Whitman Alumna Appointed Chair of the Whitman Advisory Council
The Whitman School has announced the appointment of Tracy Barash ’89 as chair of the Whitman Advisory Council (WAC).
Barash is senior vice president/head of research, data and insights, business operations and franchise planning for Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, a division of Warner Bros. Discovery. In this role she oversees the team that conducts research and leverages data and insight to drive growth for brands and platforms, including the NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, the Match and the Bleacher Report. She is also responsible for driving strategic alignment and execution across the sports tentpoles and facilitating the development of new franchises that can be monetized across the portfolio.
Previously, as senior vice president of marketing, she led the overall consumer marketing, product marketing and marketing operations teams across all sports, including consumer, brand and product marketing efforts for Bleacher Report.
Barash has a history of leading marketing, brand development and franchise management for high-profile brands. This experience includes roles as vice president of global franchise management for Cartoon Network, where she developed strategic plans for such programs as “The Powerpuff Girls” and “Ben 10”; at Warner Bros. Consumer Products, where she was a key member of the team that launched The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando and managed the development of Harry Potter: The Exhibition global museum tour; and at Diageo, where she oversaw the marketing strategy and execution for such brands as Smirnoff Vodka, Malibu Rum and Baileys Irish Cream.
In addition to her professional achievements, Barash is a member of and former co-chair of the Atlanta Regional Council for Syracuse. She was a voting member of the Syracuse University Board of Trustees during her term as president of the Syracuse University Alumni Association Board and served on its National Campaign Council.
Barash has been actively engaged with a wide range of activities at the Whitman School, including working as an alumni mentor and as a frequent speaker for student events. Barash received the Dean’s Citation for Exceptional Service from the Whitman School in 2019 and has served on the Whitman Advisory Council since that time. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing management from the Whitman School in 1989 and from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School with an MBA in 1993.
“We are so fortunate to have someone with Tracy’s background and passion take on this new role in support of the Whitman School and Syracuse University. I am very grateful for her continued leadership in working on behalf of all advisory council members in furthering the Whitman School and its programs,” says Gretchen Ritter, vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer.
“I am honored to serve as the chair of the Whitman Advisory Council, working to drive Whitman’s strategic mission forward, while supporting its dynamic students and engaging the Whitman alumni community to join me in this endeavor,” says Barash.
“I would like to express my tremendous appreciation to Lisa Fontenelli ’86 for her four years of outstanding leadership of the Whitman Advisory Council. Lisa has been instrumental in helping to forge a pathway forward for Whitman, and we are so pleased that she will continue to support Whitman on the council moving forward,” says Alex McKelvie, interim dean at the Whitman School.
Barash is senior vice president/head of research, data and insights, business operations and franchise planning for Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, a division of Warner Bros. Discovery. In this role she oversees the team that conducts research and leverages data and insight to drive growth for brands and platforms, including the NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, the Match and the Bleacher Report. She is also responsible for driving strategic alignment and execution across the sports tentpoles and facilitating the development of new franchises that can be monetized across the portfolio.
Previously, as senior vice president of marketing, she led the overall consumer marketing, product marketing and marketing operations teams across all sports, including consumer, brand and product marketing efforts for Bleacher Report.
Barash has a history of leading marketing, brand development and franchise management for high-profile brands. This experience includes roles as vice president of global franchise management for Cartoon Network, where she developed strategic plans for such programs as “The Powerpuff Girls” and “Ben 10”; at Warner Bros. Consumer Products, where she was a key member of the team that launched The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando and managed the development of Harry Potter: The Exhibition global museum tour; and at Diageo, where she oversaw the marketing strategy and execution for such brands as Smirnoff Vodka, Malibu Rum and Baileys Irish Cream.
In addition to her professional achievements, Barash is a member of and former co-chair of the Atlanta Regional Council for Syracuse. She was a voting member of the Syracuse University Board of Trustees during her term as president of the Syracuse University Alumni Association Board and served on its National Campaign Council.
Barash has been actively engaged with a wide range of activities at the Whitman School, including working as an alumni mentor and as a frequent speaker for student events. Barash received the Dean’s Citation for Exceptional Service from the Whitman School in 2019 and has served on the Whitman Advisory Council since that time. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing management from the Whitman School in 1989 and from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School with an MBA in 1993.
“We are so fortunate to have someone with Tracy’s background and passion take on this new role in support of the Whitman School and Syracuse University. I am very grateful for her continued leadership in working on behalf of all advisory council members in furthering the Whitman School and its programs,” says Gretchen Ritter, vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer.
“I am honored to serve as the chair of the Whitman Advisory Council, working to drive Whitman’s strategic mission forward, while supporting its dynamic students and engaging the Whitman alumni community to join me in this endeavor,” says Barash.
“I would like to express my tremendous appreciation to Lisa Fontenelli ’86 for her four years of outstanding leadership of the Whitman Advisory Council. Lisa has been instrumental in helping to forge a pathway forward for Whitman, and we are so pleased that she will continue to support Whitman on the council moving forward,” says Alex McKelvie, interim dean at the Whitman School.