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2026 Annual Conference Sessions

Pathfinding Curriculum: Designing Your Program as a System of Learning (0.4 CEUs)

April 8 - Pre-Conf (8:00 AM - 12:00 PM)

Location
Mineral D-E
Speakers
  • Jason Drysdale - Director of Program Development
    Dr. Jason Drysdale is the Director of Program Development at the University of Colorado Denver. He earned his Doctor of Education degree in Organizational Leadership in 2018, was OLC’s 2020 recipient of the Excellence in Faculty Development for Online Teaching Award, and is a 2026 CU System Excellence in Leadership Program fellow. Jason's research interests include higher education leadership, organizational structure/culture, instructional design, and convergences of these domains.
Summary
When designing or redesigning a curriculum, there can be so many influencing factors—professional organization criteria, accrediting standards, clinical requirements, school-specific outcomes, modality, and the like—that it can be difficult to develop programs that are both unique and that function as intentional systems of learning. In this workshop, we’ll explore the process of collaborative instructional design at the curricular level, with the intention of making sense of these complex curricular influences and forging a pathway toward a program that is intentionally designed, unique to your strengths and values, and that equips students for success in their academic and professional work.

Learning Objectives:
  • Examine a systematic, collaborative approach to curriculum design.
  • Combine complex influences on the curriculum without sacrificing values and experiences that make the program unique.
  • Create an approach to change management that amplifies the things that matter most, applying it to the curriculum design process.

Pipeline to Practice: Audiology Training and Workforce Development (0.4 CEUs)

April 8 - Pre-Conf (1:30 - 5:30 PM)

Location
Mineral F-G
Speakers
  • Victor Bray - Professor
    Victor Bray, MSC, PhD, FNAP is a Professor in the Osborne Audiology Department in the College of Nursing and Health Professions at Drexel University in Philadelphia PA. He is a former Dean of the Osborne College of Audiology (late career), former Vice President for two start-up hearing aid companies (mid-career), and former Director of Clinical Audiology (early career). His research interest is the post-AuD state of the audiology profession.
Summary
An extended session to (a) explore the current state of the profession of audiology, quantitatively benchmarked to similar health care professions, (b) discuss needed changes in the old audiology model that are commensurate with the new doctoral degree, and (c) create a new educational outline for the emerging profession.

Learning Objectives:
  • Define the nature of audiology's problems in wages, workforce, and student debt.
  • Summarize concepts to improve the profession that are associated with the transition to the Au.D. degree.
  • Compose recommendations for change in educational programs which can redefine the educational process and align it with the new professional future.

Climbing Toward Excellence: Frameworks and Application of Alternative Grading (0.4 CEUs)

April 8 - Pre-Conf (1:30 - 5:30 PM)

Location
Mineral D-E
Speakers
  • Jennifer Essig - Clinical Associate Professor/Graduate Program Director
    Jennifer Essig is the founding graduate program director of speech-language pathology and a clinical associate professor at Indiana University South Bend. She is currently pursuing an EdD in higher education leadership at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, MO. The focus of her research is how students in CSD programs perceive traditional grading vs. alternative grading practices and if there is a difference between those perceptions based on background.
  • Allison Sauerwein - Associate Professor, Undergraduate Program Director, Teaching Excellence Fellow
    Alli Sauerwein, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor, Undergraduate Program Director, and Teaching Excellence Fellow at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) research Alli engages in aims to improve undergraduate and graduate preservice education in speech-language pathology so that all entry-level clinicians feel confident in their clinical reasoning and practice. She is an editorial board member of Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
Summary
Participants will climb toward more equitable grading practices within CSD coursework. Participants will first learn about different alternative grading frameworks and strategies and how they are currently being incorporated into CSD coursework. The facilitators will compare and contrast traditional grading with alternative grading methods and discuss benefits and limitations of both. Participants will discuss concerns and apprehension faculty may experience when considering and implementing alternative grading methods. The workshop will then pivot toward explaining and sharing examples of the four pillars as outlined by Clark and Talbot in their book Grading for Growth. Participants will brainstorm how they can apply the pillars to their courses and work through potential pitfalls. Participants will be challenged to modify an existing assignment or course assessment plan.

