College of Health Welcomes Interim Dean

Dr. Bargen joined the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders in the Audiology program in 2010. She was tenured and promoted to associate professor in 2017, followed by her appointment as program director for the PhD in Rehabilitation Science in 2019. In 2022, Dr. Bargen accepted the position of Executive Director of the Meridian Health Science Center after serving as Interim in the position since 2020, where she has been actively involved in campus operations, representing Idaho State in the Treasure Valley, and supporting the growth of health science programming. 

 Dr. Bargen earned her Bachelor of Science in Communication Science and Disorders in 2000 from Texas Christian University, followed by a Master of Science in Education  - Speech-Language Pathology in 2002 from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. In 2006, she earned a Master of Arts in Audiology from the University of Kansas Medical Center, and in 2010, she earned her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Audiology from the University of Kansas.

Her professional interests include pediatric audiology hearing assessment and assessing risks associated with hearing dysfunction in infants. Her work has also included clinical application of auditory brainstem response for hearing loss screening in newborns, infants and toddlers. Most recently she collaborates with other ISU faculty to provide training to students within communication sciences and special education programs to be highly qualified providers serving children who are deaf and hard of hearing. 

Dr. Bargen has also made significant contributions to her professional organizations. She has served several years on the Idaho Speech-Language-Hearing Association executive board, including past president, and serves on the Idaho Sound Beginnings Advisory Committee.  Nationally, she supports the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association as the Idaho Audiology representative on the Council of Ambassadors. She was awarded the ASHA 2023 Media Champion Award. 

Dr. Bargen is married to Jason, and they have two teenage children who keep them very busy with school and sports. In her spare time, she enjoys snow skiing at Bogus Basin, singing in the church choir, and canning pickles.

Dr. Bargen will continue her Meridian Health Science Center Executive Director responsibilities with a full leadership team. We are truly fortunate that Dr. Bargen has accepted this leadership role. Her accomplishments as a scholar, researcher, and leader are impressive, and we have no doubt that she will continue to propel the College of Health forward.