Parents honor Xavier alum and her love for veterans with student scholarship

Jun 8, 2023

Gifts for the Emily Barbero Memorial Veterans Scholarship will support veteran and military-affiliated students as part of distinct Honors programs.

Until the Christmas of her junior year of high school, Emily Barbero had not considered attending Xavier University. Barbero, who also was an accomplished equestrian, was contemplating a university in Texas because she had a scholarship offer from a riding coach.

Then, her father was sent to his first tour in Iraq. So, Emily and her mom spent the holidays with family in Cincinnati.

“My brother-in-law said, ‘Hey, Emily, let me show you my school, Xavier,’” said Mike Barbero, Emily’s father. “She went down, met some folks, walked around the campus and just fell in love with Xavier.”

He continued, “So when I came back from Iraq, it was a done deal. The girls had already cooked it up.”

Emily graduated Magna Cum Laude from Xavier in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and an International Business minor. Her parents, Mike and Linda Barbero, believe that her experience at Xavier prepared her for the future.

“Education shouldn’t tell students what to think, but how to think,” Mike said. “Emily always said that Xavier was the perfect place for her because it did that. Her analytic ability had a chance to blossom.”

After Xavier, Emily worked in marketing, but pivoted to data science. She earned a Master of Engineering for Data Analytics at George Mason University. Then, she began a distinguished career in government service. She served as a Branch Chief/Deputy Chief Data Officer, Office of Intelligence & Analysis in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in Washington D.C. for nearly eight years.

In 2020, Emily was diagnosed with cancer. In June 2022, Emily passed away, following a brave battle with cancer. Because Xavier was the foundation of Emily’s professional success and personal happiness, her family wants to pay it forward.

“Emily received financial help from Xavier, and we want to help military affiliated students in some small way,” said Mike. “We hope to ease their financial burden and take a bit of worry off their plate so they can focus on their experience at Xavier.”

In honor of Emily’s life and service to others, particularly to veterans and military affiliated students and families, Mike and Linda Barbero have established the Emily Barbero Memorial Veterans Scholarship.

“I was in the army,” Mike said. “Emily was born in an army hospital in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. She grew up in the Army. So, the sense of service really stuck with her.”

He continued, “She always found a new restaurant or coffee shop opened by a veteran. She always supported the Veteran community.”

The scholarship is designed for full-time Xavier students who are either honorably discharged veterans or military affiliated students pursuing degrees in two distinct honors programs – the Data Science Program and the Philosophy, Politics, and the Public (service) program.

The first scholarship recipient chosen by Xavier will be announced this fall. Just like future recipients, who will receive the yearly merit award for the duration of their time at the university, the Barbero family hopes the scholarship inspires students to achieve whatever they put their minds to the same way that Emily inspired everyone around her.

                             

“Emily was young, and she was in roles where she had peers who were in their 50s, but she rose to every challenge,” Linda Barbero said. “She grew her department, she encouraged women, became a mentor and she was very serious and successful at it.”

She continued, “That’s why she enjoyed Xavier. She enjoyed her friends, the positive environment and it matched up perfectly with her personal standards and beliefs.”

Mike and Linda Barbero especially saw this in Emily’s last days.

“Emily’s faith was evident in how she treated people, and that’s Xavier,” Mike said. “Her education here instilled a life of service. That it’s not about you, it’s all for one, and that was key for her.”

Mike and Linda have raised about $250,000 for the scholarship in Emily’s memory. They are inviting Xavier Nation to spread the word about the scholarship and to donate so they can be a part of their daughter’s legacy by supporting future Xavier students.

“We just want to get the word out that this scholarship benefits veterans and military kids at an institution that really supports those in service,” Mike said. “So, if there is an eligible student who needs some help let them know it exists.”

Linda agreed.

“It’s an honor that people respected Emily as much as they did, but what we want to share too is that other people have that opportunity,” she said. “Emily was like a shooting star. She burned bright for a short period of time. We're proud of what she did and here’s the example.”

Visit the scholarship website to donate or learn more about the Emily Barbero Memorial Veterans Scholarship.