Learning Objectives:
  • Name and describe alternative grading frameworks and strategies.
  • Summarize the benefits of employing alternative grading strategies for instructors and students.
  • Outline an example of each of the four essential pillars as it pertains to your course assignments.

Newcomers' Orientation

April 8 - Newcomers' Orientation (5:30 - 6:00 PM)

Summary
The Newcomers' Orientation is designed for new conference attendees and individuals interested in learning more about CAPCSD and what to expect from the conference. This orientation is a fantastic opportunity to: - Connect with Peers: Meet fellow newcomers, faculty members, and professionals from across the country. - Gain Insights: The conference is full of many innovative sessions and networking opportunities. Come get the inside scoop on different sessions and ways to make the most of the jam-packed conference schedule. We look forward to welcoming you to the CAPCSD community!

Not Attending a Session During This Time Slot (S1)

April 8 - Newcomers' Orientation (5:30 - 6:00 PM)

Welcome Reception & Exhibits

April 8 - Welcome Reception (6:00 - 8:00 PM)

Location
Centennial Foyer
Summary
Join us to kick off the 2026 Annual Conference at the Welcome Reception, hosted by CALIPSO, where you can see colleagues, visit our exhibitors and sponsors, and enjoy hors d'oeuvres and beverages.

Not Attending a Session During This Time Slot (S2)

April 8 - Welcome Reception (6:00 - 8:00 PM)

General Session: Supporting Students with Disabilities (0.15 CEUs)

April 9 - General Session (7:50 AM - 10 AM)

Location
Centennial A-D
Speakers
  • Kathryn Sorensen - Associate Professor & Academic Fieldwork Coordinator
    Kathryn is an Associate Clinical Professor and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for the Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also a certified ADA specialist and loves to advocate for and educate others about the ADA law, accessibility, and the perspective of having a disability, both within her community and the greater healthcare community. She is undefeated in musical chairs.
  • Tricia Montgomery - Director of Clinical Education
    Tricia Montgomery is a faculty member at Florida State University where she serves as the Director of Clinical Education. She previously served as the VP for Professional Development for CAPCSD and currently is the CAPCSD President.
Summary
The opening General Session will include the Plenary Session, President's Address, and Welcome and Announcements.

Plenary: Supporting Students with Disabilities (0.15 CEUs)

This keynote will provide practical, legal, and ethical guidance for supporting students with disabilities in clinical fieldwork. Drawing on her perspective as both a patient and occupational therapist, Dr. Sorensen will highlight the human impact of inclusive and accessible education. Participants will explore the distinction between technical standards and essential job functions, and learn how to define essential duties when evaluating accommodation requests. The session will outline the interactive accommodation process, emphasizing legal foundations and clarifying the roles of Disability Services, faculty, and clinical educators. Case studies will illustrate ethical complexities such as reasonable accommodations, over- and under-accommodation, and professional appropriateness. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to support students, maintain standards, and ensure compliance.

Learning Objectives:
  • Utilize strategies such as written feedback, weekly objectives, and ethical decision-making to support student success while maintaining academic integrity.
  • Apply the interactive accommodation process, including relevant ADA and Section 504 requirements, to real-world fieldwork scenarios.
  • Evaluate case studies to determine when accommodations are reasonable, insufficient, or inappropriate in clinical practice.


  • President's Address: CAPCSD's 2025-2026 President, Tricia Montgomery, will kick off the conference with her remarks about CAPCSD's year-to-date happenings and what's coming up next.

