EP 111: From Princeton Scholar to Queen Mother: Dr. Barbara Wallace on Walking Her Path with Purpose, Community, and Spiritual Grace

Dr. Barbara Wallace is a Princeton graduate and licensed clinical psychologist who made history as the first African American woman to earn tenure at Teachers College, Columbia University—later rising to Full Professor of Health Education. She is the Founding Director of the Research Group on Disparities in Health and has mentored over 145 diverse doctoral scholars while pioneering online education and dissertation bootcamps.

A Fellow of the American Psychological Association in both Addictive Behaviors and Ethnic Minority Issues, Dr. Wallace has authored seven books and over 80 publications. Her widely cited book Toward Equity in Health is used in graduate curricula, and her HIV/AIDS Peer Education Training Manual has been adopted by community health organizations.

For the past 25 years, she has also served as Queen Mother in Ghana—channeling her scholarship into purpose-driven work, advancing education and health equity, and building a legacy of service that continues to uplift communities across continents.

Key themes emerging out of our conversation:

• Leadership Through Service, showing up for others.
• Using inquiry, to spark reflection and shift norms.
• Uplifting others to extend impact across generations.
• True Legacy lies in what others are empowered to do next.
• Building Community, making space when none is given.
• Letting Go of Ego, being open to new ways of learning.
• Conferences, spaces where magical connections can happen.
• Courage with Care, speaking up when you can, protecting those who can’t.
• Reframing Recognition, seeing honors as a responsibility, not a reward.
• Strong Role Models, shaped by values of perseverance, dignity, and service.
• Spiritual Journey, the quiet force behind clarity, courage, and groundedness.
• Installment as Queen Mother, a deeply spiritual process accepted with humility.
• Only One in the Room, carrying weight of representation to open doors for others.
• Creating Belonging, cultivating spaces of support, connection, and shared purpose.

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