Channell Barbour, PhD

Who is Channell Barbour, PhD?

Channell Barbour, PhD is the Chief of Staff and Vice President for Strategic Partnerships at Partners for Rural Impact, an organization based in Indiana State University.134 She joined Partners for Rural Impact in the spring of 2023 after serving as the Vice President for Student Life at Berea College.1

Earlier in her career, Barbour worked as a communications specialist for former Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton and as the internal communication manager for former Mayor Jerry Abramson in Louisville, Kentucky.1 She began her career working as policy and procedures manager of the former Central Kentucky Treatment Center, a maximum-security prison for juvenile males.1

Prior to Berea, Barbour was employed at Indiana University Southeast (IUS) from 2005 to 2016, starting as an academic counselor and later being promoted to associate director of Campus Life.1

As a first-generation student, Barbour understands the value of education and having caring adults in one's life to encourage academic and character development.1 Her passion is driven by equal access and opportunity to high-quality education for every student, regardless of geography or demographics.1

Barbour holds bachelor's and master's degrees in middle grades education from Eastern Kentucky University.1 She has a PhD and her LinkedIn username is channell-barbour-phd-426821b.25