“In my career, what I’ve always tried my best to do, whether on television or through film, is to say something about how men and women really behave. To say how we experience shame, how we love and how we rage, how we fail, how we retreat, persevere, and how we overcome.” – Oprah Winfrey

“Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.” – Nelson Mandela

“I am the American Dream. I am the epitome of what the American Dream basically said. It said, you could come from anywhere and be anything you want in this country. That’s exactly what I’ve done. I am where I am because I believe in all possibilities.” – Whoopi Goldberg  

Adanma Onyedike Barton came to Berea College from Richmond, Virginia. While in Virginia she taught both the Speech for Business and Professionals and the Black Theatre course for Virginia Commonwealth University. Adanma also simultaneously taught for the School of Performing Arts in Richmond Communities (SPARC), and the Henrico High School Center for the Arts. Adanma has also taught for the Virginia Governor’s School of Visual and Performing Arts and the Acting for Non Majors course at the University of Virginia. A professional actor for over 10 years, some of Adanma’s favorite productions include Intimate Apparel at the Barksdale Theater , Return to the Upright Position at the Firehouse Theater, and For Colored Girls… at Raymond Hodges Theater. In Kentucky, Adanma had the honor of originating the role of Lt. Kara Bridges in the World Premiere of “The Year of the Rabbit” at the Balagula Theatre in Lexington.  The play, by Keliher Walsh, was the inaugural winner of the Kentucky Women Writers Conference Award judged by OBIE award winner Naomi Wallace. Adanma is a proponent of the power of positive thinking. She enjoys teaching her students to not only find the joy within themselves but to spread that happiness to others.

Prof. Barton was proudly the first African-American female to serve on the Executive Committee of the largest Theatre Conference in the United States – the Southeastern Theatre Conference and she was the first African-American President of the Kentucky Theatre Association.

In 2017, Adanma completed a six state tour of her solo performance entitled “Lost and Found” which navigated issues pertaining to Women’s Reproductive Health.