Susan M. Barone, Ph.D., Director

Susan M. Barone, Ph.D., is Director of the English Language Center and Senior Lecturer in Peabody College’s Department of Teaching and Learning at Vanderbilt University. As a sociolinguist, Susan’s research investigates the intersection of Applied Linguistics and Narrative Medicine and the connection between clinician elicitations and patient narratives in intercultural health-care contexts.

In addition to teaching linguistics, her professional background includes directing English-language instruction, cultural programming, education abroad, partnerships and agreements, and immigration services. Susan has participated in the U.S. Department of State English Language Specialist Program with a primary focus on internationalization in higher education. She has been instrumental in developing discipline-specific language programs in the Vanderbilt University schools of Education, Engineering, Law, Nursing, Medicine, and Management. Professional interests include needs analysis, program design, and medical discourse analysis. Susan presents at international conferences, and her publications include articles, book chapters, and the textbook, American Legal English .