Dr. Mary E. Reynolds received her PhD in Communication Disorders from Ohio University.  Prior to becoming the Director of Academic Assessment at Marshall University, she taught graduate and undergraduate courses in research methods, language development and disorders in children and adolescents, and fluency disorders across the lifespan.  She has conducted research in the areas of synthesized speech intelligibility and comprehension, working memory in children with specific language impairment, and the relationship between language and literacy, especially in children from Appalachia.

 Her publications have appeared in the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Perceptual and Motor Skills, and Contemporary Issues in Communication Sciences and Disorders. 

Dr. Reynolds currently chairs the Marshall University Assessment Committee, the Assessment Day Steering Committee, and the West Virginia Higher Education Assessment Council.  Her goal is to assist all members of the Marshall and statewide communities in building strong assessment programs that result in continuous improvement of teaching and learning. 

Outside of the university she enjoys spending time with her husband, Nick, and is very proud of her two sons, Colin and Owen.

Karen Barker is the Administrative Assistant for the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning, which includes the Office of Assessment and Program Review, the Faculty Development Office, Writing Across the Curriculum, and the Service Learning Program.  In addition to her administrative duties for these four departments, Karen also serves as the recording secretary for the University Assessment Committee, the University Assessment Day Committee, the Program Review Subcommittee, and the General Education Assessment Subcommittee.

A native of Pensacola, Florida, Karen moved to Huntington in 1992.  In 2004, she received a Regent’s Bachelor of Arts degree with an emphasis in Communication Studies from Marshall University.  Karen is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Communication Studies, focusing on Organizational Communication.  When she is not working or studying, Karen enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, and hanging out with her daughter, Caleigh.