In early 2022, he announced his intention to run as an independent candidate in the 2023 Liberian presidential election.

He graduated from high school at the College of West Africa before spending a term at the University of Liberia.

[2] He worked as an intern in Liberia's banking system before eventually going to the United States for college.

In 1979, Barnes graduated with an MBA in Finance and Banking from Pace University in New York City.

[12] In January 2022, Barnes announced his intention to contest the upcoming 2023 Liberian presidential election as an independent candidate on a platform of "Reconciliation, Positive Change, Self-Reliance, and the Emergence of a New Breed of Liberian Leaders who exhibit the key qualities of Character, Competence and Courage.

"[1][13] In May 2009, Dr. Mordechai Rozanski, president of Rider University, conferred on Barnes an honorary Doctorate of Laws degree.

[14] Dawn Barnes has written, directed and produced the films: Cry of the Pepperbird: A Story of Liberia (2000), The Spiritual Nature of African Dance (2001) and Children of Gold (2002).