George Barnes, 77, former Organizations, Strategy and International Management Area faculty member, died July 29, in Carrollton, Texas, after a long illness.

Barnes helped found the Professional MBA Online program — formerly known as the Global MBA Online program — and served as its first director from 1999 until he retired in 2011.

“We remember George fondly and still appreciate the hard work he put in to help the school become an early adopter and proponent of online education,” Jindal School Dean and Caruth Chair Hasan Pirkul said.

Barnes’ obituary referred to him as a global citizen. His father, Robert Barnes, was a career foreign service officer who once served as ambassador to Jordan. Although born in New Haven, Connecticut, George was schooled in Paris and Ankara, Turkey, as well as the U.S. In the 1970s and ’80s, he held vice president and other leadership roles in Kuwait, Dubai and other Middle-East locations for Citibank and Mobil Oil.

An undergraduate of Lehigh University, he earned a master’s degree from Tufts University, and he served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.

Barnes moved to Dallas and joined UT Dallas in 1987, where he taught international business courses. He was the chairman of the International Business Committee for the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce from 1997 until 2000.

Survivors include his wife, Martie; his two children and spouses; and five grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Global Studies Scholarship or to the unrestricted fund of Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church in Dallas, where he was an ordained elder and longtime leader who served in many roles.