Not Attending a Session During This Time Slot (S3)

April 9 - General Session (7:50 AM - 10 AM)

Innovative Undergraduate Curriculum (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions A (10:30 - 11:30 AM)

Location
Mineral F-G
Speakers
  • Emily Touchstone - Professor of Instruction, Undergraduate Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Program Head
    Emily Touchstone, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a Professor of Instruction at The University of Texas at Dallas and serves as the Undergraduate Assistant Dean in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Undergraduate Program Head in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. She teaches a wide range of courses in the undergraduate and graduate programs and works with SLH faculty members to strengthen the program's academic curriculum.
Summary
Higher education is evolving to meet the changing needs of our students. Incorporating innovative ways to prepare students for speech, hearing, and associated health and educational professions is critical. Beyond traditional didactic methods that build foundational knowledge and instill the theoretical underpinnings of our fields, departments must provide technical skills and training to accommodate a range of graduates with increasingly disparate career goals. Using both structured courses and opportunities outside the classroom to provide additional career training may help close the gap for many students who may not be ready to seamlessly transition into a graduate program. Identifying and channeling student strengths can promote success in both post-graduate education, assistant positions, and alternate careers in health and education.

Learning Objectives:
  • Evaluate ways to improve curriculum for students who have a broad range of academic and career goals.
  • Summarize the complexities facing higher education programs in speech, language, and hearing sciences.
  • Develop ideas for program enhancement.

SoTL 102: Finding What Drives You in SoTL Research (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions A (10:30 - 11:30 AM)

Location
Mineral B-C
Speakers
  • Laura Wolford - Assistant Professor
    Laura Wolford, PhD, MS, CCC-SLP, CSE, is an Assistant Professor at MGH Institute of Health Professions and director of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Center. She teaches courses on clinical supervision, counseling, and the scholarship of teaching and learning through a social justice lens. As director of the TASSEL (Teaching and Supporting Student Experience in Learning) lab, Dr. Wolford promotes mixed-methods of improving the student experience.
Summary
This session introduces the foundations of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), with a focus on linking education research to the topics that matter to you most in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) education. Participants will explore SoTL principles and methodologies, learning how to frame researchable questions and gather meaningful evidence. This will include traditional SoTL methodologies, as well as strategies for using education research to conduct advocacy and community engagement work. The session aims to equip participants with the tools to contribute to the growing body of knowledge in CSD while driving systemic change in higher education.

Learning Objectives:
  • Define foundational principles and methodologies of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.
  • Identify strategies for framing researchable questions in CSD education.
  • Apply approaches for collecting and analyzing evidence to inform meaningful teaching and learning practices.

Training and Supporting Clinical Educators (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions A (10:30 - 11:30 AM)

Location
Mineral D-E
Speakers
  • Elaine Mormer - Professor
    Elaine Mormer is Professor of Audiology and Vice Chair for Clinical Education in the University of Pittsburgh CSD Department. She has published and presented on the topic of evidence-based clinical education nationally and internationally. She was the 2020 American Academy of Audiology Outstanding Educator Awardee. She currently serves on the ASHA Council for Clinical Certification and is an ASHA Fellow. Dr. Mormer is a former CAPCSD Board member.
Summary
In this session, attendees will discuss considerations in training and supporting community clinical educators. Topics will include standards guidance, resources needed, and training approaches and content. This will be an interactive session exploring training needs, in the context of care and maintenance of community clinical educator relationships.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify barriers and facilitators to training clinical educators to provide evidence-based clinical instruction.
  • Identify key themes in which to train clinical educators.
  • Experiment with tools to guide clinical educators' in best practices with students.,/li>

Elevating Excellence in AI for Academic Leaders: Save Time, Solve Problems, Surprise Yourself (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions A (10:30 - 11:30 AM)

