By 
February 5, 2025
Randy Barbour plays many roles in life. He’s an only child, a husband to Danielle, a former 1,000-yard rusher at Cornell University and a church elder.
Most recently, Barbour became the Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs in his hometown of Huntsville, Alabama. But the title he cherishes most is soon-to-be father.
Though still young, Barbour has packed a wealth of experience into his years. A proud graduate of J.O. Johnson High School, he went onto play football at Cornell where he earned his bachelor’s degree. His education didn’t stop there; Barbour earned an MBA from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and a master’s in psychology from Wichita State University. He later completed his doctorate in Community Psychology at Wichita State, a field he believes is key to his role as Multicultural Affairs Director.
“It’s the study of our environment and how it influences behavior,” he said.
Randy Barbour, Huntsville’s Director of Multicultural Affairs
His career reflects his dedication to learning, teaching and public service. Before joining the City, he served as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Alabama A&M. Prior to that, Barbour was the Education Program Director and Director of Operations at the nonprofit Harris Home for Children, a role that deepened his passion for helping children in the foster care system and children with intellectual disabilities.
“My mom was a special education teacher, so I’m a strong advocate for inclusive spaces, including those for individuals with intellectual disabilities,” he said. “I believe this is an untapped resource in our community, and their voices are often unheard.”
He recently took time out of his day to talk more about his life and his journey to the City of Huntsville.
Where are you from originally?
I was born and raised in Huntsville, and went through Huntsville City Schools. I attended Highlands Elementary, Ed White Middle School, and I’m proud to be a J.O. Johnson Jaguar.
What sparked your love of service and giving back to your community?
During my MBA studies at UAH, I developed a passion for community work, particularly with marginalized communities. I became involved with an organization called With Love to Serve that focused on supporting young people in the city school system. We raised funds to provide uniforms and organized a benefit concert to gather school supplies. I also worked with the founders of the Cap and Gown Project to arrange more college visits for students and occasionally served as a chaperone on trips. The Cap and Gown initiative aimed to expose kids to various universities, helping them envision a future in higher education and encouraging them to consider college as a real possibility.
What drew you to this opportunity?
The chance to make an impact on a larger scale and shape the city and community I care about. It’s an opportunity to drive meaningful change. It’s not just about black and white, male and female; it’s about creating connections with communities that are often left out and advocating for those who don’t have a voice.
I want to be remembered as someone who made a meaningful impact by ensuring that everyone felt seen, heard and valued. My hope is that people will say I helped foster a more inclusive and welcoming environment where all individuals felt a true sense of belonging. — Randy Barbour, Director of Multicultural Affairs
What does the phrase “multicultural affairs” mean to you?
To me, multicultural affairs represents the intersection of all aspects of who we are as individuals. Everyone is shaped by various cultures, whether it’s the culture of their ethnicity, their workplace, their educational experiences or how they spend their free time. These diverse cultures shape our identities. For example, I’m an African American male, an educator and an athlete, etc. – each of these cultures come together to define who I am. It’s about respecting and honoring the different cultures we each come from.
What challenges do you see as you look through the lens of multicultural affairs in Huntsville, Alabama?
One challenge is that we often view people through the lens of labels. The truth is our commonality is our shared humanity – we all have the same genetics. One thing that separates us is the color of our skin, and that’s where we tend to focus. It’s the labels, implicit biases and stereotypes we place on certain groups. To overcome this, we should focus more on people’s stories. These stories can create opportunities for connection and understanding. We must share those stories to build unity and work together.
As a Huntsville native, do you feel more attuned to the issues we face?
I do. There are parts of our community that are often left out of the conversation. Many marginalized communities in Huntsville, as in other cities, have a deep mistrust of the government. I believe this office can serve as a bridge, bringing everyone to the table and fostering trust. Once trust is established in these communities, we can truly begin to offer meaningful help and support.
Positions like this are often politicized. Does that make the job harder?
I don’t think so. We need to rethink how we operate in this space while staying effective. For every group we work with, whether it’s the LGBTQ community or the Hispanic-Latino Advisory Council, our goal is clear. As a government office, we have a core mission, but we also have a responsibility to ensure that every citizen – regardless of who they are or where they come from – feels they belong in this community.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I’m an athlete and so I’m usually in the gym. I love the outdoors, so I love going to the different walking and hiking trails around the city. We have so many beautiful nature trails here and the greenways are amazing.
When your time at the City is over, what do you want people to say about Randy Barbour?
I want to be remembered as someone who made a meaningful impact by ensuring that everyone felt seen, heard and valued. My hope is that people will say I helped foster a more inclusive and welcoming environment where all individuals felt a true sense of belonging.
I also want to be known as a leader of action, compassion and service – someone who not only cared deeply about people, but also worked tirelessly to improve their lives. This role will be a transformative experience for me, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity I have to serve.
I appreciate the unwavering support of my village, which has made this journey possible. My goal is and has always been to build a stronger, more unified community, and I hope my work will move Huntsville closer to that vision.
Multicultural Affairs Director Randy Barbour works at his desk at Huntsville City Hall. Above, his Cornell University football jersey is framed, next to his degree from the prestigious college.
