Antoinette A. Barffour

Dr. Antoinette A. Barffour is an Associate Professor in the Languages, Cultures and Religions Department at Missouri State University (MSU), Springfield. She specializes in French and Applied Linguistics, serving as a proactive advisor for first-generation and international students, and directs study abroad programs for French-speaking countries and Ghana. Her roles include teaching courses on French linguistics, translation, and interdisciplinary studies of culture.

Education:

• PhD in Romance Languages (French/Applied Linguistics), University of Alabama (2016)
• MA in French Linguistics, Indiana University (2012)
• MA in International Affairs and Administration, MSU (2010)
• Master Lettres: Sciences du Langage, Université de Strasbourg (2008)

Research Interests: Her work focuses on second language pedagogy, sociolinguistics, language contact phenomena (e.g., code-switching, lexical borrowing), and the sociopolitical dimensions of language use in Africa. She examines how historical and political processes shape language endangerment and development of indigenous African languages like Twi/Akan.

Awards & Grants:

• Recipient of multiple grants including the FACE Foundation’s Tournées Film Festival Grant (2020–2023) and Missouri State’s Diversity Scholar Award (2022).
• Recognized as a “Master Advisor” (2019) and honored with the Joffre and Zodie B. Whisenton Award (2016).

Advising & Outreach: Leads proactive advising initiatives for underrepresented students and coordinates international educational programs, fostering global awareness through study abroad opportunities. She mentors students in linguistic research and cultural studies.

Labs/Teams: Engages in collaborative research on African linguistics and applied pedagogy, contributing to interdisciplinary efforts in language revitalization and multicultural education.