Location
Centennial F
Speakers
  • Debra Burnett - Associate Professor and Interim Dean
    Dr. Debra L. Burnett, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an associate professor in Communication Sciences and Disorders and interim dean of the School of Health Sciences at Springfield College, Springfield, MA. She got her B.A. and M.S. degrees from SUNY Geneseo and her Ph.D. from Syracuse University. She teaches courses in linguistics, language development, and language disorders. Her research interests include pediatric speech and language and the scholarship of teaching and learning.
  • Sandra Seaman - Program Director, Associate Professor
    Sandra (Combs) Seaman, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an associate professor and the SLPD Program Director at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. Dr. Seaman has been a clinician for 35 years, teaching, mentoring, and supervising at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels. Dr. Seamans has presented at the local, state, and national levels. Her teaching and research interests include collaboration and training, child language, literacy, AAC, autism, SSD, and SoTL.
  • Amy Rodda - Associate Teaching Professor, Director of Clinical Education
    Amy Rodda, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Teaching Professor and the Director of Clinical Education in the Speech and Hearing Sciences Department at the University of Washington. She teaches undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate coursework including Language Science, Developmental Communication and Swallowing Disorders, Professional Seminar, and Advanced Clinical Forum. She facilitates the Leslie Jeanne Berns Support Group for families of children with communication disorders, and mentors undergraduate research.
Summary
This dynamic session invites academic leaders to explore practical applications of AI to streamline administrative tasks, enhance program coordination, and support faculty collaboration. Through interactive demonstrations, ethical decision-making prompts, and conflict role-play scenarios reflecting diverse faculty viewpoints, participants will move beyond the basics to develop strategies they can implement immediately. With a balance of targeted information-sharing and hands-on practice, this session equips department chairs, program directors, and clinic directors with tools to use AI thoughtfully, efficiently, and creatively while modeling responsible and transparent practices for their teams.

Learning Objectives:
  • Analyze complex administrative workflows to identify opportunities for AI integration.
  • Apply ethical guidelines when evaluating AI tools and outputs.
  • Demonstrate conflict-resolution strategies for addressing differing faculty perspectives on AI use.

Revisiting Service-learning as a Pedagogical Strategy in AAC Coursework (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions A (10:30 - 11:30 AM)

Location
Centennial G
Speakers
  • Juhi Kidwai - Assistant Professor
    Dr. Juhi Kidwai, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor at SIU-Carbondale. Her teaching focus is on neurogenic communication disorders, phonetics, culturally responsive practices, and augmentative and alternative communication. Dr. Kidwai is affiliated with the Aphasia Recovery with Technology (ART) Lab, where her work integrates cutting-edge research and clinical expertise for aphasia and PPA rehabilitation. She is committed to advancing speech-language pathology through teaching, research, and impactful contributions to the field.
  • Denise Croft - Director, Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders
    Denise Croft, MS, CCC-SLP, is a licensed and certified speech language pathologist. She is faculty in the Communication Disorders and Sciences Program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She is currently serving as Program Director and Director of SIU Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders.
  • Stephanie Nanto - Clinical Assistant Professor
    Stephanie Nanto, MS, CCC-SLP, is a Clinical Instructor and Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She teaches language development and language disorders and supervises graduate clinicians. Her professional interests include augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), evidence-based intervention for pediatric language disorders, and clinical education. Stephanie also serves as a faculty advisor for NSSLHA and is passionate about mentoring emerging professionals.
Summary
This session describes the design and implementation of a service-learning model in a graduate-level augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) course, developed to bridge academic knowledge with real-world practice while addressing service gaps in schools. The model combined eight weeks of didactic instruction with an eight-week, school-based practicum where graduate students partnered with speech-language pathologists to support children using AAC. Structured reflection through weekly journals and discussion boards deepened learning. Benefits, challenges, and planned revisions will be presented, with emphasis on elevating AAC training and enhancing stakeholder partnerships. Audience members will engage through case examples, discussion of replication strategies, and interactive reflection prompts. This presentation offers a replicable pedagogy that strengthens student competencies while supporting community needs—aligning with the conference’s call to elevate excellence in education.

Learning Objectives:
  • Apply principles of service-learning pedagogy by identifying at least two ways AAC-focused service-learning can be integrated into graduate-level communication disorders curricula.
  • Analyze the logistical and pedagogical challenges of implementing a service-learning model in AAC coursework and evaluate strategies to address these challenges in their own programs.
  • Create an initial action plan for adapting or replicating an AAC service-learning project at their home institution, considering stakeholder roles, course design, and community partnerships.

