For Immediate Release
September 21, 2023

Media Contact
Contact: Ashley D. Roseboro
Phone: (202) 524-1663
Email: Communications@b-sc.edu

North Carolina- Barber-Scotia College hires LaRia McNeill as the Chief Financial Officer. Working with President Rey, Ms. McNeill will be responsible for the administration of all financial operations of the College, including the development of a financial and operational strategy, metrics tied to that strategy and the ongoing development and monitoring of control systems designed to preserve the college’s assets, report accurate financial results, monitoring adherence to the budget and development of long term financial and operational strategies.

Ms. McNeill joins Barber-Scotia College after spending four years in accounting leadership roles at Electrolux and a major financial institution. Prior to those roles, she spent almost 10 years in finance and accounting at Citi Group & Time Warner Cable. Ms. McNeill has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration & Accounting from Fisk University and an MBA from Columbia Southern University.

Barber-Scotia College president Chris Rey stated, “Ms. McNeill’s extensive experience in the financial services industry will be invaluable to Barber-Scotia College. As we begin our work building the college, Ms. McNeil will be an asset to establishing the systems needed to ensure long-term stability. I look forward to what we can accomplish, together, as we move forward.”

Barber-Scotia College was established on January 27, 1867, as Scotia Seminary for African American women in Concord, North Carolina.

In 1916, the name was changed to Scotia Women’s College. In 1930, Barber Memorial College of Anniston, Alabama, merged with Scotia Women’s College. The present name, Barber-Scotia College was adopted in 1932.

On April 2, 1954, the charter of Barber-Scotia College was amended to admit students without regard to ethnicity or gender.

Notable graduates include Mary-McCloud Bethune, Dr. Paulette Dillard, President of Shaw University, and Vivian Ayers Allen, the mother of Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen. The mission of the college has always focused on total student development as etched in the Faith Hall cornerstone: “For Head, Hand and Heart.”