PHOENIX – The Maricopa County Special Health Care District Board of Directors has unanimously voted to appoint Kelly Barr to fill a vacancy on the board that oversees Valleywise Health, Arizona’s only public teaching hospital and safety net system of care.
Barr, who spent over 30 years in leadership roles at Salt River Project, will fill the seat vacated in March by Barbara Rodriguez Mundell. Barr is Associate Vice President and Chief Alliance Officer at Arizona State University’s Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, which seeks to develop and implement new economic, environmental, and social solutions.
“Kelly is an outstanding leader, and we are excited to welcome her to the Board,” said Virginia L. Korte, Board Chairman.
“Having someone with Kelly’s experience and expertise in this role is crucial,” said Steve Purves, Valleywise Health President and CEO.
In applying for the position, Barr noted her personal appreciation for Valleywise Health.
“Family members and friends have received critical, and in one case, life-saving treatment through the District’s specialized services,” she said. “These experiences gave me a firsthand view of why Valleywise is such a vital pillar of our community, and I am motivated to ensure that this same high standard of care remains available to every resident of Maricopa County.”
Barr said her service on the Maricopa County Citizens Jail Oversight Committee gave her first-hand understanding of the “urgent need for accessible mental health treatment.”
“I saw how jails struggle to provide care to inmates who suffer from mental illness. I believe it is essential that we provide these individuals with the specialized care they need to thrive, rather than allowing them to cycle through the justice system,” Barr said.
At SRP, Barr served as the Chief Strategy, Corporate Services and Sustainability Executive, and also oversaw SRP’s Corporate Planning, Environmental Services, and Innovation.
She is highly respected throughout Arizona and the Southwest for her engagement with a variety of professional, technical and community boards. She serves on the Board of Trustees for The Nature Conservancy, has spent over six years on the Board of the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute, and more than a decade with Arizona Forward, where she served as Board Chair from 2020–2023. Additionally, she serves as the Chair of the City of Phoenix Environmental Quality and Sustainability Commission.
A native of Arizona, Barr earned her JD and BA from the University of Arizona.