Barb Frazee

Assistant Vice Provost for Student Life

In her role as assistant vice provost for Student Life, Barb Frazee leads University Residences and Purdue Dining & Culinary. She has spent her entire career at Purdue with more than 40 years of experience in Housing and Food Services, now Student Life. She loves her job because it allows her to lead an organization that makes a difference for students. Barb became executive director of University Residences in 2006 and was named AVP for Student Life in 2019.

Barb understands that college is a time for new experiences, self-discovery and growth — that students are here for more than a degree. She loves being able to give students the opportunity to find their own voices and identities, and she ultimately seeks to assist all students in being successful at Purdue.

Barb received the Helen B. Schleman Gold Medallion Award by the Barbara Cook Chapter of the Mortar Board at Purdue University and was named the recipient of the 2013-14 Violet Haas Award, becoming one of the few non-faculty members to earn the distinction. Barb was recognized with a Special Boilermaker Award from the Purdue Alumni Association in 2008. She is an honorary member of the Order of the Iron Key and the Purdue Reamer Club.

In 2010, she co-founded a program called UR Global, which helps ease the transition of incoming international students by facilitating their arrival and creating a mentor program for their first year. Barb also initiated the Women's Leadership Series, an event series created to help develop female student leaders, and more than 600 students and 120 staff have participated. In 2017, she oversaw the launch of the Men's Leadership Series. She is thrilled at the success of both programs. In 2014, University Residences launched the Executive in Residence Program under Barb's leadership. To date, more than 55 alumni have returned to campus where they have connected with students to share their success stories and professional wisdom. Outside of work, Barb is the president of Tri Kappa and a member of 100 Plus Women Who Care. 

Barb graduated from Purdue in 1981 with a degree in what is now hospitality and tourism management (HTM). She continues to support HTM by serving on its alumni board. She is the recipient of the HTM Wall of Fame recognizing outstanding alumni. Barb has two children, Ben and Lizzy, and four grandchildren: Callie Mae, Thomas, Olivia and Ryleigh.