Allison Barry ’15 credits her time at Carondelet with instilling a lifelong passion for social justice and public service. That foundation led her to pursue opportunities in government and advocacy, beginning with a college internship for Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, where she worked on education and labor policy. The experience illuminated how legislation tangibly impacts people’s lives, affirming her desire to work within government to create meaningful change.
Her passion for service took her to the 2020 Joe Biden Presidential Campaign, a pivotal and high-stakes moment in American politics. Drawn to then-candidate Biden’s empathy-driven leadership and commitment to the nation’s most vulnerable, she joined his campaign team. After the successful election, she moved to Washington, D.C., determined to serve in the administration.
In 2022, she was appointed to the U.S. Department of Education as a political appointee—an honor made possible in part through the mentorship of fellow CHS alumna, Isabella Blecha ’13. With a strong personal connection to education—she taught English in Italy after college and her mother, Tricia Barry, a teacher at Carondelet—this role felt particularly meaningful. Her work focused on advancing the administration’s education priorities, including funding for teacher apprenticeship programs, grants for minority-serving institutions, and improving access to higher education and federal student aid. She frequently traveled with the Secretary of Education and played a key role in planning the International Summit on the Teaching Profession, which brought together officials and teacher union leaders from over 40 countries. Her Italian language skills, honed at De La Salle, came in handy with the Italian delegation.
Later, she transitioned to a role she had long dreamed of—working for a woman leader. As Press Secretary and Special Advisor for Public Affairs to U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Su, Allie led communications efforts that amplified the voices of working Americans. Her work took her across the country—from mines and factories, to job fairs on Native American reservations and union halls in Detroit—ensuring the stories of working people were heard and that the impact of federal investments was clearly communicated. She also managed communications during national labor strikes and major economic developments, including a highlight appearance on Good Morning America.
Throughout her time in the Biden-Harris administration, she was inspired by Secretary Su’s example: a civil rights leader who led with compassion and vision, empowering those around her to achieve their best.
With the change in administration in January 2025, her tenure as a political appointee came to an end. She now works in public relations at a D.C.-based consulting firm specializing in finance and technology. Her focus remains on leveraging innovation to improve lives and carry forward the values of service and justice that were sparked at Carondelet and deepened through every step of her journey.