National Park College (NPC) named Dr. Alexandra Barnard as the 2024 Outstanding Faculty
Member during the annual Employee Recognition Day celebration this month. Recipients
of this award are nominated and selected by their peers.
Barnard, an esteemed educator in biology, currently instructs both introductory and
non-majors biology courses. She also imparts knowledge in upper-division classes such
as genetics and ecology, contributing significantly to NPC’s Biology Pre-Health degree
partnership with Southern Arkansas University (SAU), where she serves as a faculty
mentor.
Barnard’s commitment to sustainability is evident in her role as the outgoing chair
of the Recycling and Sustainability Committee, a position she has held for two years,
and as the faculty advisor for the student-led Sustainability Club. She also serves
co-advisor for the campus chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society.
Originally from Colorado, Barnard’s educational background includes a Bachelor of
Science in Psychology from Colorado State University and a Bachelor of Science in
Biology from Metropolitan State University of Denver. She earned her Ph.D. in Ecology
and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Oklahoma in 2018, focusing her research
on speciation using damselflies as a model system.
Post-graduation, Barnard conducted postdoctoral research on Lesser Prairie Chicken
ecology with the Oklahoma Biological Survey and briefly taught at Oklahoma City Community
College. Although initially aspiring to be a researcher, she discovered a passion
for teaching during her graduate studies.
Barnard’s philosophy is to weave her love of learning, service, and appreciation for
the planet into her work. She actively integrates service-learning and research opportunities
into her courses, promoting NPC’s presence in the broader community. Her efforts have
been recognized by the Arkansas Recycling Coalition with an award for the College’s
green initiatives, and she has shared her expertise on dragonflies and damselflies
with local chapters of the Arkansas Master Naturalists and the Audubon Society.
Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Chuck Argo said, “Recognizing the Outstanding
Faculty of the Year is more than a ceremonial act. It is a reaffirmation of our commitment
to academic excellence. Dr. Barnard not only embodies the highest standards of teaching
and scholarship, but also ignites the spark of curiosity and the passion for learning
in our students. Her dedication to fostering an environment of inquiry and innovation
is what truly makes our academic community thrive.”
Reflecting on the recognition, Barnard said, “It’s an honor to be acknowledged among
many inspiring faculty members whose work greatly benefits our students.” She looks
forward to fostering more undergraduate research through projects like the pollinator
garden and campus bluebird boxes, envisioning these initiatives as resources for all,
from art to soil science enthusiasts.
Expressing gratitude, Barnard added, “Thank you for noticing my contributions and
thank you for believing in me. I wouldn’t have been able to do what I’ve done if NPC
weren’t such a supportive environment where I feel free to pursue projects that inspire
me.”
