Emergence of a New Breed of Liberian Leaders who exhibit the key qualities of Character, Competence and Courage." Honors In May 2009, Dr. Mordechai Rozanski, president of Rider University, conferred on Barnes an honorary Doctorate of Laws degree. Personal life Barnes is married to Dawn Cooper Barnes, a daughter of Henry Nehemiah Cooper, M.D. (1927–1984) and Izetta Cooper, co-founders of the former Cooper Clinic in Monrovia. The two grew up in the same Monrovia community where Barnes' mother was a teacher at Dawn's elementary school and Dawn's father was the Barnes' family doctor. Dawn Barnes has written, directed and produced the films: Cry of the Pepperbird: A Story of Liberia (2000), The Spiritual Nature of African Dance (2001) and Children of Gold (2002). She also produced a Liberian television comedy series entitled WE ON IT! (2001-2003). The couple have six children. In 2010, Barnes founded consulting firm Aurora Solutions, Inc. Since 2010, he has also served regularly as a Lecturer at the Graduate Schools of the University of Liberia and African Methodist Episcopal University. He enjoys abstract painting. In 2020, his artistic creations were published in Left Brain Right Brain: Thoughts and Musings of a Servant (ISBN 978-0993571039). References 1954 births Living people Finance Ministers of Liberia University of Liberia alumni Pace University alumni Rider University alumni Politicians from Monrovia Candidates for President of Liberia Liberian Destiny Party politicians Permanent Representatives of Liberia to the United Nations Ambassadors of Liberia to the United States 21st-century Liberian diplomats