher at UC Irvine since May 2021.14 Her career combines academic research with practical work in diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) in higher education.

Dr. Barton holds a Ph.D. in History from Princeton University, which she completed in 2014.15 Her academic background also includes a Bachelor of Arts in History and Religious Studies from the University of California, Berkeley.1

As an equity practitioner, Dr. Barton has nearly a decade of experience in leadership roles focused on DEIJ initiatives. She describes herself as a "scholar-activist," indicating that her political values and activism inform her scholarship.1 Her work involves:

1. Consulting with higher education institutions and non-profit organizations to develop equity and inclusion strategic plans
2. Designing and delivering anti-bias training series for various stakeholders in educational settings
3. Developing evaluation metrics to measure the success of DEIJ projects

Prior to her current role, Dr. Barton held positions such as:

• Associate Director of the Freshman Scholars Institute and Programs for Access and Inclusion at Princeton University (2015-2018)
• Lecturer at various institutions including Princeton University, The College of New Jersey, and Cooper Union (2012-2015)
• Writing Fellow at Princeton University (2012-2013)

Dr. Barton is also an author and speaker. She has written about resilient resistance in DEI efforts and the challenges faced by DEI practitioners in predominantly white institutions.2 Her expertise extends to topics such as inclusive pedagogy, college access and success programs, and the state of American higher education.3

In recognition of her work, Dr. Barton received an Honorable Mention for the Pinkney Prize, highlighting her contributions to historical scholarship.5