Tuesday morning word of Dr. Tracey Booth Snipes’ death spread throughout N.C. A&T’s campus. Snipes, lost her battle with kidney cancer late Monday night. Snipes was an adjunct porfessor of speech language pathology at A&T who taught five courses in the department.

“Professionally, she was probably one of the most reliable professors we have in the Speech Program,” said Regina Williams, a friend and interim chair of A&T’s Liberal Studies program and the director of the Speech Program.

Dr Tracey Snipes was a devout Aggie. She earned her bachelor’s in speech language pathology audiology from A&T in 1991. She graduated Magna Cum Laude. Snipes went on to Appalachian State, where she received her master’s in communications disorders. In 2007, she earned her doctorate in curriculum and teaching from UNC-Greensboro, with a concentration in cultural studies.

Dr. Snipes was known for her maternal nature with her students, as well as for her devotion to recruiting high school students for the university speech program.

“The reason why that was so profound is that most people do not know we even have a speech language and pathology program at this university,” Williams said. The speech department has graduated 20 to 25 (speech) majors every semester more recently because of her efforts.

Snipes also co-authored a book on speech communication, “The Fundamentals of Speech Communication in the Digital Age.”

Snipes has been described as an invaluable both to the department and also as a companion. “We’re small but mighty in speech,” said professor Stephanie Carrino.

Snipes’ students also expressed their grief.

“Dr. Snipes was an amazing individual and I will truly miss her,” said junior public relations major, Priscilla Bennett. “I cannot believe she is gone.” Students talked about how Snipes’ class was very helpful to them in their public speaking skills.

“I took Dr. Snipes phonetics class the first semester of my senior year,” said senior Vernetta Jenkins Electronic Media major. “My best memory of her was how she got onto me about trying to correct my northern dialect. I really appreciate her for helping me understand phonetics, it’s very different but it will help me in my career. And I am thankful to her for that.

Dr. Tracey Booth Snipes is survived by her husband and two daughters.

Victorri Taylor helped with this story.

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• Richard Wade, Contributor