Description

The need to recruit and retain a diverse student body is clear. Ensuring the success of all students from various cultural backgrounds to reach their individual and collective potential should be welcomed and treated with dignity and respect. In today’s climate, we need to critically reflect on our own cultural biases as well as identify strategies for reducing and resolving conflict. Recognizing the importance of peers, mentors, and accessible educational programming to encourage perseverance in a field that has difficulty retaining underrepresented students will be discussed. Case scenarios will be presented to actively address racial biases, microaggressions, and adverse experiences identified by students from marginalized communities.

Learning Objectives: 

• The learner will identify strategies to ensure the success of students from diverse backgrounds in CSD programs.
• The learner will explore personal biases and stereotyping to foster mutual respect and dignity among all communities.
• The learner will engage in meaningful, open, and constructive dialogue with students and professionals from diverse constituencies.

Time Ordered Agenda: 

7:00 - 7:10 p.m. ET - Introduction of Panelists & Review Learning Objectives
7:10 - 7:20 p.m. ET - In a student’s words: Present Scenario 1 followed by questions to encourage discussion to critically reflect on our own cultural biases/microaggressions.
7:20 - 7:30 p.m. ET - Explore 1: What are the problems facing CSD programs today in terms of diversity?
7:30 - 7:40 p.m. ET - In a student’s words: Present Scenario 2 about student isolation and fears or microaggression; followed by questions to encourage discussion.
7:40 - 7:50 p.m. ET - Explore 2: What are the steps to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students?
7:50- 8:00 p.m. ET - In a student’s words: Present Scenario 3 about a student’s positive experiences at a graduate program; followed by questions to encourage discussion
8:00 - 8:20 p.m. ET - Explore 3: Discuss the formation of MC2. Peers, mentors and accessible educational programming; Knowledge of National & Local Organizations focusing on a diverse group of individuals & topic.
8:20 - 8:30 p.m. ET - Q & A

Speakers:

Dr. Carolyn Sotto, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
University of Cincinnati 

Carolyn (Carney) Sotto, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a Professor and Undergraduate Director in the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders at the University of Cincinnati. She teaches graduate/undergraduate students on-campus and online in the areas of speech sound disorders, phonetics, assessment, psychometrics, child language & literacy. Carney was awarded Fellow of ASHA in 2018.  She is past President of the Ohio Speech-Language-Hearing Association (OSLHA) and was awarded Fellow and Honors of OSLHA.   She is the faculty advisor for the UC NSSLHA and Multicultural Concerns in CSD (MC2) student organization chapters.

Disclosures: 

Financial: 

Dr. Sotto is a paid employee with the University of Cincinnati and is receiving an honorarium from CAPCSD for this presentation.
Non-Financial: None

Danielle Watson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Tennessee State University

Danielle Watson Ph.D., CCC-SLP is an Assistant Professor and Chair of Admissions in the Speech Pathology and Audiology Department at Tennessee State University. She teaches graduate and undergraduate students on-campus and online in the areas of Language Development, Stuttering, Methods of Speech, Language and Hearing in the Schools, Clinical Practicum, Articulation, and Phonetics. She is the co-founder of Multicultural Concerns in CSD (MC2) at the University of Cincinnati.

Disclosures: 

Financial: 

Dr. Watson is a paid employee with the Tennessee State University and is receiving an honorarium from CAPCSD for this presentation.
Non-Financial: None

ASHA CEUs