Faculty Friday: Meet Dr. Matt Barton, Communication
Posted: February 01, 2017 | Author: Abigail Wyatt | Read Time: 2 minutes
Dr. Matt Barton’s passion for communication began in high school through participation in the speech and debate club and school radio station. Through the guidance of many mentors, he has now become the Director of the Master of Professional Communication Studies at Southern Utah University. He is motivated to “pay it forward” by working to instill an appreciation for the importance of communication in his students.
Barton earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication from SUU in 1995 and went on to study at the University of Nevada Las Vegas for his MA and at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for his doctorate. After completing his education, he returned to SUU in 2001 as a professor in the Communication Department. He became the director of the master’s program in 2009.
Barton has taught/teaches the following classes:
- COMM 1010 – Fundamentals of Human Communication
- COMM 1310 – Thinking & Listening Critically
- COMM 2110 – Interpersonal Communication
- COMM 2120 – Teamwork & Leadership
- COMM 2150 -- Intercultural Communication
- COMM 3150 – Nonverbal Communication
- COMM 4010 – Persuasion
- COMM 4240 – Technical Writing
- COMM 4350 – Communication Theory
- COMM 4501 – Conflict Management
- COMM 4504 – Health Communication
- COMM 4505 – Family Communication
- COMM 4600 – Communication & Popular Culture
- COMM 6000 – Communication & Professional Development
- COMM 6020 – Intro to Qualitative Research Methods
- COMM 6040 – Professional Writing & Presentations
- COMM 6135 – Current Issues in Health Communication
- COMM 6140 – Current Issues in Communication & Popular Culture
In addition to dozens of conference presentations and corporate trainings, Barton has authored, co-authored, and contributed to 18 books and research publications. He has received Top Paper Awards for his research in Health Communication, Rhetoric and Public Address, and Communication Education and Instruction. He was awarded Tenure at SUU in 2008 and was named SUU’s Outstanding Educator in 2005 and a Service Learning Fellow in 2012.
What gets Barton up in the morning? “It’s the students,” he said. “They add a certain feeling of energy, excitement, and optimism to the University. Their enthusiasm motivates me to work hard to challenge them and help them grow.”
Barton believes good communication is a skill everyone needs. “A major or minor in communication adds value to any career,” said Barton. “If you can express yourself well in both speaking and writing you’ll have a much easier time succeeding professionally.”
SUU holds a special place in Barton’s heart because it’s not only where his parents met, but it’s where he met his wife as well. He loves hanging out with his family. They enjoy spending time together as he coaches them in multiple sports, attend SUU sporting events, watch Marvel comic movies, and play in the outdoors.
This article was published more than 3 years ago and might contain outdated information or broken links. As a result, its accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
Tags: College of Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty
