Published on July 1, 2022 by Eric Holsomback  
SHP AngelaBarber

Samford University’s School of Health Professions has announced that Angela Barber will become the chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders beginning Aug. 1.

Barber comes to Samford from the University of Alabama, where she was an associate professor and graduate program director. Her primary research focuses on improving accessibility to effective early identification and interventions for children with increased likelihood for autism spectrum disorders and their families by building cooperative and sustainable solutions that promote health equity.

When asked about joining Samford, Barber said, “Samford's low faculty-student ratio and its commitment to students and community through a faith-based mission of service and engagement are inspiring.” 

Barber will take over as chair of the department from Margaret Johnson, who retired this year. She said Johnson’s positive influence and inspired leadership laid the foundation for one of the strongest communication sciences and disorders programs in the state.

Barber is excited to join the gifted team and continue the important work Johnson began—training future speech-language pathologists to a level of excellence for assessing and treating individuals with communication and swallowing needs.

“Dr. Barber possesses an excellent record of teaching and scholarship, along with a strong commitment to serving students and the community,” said Alan Jung, dean of Samford’s School of Health Professions. “We are excited to have her joining the department. The future is very bright under her leadership.”

In her free time, Barber enjoys traveling with her husband, James, and their sons, Ben and Sam.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.