Member Spotlight: Anisti A. Barrett
Anisti A. Barrett, MPA
Tell us about your career.
I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, with a minor in Hispanic Studies, from North Carolina Wesleyan University, where I interned at REACH Inc., a community-based nonprofit. There, I served as a case manager for the Housing Opportunities and Preventing Evictions (HOPE) program, which REACH implemented under a state contract. I later worked with United Way of North Carolina to support the Department of Information Technology’s Digital Navigator Grant, serving as a Digital Navigator to expand digital access across the state.
In May 2025, I earned my Master of Public Administration from North Carolina Central University. While pursuing my MPA, I held leadership roles as Vice President and President in several student organizations, including the ICMA Student Chapter, Graduate Student Association, and Graduate Association of Public Administration. I also served as a Management Fellow with Durham County Government, collaborating with six departments on special projects. In this role, I worked closely with the Grant Administration Department to assist in drafting ARPA grants and supporting the oversight process, including grantee monitoring and administration, and contributed to benchmarking analyses with the Budget Office.
What are some of your current or notable achievements or projects?
Researched and authored a comprehensive analysis of how five counties and municipalities address homelessness and affordable housing for Durham County Government.
Presented a feasibility study for the City of Durham’s Rail Trail project to the Coalition of Affordable Housing and Transit.
Delivered preliminary research to the Durham Housing Authority on accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and their potential for wealth-building opportunities.
Co-authored The Essential Guide to Public Procurement with Dr. Evelyn Rodriguez-Plesa.
Awarded the NACA Student Scholarship in 2024.
Selected as a 2025 Pay-It-Forward Scholarship awardee by Dr. Ian Coyle through his organization, Pracademic Partners.
Received the ICMA Early Career Service Certificate.
Assisted with the dissemination of the COVID-19 Impact Study for the HBCU Health Equity Data Consortium, in collaboration with North Carolina Central University and Shaw University.
Served as Vice President and President of NCCU’s Student ICMA Chapter, leading initiatives to strengthen student engagement in public administration.
If you could do another job for a day, what would it be and why?
If I could step into another role for a day, I would choose to be a city or county attorney. Having recently taken the LSAT, I am preparing to embark on my law school journey, and this experience would give me insight into the daily responsibilities of the profession I aspire to go into. Observing the work of a local government attorney firsthand would help me understand what the role entails, what skills are required, and how to navigate the challenges of public service law. This firsthand experience and perspective would better prepare me for the future, when I pass the bar and pursue a career serving communities through local government.
November 2025