Clifton Barber to Head Bachelor’s Degree Program at WSU Spokane

Prior to the appointment, Barber held a tenured position as professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Colorado State University, with joint faculty appointments in the Department of Sociology, the Department of Psychology, and the School of Education. During the 28 years Barber was a member of the faculty at CSU, he held several top administrative positions in aging and human development. He also served for several years as the state gerontology specialist for CSU Cooperative Extension.

He received a doctorate from Pennsylvania State University, a master’s degree from Brigham Young University, and a bachelor’s degree from Portland State University, all in human development, with a focus on intergenerational family relations, adult development and aging.

In making the appointment, WSU Spokane chancellor Brian Pitcher said “We’re very pleased to have Dr. Barber assume leadership of this new bachelor’s degree program. His highly regarded scholarship in human development, and his administrative experience, complement the management and leadership focus of other excellent faculty in the program.”

Barber has received several awards for research and teaching. Among these is a research fellowship in applied gerontology from the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, and fellow status in the Gerontological Society of America (Social Research, Policy, and Practice Section). In February, he received the 2005 Distinguished Teaching Award from the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education.

He has been involved for a number of years in developing and teaching online gerontology courses for the Great Plains Distance Education Alliance (Great Plains IDEA), a multi-state alliance of ten universities. For his work in distance education, Barber received Colorado State University‘s Excellence in Off-Campus Teaching Award.

Barber’s research interests center primarily on aging and intergenerational family issues. Among the topics addressed in his published work are family care of the frail and dependent elderly, cross-cultural/ethnic comparisons of family care of the elderly, and the effect of aging on sensory processes. Some of his research has been funded by the Alzheimer’s Association and the Agricultural Experiment Station. Barber recently completed a three-year project studying similarities and differences in the caregiving experiences of Hispanic versus non-Hispanic adult children who are caring for elderly parents.

In addition to a number of book chapters, Barber has published more than 40 articles in a variety of professional journals, including among others the International Journal of Aging and Human Development, Journal of Aging and Identity, Journal of Women and Aging, Journal of Applied Gerontology, Journal of Aging Studies and American Indian Quarterly.

A native of Spokane, Barber and wife Janet have four children and six grandchildren.

The BA Professional Development at WSU Spokane provides a blend of social sciences and business course work that gives graduates well-rounded critical thinking and leadership skills highly valued by organizations. Students develop a broad-based knowledge of life and work by exploring topics ranging from human behavior and philosophy to business finance and marketing. Students also gain practical experience with an internship tailored to their professional interests.

The professional development degree prepares students for leadership and professional roles in all types of organizations, from human and social services to business, public administration, and nonprofit management.

WSU Spokane’s developing campus at the Riverpoint campus lies immediately adjacent to downtown on the scenic Spokane River. The campus features advanced studies in the social, behavioral, and policy sciences; health sciences; the design disciplines; and education, and undergraduate degrees in selected fields.