About Barry

Dr. Barry W. Simmons, Sr. is a higher education leader, financial aid expert, and dedicated historian with deep ties to Southside Virginia. Raised in the region, he has spent his career ensuring access to education through financial aid administration, policy advocacy, and nonprofit leadership.

Barry holds degrees from Elon University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, with additional studies at Middle Tennessee State University and Southside Virginia Community College. His expertise in higher education finance led him to serve as Assistant Provost at Virginia Tech, after which he continued his consulting career, working with institutions such as Excelsior University, Henderson State University, and Johns Hopkins University.

He has served in leadership roles across numerous financial aid and education organizations, including:

• President, Virginia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (VASFAA)
• National Chair, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA)
• Founding Board Member & Former President, Virginia College Access Network
• Founding Director, SASFAA Leadership Symposium

Connection to MacCallum More

Barry’s lifelong passion for history, education, and preservation aligns perfectly with MacCallum More Museum & Gardens’ mission. His deep local roots and commitment to sharing historical and cultural heritage make him an invaluable member of the Board of Trustees.

Favorite Aspects of MacCallum More

🌿 Favorite Garden Spot: On Hudgins Street in front of the Moon Gate

🗿 Favorite Statue or Sculpture: Caesar Augustus

🪶 Favorite Native American Artifact: The entire points exhibition—an incredible display of craftsmanship. As a youngster, I scoured freshly disturbed ground for arrowheads!

📜 Favorite Historic Feature: The story of how Billy Hudgins found, purchased, and had artifacts shipped to the U.S. before carefully installing them in the gardens.

🎉 Most Memorable MacCallum More Experience: While visiting MacCallum More with an undergraduate classmate soon after my undergraduate years, Billy Hudgins invited us for a ‘Pepsi Party.’ Billy entertained us to an elegant "Pepsi Party” and cookies with crystal and shared incredible stories of his adventures, humor and artifact acquisition. My undergraduate classmate, a historian by profession, now retired curator of the 1840 North Carolina State Capitol, was fascinated with Billy’s recalling multiple tales of his exploits and surprises while acquiring artifacts he collected and returned for installation at the MMMG complex, both those that could be repeated and those best not repeated. He went on to acquire items from Mecklenburg County, Virginia, to furnish the restored Supreme Court Chambers at the 1840 NC state capitol.

 

Barry’s MacCallum More LOVE Story

❤️ The fact that this is a product of Chase City, once the nerve center of Mecklenburg County. We have a wide variety of historical roots here.

Exciting Projects & Initiatives

Barry remains committed to preserving and sharing history, ensuring that MacCallum More continues to be a treasured educational and cultural landmark. His expertise in higher education and nonprofit leadership strengthens the museum’s financial and educational initiatives.

At MacCallum More, you’ll usually find me…

Admiring the gardens, sharing historical insights, and enjoying the stories of Chase City’s past.

 

🔗 Learn more about our leadership team