Alumni Awards

2021 Distinguished Alumni Awards

Alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of Barry University came together to kick off Homecoming Weekend 2021 festivities at the Distinguished Alumni Awards celebration in HSC Pavilion on Main Campus in November. The breakfast ceremony, emceed by charismatic NBC6 Anchor Jawan Strader, who is a proud Barry parent, recognized five individuals with the highest honor granted to Barry University graduates who lead in their respective fields and simultaneously transform the community through their service.

The 2021 recipients are highly accomplished in the fields of healthcare, education, law, and business and embody the Barry University Core Commitments to the lifelong pursuit of knowledge and truth, promoting inclusive community, advancing social justice, and collaborative service.

A recurring theme of the morning was the transformative nature of a Barry education, and each honoree spoke eloquently of how Barry put them on the path to success and fulfillment.

Congratulations to our 2021 DAA Award recipients, pictured with Barry University President Mike Allen. (L—R: Lenora Easter, JD ’07, Eileen Egan-Hineline, BS ’80, MS ’99, RN-BC, President Mike Allen, Ph.D., Avon King ’05, MBA, Lisa Bisogno, Ph.D, ’12, Inaki Bent, DO, MBA, MS ’05)

Five Alumni Honored with 2021 Distinguished Alumni Awards

Inclusive Community Award

Inaki G. Bent
DO, MBA, MS ’05, Attending Physician,
Corrections Health Services (CHS)
of Jackson Health System

A South Florida native, Dr. Bent was the first in his family to attend college, and his impact extends far beyond the hospital walls. His nonprofit, MediQUES, is paving the way for underrepresented students to pursue medicine, providing mentorship to those interested in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine.

“I want to thank my professors for their impact. What sets Barry apart from other institutions is the genuine love that it has for its students. The love set me up for success and because of it, I stand before you.”

Collaborative Service Award

Lisa Bisogno
PhD ’12, Associate Dean, College of
Education, Northeastern State University

Dr. Bisogno is a second-generation educator whose passion for the field and for service dates back to her childhood. In addition to her leadership role in higher education, she is nurturing future educators by teaching high school students pro bono, sparking the same love for the field that she developed at a young age.

“Barry University and the leadership program in the School of Education were the pillars of my understanding of effective collaboration, and I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for that program.”

Social Justice Award

Lenora M. Easter
JD ’07, Criminal Defense Attorney,
The Bronx Defenders

A career public defender, Lenora Easter has made social justice her life’s work. She developed the concept for and became the co-team leader and now supervisor of The Bronx Defenders’ (BxD) groundbreaking Early Defense Team, a holistic, interdisciplinary team of advocates and attorneys whose goal is to create an offramp to the legal system for its clients. Building on the success of BxD’s community intake practice, the Early Defense Team advocates for their clients before legal issues become legal cases, thus minimizing, stabilizing, and in some cases preventing further systemic harm. Lenora also volunteers by speaking on local and national panels, conducting “Know Your Rights” informationals and lobbying on key bills concerning criminal justice reform.

“I am Barry Proud, and humbly grateful to Barry for this awesome award… if it wasn’t for Professor Birdsong’s criminal defense class, if it wasn’t for me participating and winning my first year legal and research writing contest, if it wasn’t for the two internships at both the juvenile clinic and the PD’s office— that’s what put me on this road to public defense. That’s what gave me the heart when I saw that people needed a voice.”

Knowledge and Truth Award

Avon D. King
BS ’05, MBA,
First Vice President & Complex
Business Service Officer,
Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

A lifelong learner, Avon King continually drives development and innovation in his chosen field while also supporting the education and development of the next generation of leaders. He chairs the scholarship committee as a director on the Barry Alumni Board, regularly participates as a judge for The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) yearly stock market challenge, and coaches through the Optimist Club.

“Servant-leader, giving back to the community, giving back to the next generation. If I can change one life just from information I’ve learned over the years, that’s everything to me. It just starts with one person, and then somebody else and somebody else, and all of a sudden you have a movement and you’re able to effect real change and real outcomes in life.”

Faculty & Staff Alumni Award

Eileen Egan-Hineline
BS ’80,
MS ’99, RN-BC, Director of Student Health
Services, Barry University

Eileen Egan-Hineline is a proud Barry alumna who returned to serve as the university’s Director of Student Health Services after more than a decade of working as a surgical nurse. Now in her 30th year back at Barry, she is driven to ensure that all students have access to quality health care. Her next project will be a focus on “Continuity of Care,” aimed at reducing disparities faced by children by building nationwide quality primary school programs that lead into college health programs.

“To say I am greatly humbled and honored by this recognition is an understatement. I am so grateful for the kind words, but I must say that Barry has given me so much more. The university gave me my professional foundation in nursing. It’s told me that it’s my vocation, it’s my identity and it gives me the opportunity to always seek knowledge and truth, to care for individuals equally, to work collaboratively to get the best outcomes for not only my patients but the community I serve, and to fight for equal access for all.”