Barbara Wilder received her initial nursing education at St. Margaret's School of Nursing, then returned to school to complete her undergraduate degree from Auburn University at Montgomery. She received a master's degree in Adult Health from Troy State University and another master's degree as a nurse practitioner from University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). In 1995, she completed a Doctorate of Science in Nursing from UAB. The focus of her doctoral research was hardiness and quality of life in older adults. Wilder's research program continues to center around adult health. Another component of the research program is nurse practitioners and their perceived roles and actual roles. An emerging area is service learning health promotion and its impact upon nursing students and low income clients. Another huge area is serving learning health promotion and its impact upon nursing students and low income clients. Wilder joined the AU faculty in 1985 and currently teaches the NP courses in the master's program and some Medical-Surgical concepts in the undergraduate program.