Sharon Ballard, PhD, CFLE profile and information

Short Bio

Dr. Sharon M. Ballard is currently Professor and Department Head for Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) in the College of Human Sciences at Auburn University. Prior to earning her M.S. and Ph.D. in Child and Family Studies from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she taught Family and Consumer Sciences at the middle and high school levels for six years. After earning her PhD, Sharon was a faculty member at East Carolina University (ECU) for 12 years before serving as HDFS department chair at ECU for 14 years.

Sharon’s research has primarily centered around family life education programming and practice, parent education, and sexuality education. She been a certified family life educator (CFLE) through the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) since 1998 and has conducted a variety of family life education programs in community settings. She has over 50 published journal articles and book chapters, including her co-edited book Family Life Education with Diverse Populations and over 80 state, national, and international presentations.

Sharon was recognized by NCFR for her work in family life education with two awards: the CFLE recognition award in 2012 and the Margaret E. Arcus Outstanding Family Life Educator Award in 2016. She was also recognized at ECU with a variety of honors including the UNC Board of Governors Distinguished Professor for Teaching, ECU Woman of Distinction, The Centennial Award for Excellence, and the HHP Wall of Fame.