Faculty Profile: Sonya Hopkins Barnes

By Tjidzani Maphosa
Contributing Writer

Professor a petite blast of energy

They say dynamite comes in small packages, and indeed one can hardly find a better expression that applies to Sonya Hopkins Barnes, a full-time faculty member of the Visual and Performing Arts Division at North Lake College.

Hopkins teaches three sections of Introduction to Speech Communications 1311, two sections of Fundamentals of Public Speaking 1315 and a section of Forensic Workshop, 2144 as well as being an advisor for the North Lake College Speech Club. The club, which through her and Dr. Linda Long’s guidance has become one of the most lucrative clubs on campus, launched the Linda Jean Long Endowment Fund in fall 2002.

Hopkins does not stop there. Most of her afternoons and weekends are spent coaching, traveling and judging as director of the renowned North Lake College Forensics Team. One wonders how she manages to find the time to take care of the men in her life, namely Chris Barnes, her husband of more than two years, and Archie and Einstein, their two lovable dogs.

Graduating from Texas Tech with a master’s degree in speech communications, Hopkins taught at Del Mar Community College before moving to the Metroplex. Her teaching experience spans more than a decade, but the end is not in sight. She says she plans to be doing what she does now in ten years, when her former students can come back and take her to lunch after they succeed in their careers because of the communication skills they learned while attending her class.

Asked what discourages her about students, Hopkins said, “It is frustrating when I can see more potential in students than they see in themselves.”

Terry Gary, president of the North Lake College Speech Club and academic coach for speech classes, said, “Ms. Hopkins is always going above and beyond, to motivate students to realize their full potential.” Indeed, in 2002, Hopkins was awarded the President’s Award for “outstanding contribution to North Lake College in the area of teaching and learning.”

This spring, Hopkins returned to the classroom as a student, taking a post graduate leadership class at UNT. One of the things she has learned and decided to apply to her life comes from a quotation by Eleanor Roosevelt who said, “A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.” Hopkins is quick to point out this philosophy applies to men as well, and can be a great source of inspiration to show one’s strength in the low times of our lives.

Kennedy Dzvairo, a student in one of Hopkin’s sections says, “She is the kind of person who sticks to her word and she makes a good leader.”

“Professional, dedicated, energetic and a pleasure to work with,” is how Linda Long, who has been a mentor and colleague to Hopkins for many years, had to say about her. “I’ve seen Sonya grow from when she first came,” said Long.

Although she may not have grown much in dress size, Hopkins is a phenomenal part of many students and of North Lake College as a whole. Her energy brings many explosions of joy and inspiration to the people around her.