Barrett Karr

Barrett was born in Fort Worth, TX. She stayed in her hometown to become a Horned Frog at Texas Christian University where she earned a BA in International Affairs. After college, Barrett moved to Washington, DC to work on Capitol Hill and earn a MA in Political Affairs from George Washington University.

Barrett leads regulatory diligence for Silver Lake, a technology investments firm with offices in New York City and Menlo Park, CA. Previously, she worked for over 25 years at “both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.” She served President George W Bush in the office of White House legislative affairs, was Staff Director of the House Education and Workforce Committee, and served as Chief of Staff to Hon. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). 

Barrett and her husband, Shane, are the current Annual Fund Chairs for Highland. They live in Washington, VA with their son Tilman (’27) and two Bernese Mountain Dogs.

“It’s an honor to give back to a school that has so warmly embraced our family - and taught our son that learning can be joyful.”