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Barden, who serves as chair of the College of Community Innovation and Education 麻豆精品 S檚 , recently received the 2025 Exemplary Research Practices Award from the Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling (AARC).
An organization within the American Counseling Association, the AARC works to promote and recognize excellence in assessment, research and evaluation in counseling. The Exemplary Research Practices Award honors AARC members who have helped to advance the field of counseling through impactful publications, rigorous research projects and the use of innovative research methods.
The professor of counselor education says that while she is honored to receive the award, she also dedicates it to the many collaborators and research participants who have helped advance her work.
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This is the second time Barden has been recognized by AARC. She first received the Exemplary Research Practices Award in 2016 for her scholarship related to couples, families and counseling. Barden says her research is rooted in AARC 麻豆精品 S檚 goals of fostering community engagement and improving people 麻豆精品 S檚 lives.
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Barden is among the top 20 most-published scholars in her field, according to a 2023 review of over 20 counseling journals. She has led over $20 million in large-scale, federally supported research initiatives. That includes Project Harmony 2.0, 聽a randomized control trial investigating how a relationship education intervention can improve relationship satisfaction, emotional regulation and more.
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Barden conducts her research through UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 , where she serves as executive director. The MFRI was founded in 2003 to support and strengthen healthy relationships for individuals, couples and families. Barden says the institute provides the ideal research environment for the work she leads.
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In addition to her research, Barden 麻豆精品 S檚 award also commemorates her extensive devotion to mentorship. She has guided students through more than 40 peer-reviewed publications, and her mentees have received over a dozen national and regional research awards. She says her mission is to help budding scholars feel more comfortable using data and conducting intensive analysis.
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As she reflects on her recent recognition, Barden remains steadfast in her dedication to research that continues to instill healthy, long-lasting relational habits in couples and families who need it most.
麻豆精品 S淢y work always has and always will be about the people, 麻豆精品 S� Barden says. 麻豆精品 S淚 believe real change happens at the local level, and what 麻豆精品 S檚 important to me is doing the best we can at that level. That 麻豆精品 S檚 my life 麻豆精品 S檚 purpose. 麻豆精品 S�
