Barry L. Wells (born 1942, Columbus, Ohio) is a career member of the Senior Executive Service who served as the American Ambassador to Gambia. He was also an Associate Professor and Assistant Dean at Howard University Graduate School of Social Work from 1972–1978.[1]
Wells graduated from East High School in Columbus in 1959 and went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Youngstown State University in 1966 and a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh in 1970.[2]
He joined the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute in 1988, ultimately serving as Deputy Director. Condoleezza Rice appointed Wells the Department of State’s first Chief Diversity Officer on January 22, 2007.[2]