Professor Emerita Earns Prestigious American Speech-Language-Hearing Honor

Barbara B. Shadden, emeritus faculty member in the College of Education and Health Professions.
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Barbara B. Shadden, emeritus faculty member in the College of Education and Health Professions.

Barbara B. Shadden, an emeritus faculty member in the College of Education and Health Professions, was recently recognized with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's Honors of the Association Award, the organization's highest distinction.

Widely regarded as the most prestigious recognition in the speech-language pathology field, Shadden is one of only 11 recipients this year.

The award celebrates individuals who have made distinguished contributions in the fields of speech-language pathology, audiology and communication sciences and disorders. Shadden earned the distinction for her influential research and contributions to the study of aging, aphasia and other neurologic disorders.

"To me, this award says I've made a difference, not only to all the individuals I've touched throughout my career but also to how we approach speech-language pathology now and in the future," said Shadden, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS.

Shadden's career at the U of A spanned more than three decades, during which she shaped the academic and professional landscape of communication sciences and disorders. Shadden was the director of the Communication Sciences and Disorders program, co-founded and co-directed the Office for Studies on Aging and later led the Center for Teaching and Faculty Support at the U of A. Through a Fulbright award, Shadden also mentored the first cohorts of speech-language pathology students and faculty in Sri Lanka. Her dedication to mentorship and engaged learning has made a global impact in the field of speech-language pathology.

Shadden is being honored for a career defined by groundbreaking scholarship and innovative teaching in the areas of aphasia and aging research, as well as her commitment to service-learning. Her influential work on the experience of identity loss in individuals with aphasia has transformed how clinicians and researchers understand the condition. One of Shadden's many nominators emphasized that her research has not only expanded schools of thought within the study of aphasia but has also deepened the field's appreciation for the human dimensions of communication disorders. 

"Thanks to her pioneering work, much of the worldwide community of clinical aphasiologists now considers identity loss as a fundamental aspect of what it is to have aphasia," one nominator said. "Her groundbreaking publication on identity theft transformed conversations about aphasia across the globe, and the term has ever since been widely used to capture the profound psychosocial challenges faced by people with acquired neurogenic communication challenges."

Shadden also authored one of the earliest textbooks linking gerontology and communication disorders, a profound contribution to the field of aging research. Shadden wrote four books on communication and aging, either as sole editor or in collaboration with colleagues. Through her research, Shadden said she realized the impact of age-related communication disorders on families and caregivers, so she set up two support groups for those living with stroke and aphasia and those living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Shadden's expertise in service-learning techniques in communication sciences and disorders education also transformed her field. As a contributor to eight books, dozens of book chapters, hundreds of presentations and editorial roles across multiple journals, Shadden has consistently contributed to advancing communication sciences and disorders research throughout her career. Shadden said her awareness of the importance of communication in framing perceptions of personal identity has also become part of her field of work because of her research and experiences.

"A combination of personal and professional experiences let me speak out about the idea of aphasia as a kind of identity theft," Shadden said. "I began to appreciate how important communication is as a tool in negotiating and validating the identities we share with others, and I feel these concepts have become a part of our profession's work."

Alongside her contributions in academia, Shadden has served in leadership roles with Aphasia Access and as a member of the College of Education and Health Professions' Dean's Executive Advisory Board. During her time at the U of A, Shadden said the opportunities the College of Education and Health Professions provided for interdisciplinary research and connections gave her the best chance to advance her field.

In addition to the coveted Honors of the Association Award, Shadden has been recognized with numerous nationally competitive awards. She has previously earned the Honors of the Academy of Neurologic Communication Sciences and Disorders, Honors of the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders, the Audrey Holland Award of Aphasia Access and distinguished alumni awards from both Southern Connecticut State University and the U of A. For her clinical work, she earned the Louis M. DiCarlo Clinical Achievement Awards and the Frank R. Kleffner Clinical Career Award. During her time at the U of A, Shadden was honored with numerous university teaching awards, including a Faculty Career Award, teacher of the year awards and service awards.

Shadden will receive her latest award in late November at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's national convention at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., in front of nearly 15,000 conference attendees.

The organization is the national professional, scientific and credentialing association for members and affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology assistants; and students. It offers yearly conferences alongside opportunities for continuing education credit for its members.

Contacts

Macey Wyler, communications intern
College of Education and Health Professions
479-575-3138, mwyler@uark.edu

Shannon Magsam, director of communications
College of Education and Health Professions
479-575-3138, magsam@uark.edu

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