Clinical Educators' Academy Committee

Jennifer Phelan is Clinic Director and Clinical Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Amherst. Jennifer has a commitment to use of evidence-based practices in her care of patients and education of the audiology graduate clinicians she precepts. Her clinical focus encompasses many areas of audiology with a passion for serving the pediatric population and individuals with developmental differences. As an educator, Jennifer has a strong interest in the science of teaching and learning as it relates to clinical precepting.

Madison Howe, Au.D., CCC-A, CH-AP, serves as Program Director and Assistant Professor for the Doctor of Audiology Program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). After several years in pediatric audiology clinical practice, she transitioned to academia, where she combines her experiences as both a clinician and educator to bridge the gap between classroom learning and clinical practice. Dr. Howe is passionate about preparing practice-ready healthcare professionals through clinical education, competency-based assessment, and faculty and preceptor development. In addition to her academic role, Dr. Howe maintains a clinical practice in pediatric audiology and serves in numerous national leadership positions related to audiology, clinical education, and professional development.

Leanna Lawrence is an associate clinical professor at the University of Missouri in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences and has been a clinical educator at MU since 2006. She also teaches courses at the undergraduate (i.e., Clinical Observations) and graduate (i.e., Issues in Professional Practice, Clinical Methods, Clinical and Diagnostic Practicums) levels and coordinates the outplacements for their program's graduate students. She enjoys being on CAPCSD's Conference Planning Committee and is currently serving as chair of that committee.   

Jamie Mecham, MS, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences (SHS) at Utah State University (USU) and the Clinical Education Director for the USU Speech and Language Clinic. Jamie is the voice of the Speech and Language Clinic in the Sorenson Center for Clinical Excellence where she works to have it known for its forward thinking, innovative education to students, and services to clients. Her leadership also encompasses providing a safe and guiding environment for students who are struggling with the demands of graduate school and life. In conjunction with SHS research faculty, Jamie has collaborated and published peer reviewed articles and book chapters as well as presented on topics related to childhood language disorders, including auditory memory, narrative language intervention, language development and trauma and auditory processing disorders. Jamie’s ultimate objective in her roles is to educate speech-language pathologists who will provide quality speech and language services to communities and change lives.

Michelle Novak, AuD, CCC-A, is an Assistant Professor in the Doctor of Audiology Program at the University of South Dakota and serves as the Audiology Research Discipline Head for the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program. Her clinical and research interests include hearing aids, hearing assistive technology, auditory processing, and communication access. She is passionate about preparing future audiologists to provide evidence-based, patient-centered care and improving access to hearing healthcare for diverse populations.

Erin Regis Bailey, SLPD, CCC-SLP, is the Director of Clinical Education and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at Concordia University Wisconsin. She brings 17 years of clinical experience in adult medical speech-language pathology and provides leadership across on- and off-campus clinical education, supervision, and graduate clinician development. She teaches undergraduate and graduate coursework in neuroanatomy and physiology, acquired neurogenic communication disorders, and clinical education and supervision. Her professional and scholarly interests focus on clinical education systems, community clinical instructor recruitment, retention, and support, and advancing the preparation of graduate clinicians for professional practice.

Andy Clare, DHSc, CCC-SLP, CBIS, serves as a Clinical Associate Professor, and the Assistant Director of Clinical Education in the Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences at George Washington University. He currently serves as the Vice President of Clinical Education for the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders. He teaches classes in Dysphagia, Aural Rehabilitation, and Clinical Methods for Speech-Language Pathology, and supervises graduate students in their clinical rotations through Acquired Neurological Disorders clinical practicum experiences. His research interests center on refining clinical education and supervision processes for students and supervisors in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Mandie McKenzie, MS, CMP, began as CAPCSD's Director of Professional Development in June 2023. Her professional background includes managing meetings, events and conferences in a destination management company, nonprofit organization, city government agency, and two professional associations, in both professional and volunteer capacities.

Mandie is a member of the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) North Florida Chapter where she served on the Board of Directors for multiple years. She earned her Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) professional designation through the Events Industry Council in 2014 (recertified in 2019, 2024). Mandie is also a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).

Outside work, Mandie enjoys spending time with her husband and their two teenagers. The McKenzies live in Jacksonville, FL. She loves reading, watching true crime shows, creating table settings, and cheering on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.