From South Africa to Alabama, Barnard's path from performer to psychologist

May 7, 2026 - 04:03

For years, Armand Barnard found his voice on stage and on screen. But beyond the spotlight, his ambitions run deeper: to understand people, not just perform for them. At the University of West Alabama, the international student is taking another meaningful step toward his goal of becoming a psychologist.

Barnard grew up in South Africa, where he built a career as a performer. He acted in theater productions, appeared in television commercials, and even landed roles in local films. The work was fulfilling, but over time he noticed a shift in what drew his attention. He became more interested in the emotional lives of the characters he played than in the applause that followed.

That curiosity led him to study psychology. After moving to the United States, he enrolled at UWA, where he is now pursuing a degree in the field. The transition from performer to psychologist has not been easy. He had to adjust to a new country, a new education system, and a new way of thinking about human behavior.

But Barnard says his background in acting helps. Performing taught him how to read a room, how to listen, and how to sit with difficult emotions. Those skills, he believes, are just as important in a therapy session as they are on a film set.

He hopes to eventually work with children and adolescents, helping them navigate trauma and mental health challenges. For now, he is focused on his classes and on learning what it really means to help someone heal.