Answering the Call: Preparing Students Across Professions for Collaborative Care in Underserved Communities (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions A (10:30 - 11:30 AM)

Location
Centennial H
Speakers
  • Leslie Grubler - Director of Clinical Education and Clinical Services
    Leslie Grubler, EdD, CCC-SLP, is the Director of Clinical Education/Clinical Services at Lehman College CUNY. A speech-language pathologist, consultant, and family/child advocate through 28 years of practice, Dr. Grubler has presented nationally and locally and advocated for the rights of disabled individuals throughout her entire career from NYC Hall to Albany to Washington D.C. Dr. Grubler’s research and professional practice interests have been in culturally responsive and disability-affirmative practice.
  • Patience Aboagye - Clinical Instructor, Nursing
    Patience Anane Aboagye, RN, MSN (Ed), PEDS-BC, OCN, is a board-certified pediatric and oncology nurse with a Master of Science in Nursing Education. Her professional interests include evidence-based practice, clinical instruction, and quality improvement in pediatric and oncology settings. She has contributed to nursing education through curriculum development in the SPS Nurse Micro-Credential Fellowship, staff development initiatives, and coordination of complex pediatric discharges involving gastrointestinal nutrition optimization.
  • Rebecca Chun - Assistant Director of Practicum Education Social Work
    Rebecca Chun, LMSW, MFA, is the Assistant Director of Practicum Education in the Department of Social Work at Lehman College/CUNY in the Bronx, New York. In addition to her full-time role, Rebecca collaborates inter-professionally with the Speech and Hearing Center, a community-serving clinic and training facility for Speech and Language Pathology housed in the Lehman campus, where she supervises social work students. She finds balance in art, activism, and family.
  • Nicole Gerlak - SLP Graduate Student
    Nicole Gerlak is a second-year graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology program at Lehman College. She is committed to interdisciplinary, community-centered care and is especially passionate about supporting adults with neurogenic communication disorders, including aphasia. Nicole volunteers with a primary progressive aphasia conversation group at NYU and aims to contribute to research and collaborative care models that expand equitable, accessible services for underserved communities.
  • Nathacha Almanzar - SW Graduate Student
    Nathacha Almanzar, an MSW candidate at Lehman College, is a Clinical Social Work Trainee at the Bronx Telehealth Counseling Center and a Regional Schools Coordinator at Uncommon Schools. She bridges trauma-focused care and crisis intervention with operational strategy to dismantle systemic inequities. Utilizing her bilingual foundation in Critical Social Thought, Nathacha employs interdisciplinary collaboration to create accessible systems, empowering underserved communities through inclusive mental health and educational reform.
Summary
Answering the call interprofessionally is urgent in communities where health disparities persist and underserved populations face barriers to care. At our free university Speech and Hearing Center, speech-language pathology graduate student clinicians, student nurses, and social work interns unite to co-design and deliver client- and family-centered services. Through shared supervision and case collaboration, teams triangulate perspectives to address communication, psychosocial, and health needs across the lifespan. Outcomes include enhanced student competencies in cultural responsivity, interprofessional communication, collaborative decision-making, leadership, and advocacy—skills vital for complex systems. Families benefit from coordinated, holistic care that advances equity. Attendees will engage through case examples, reflective prompts, small-group discussions, and multimedia demonstrations, gaining tools to evaluate outcomes, integrate journaling practices, and design training responsive to underserved communities.

Learning Objectives:
  • Evaluate interprofessional outcomes that advance equity-focused care in underserved communities and adapt strategies for broader applicability across institutional and community contexts.
  • Analyze supervision models, case collaborations, and journaling practices to strengthen interprofessional learning outcomes.
  • Design interprofessional care approaches that prioritize community needs, foster collaborative decision-making, and integrate advocacy to enhance clinical education.

Solution Focused Dialogue: Developing Student Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities for the Workplace (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions A (10:30 - 11:30 AM)

Location
Capitol 1
Speakers
  • Devon Weist - Associate Professor and Au.D. Program Coordinator
    Devon Weist, AuD, is an associate professor and AuD program coordinator at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. At UNC, she practices clinically, precepts students, and teaches within the AuD program. Her primary areas of interests include audiologic and vestibular diagnostics, counseling individuals with hearing and balance disorders, audiology education, and precepting.
  • Jamelle Salomon - Clinical Assistant Professor
    Jamelle Salomon MS, CCC-SLP, is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences at UNC Chapel Hill. Her primary interests are clinical education, autism, and augmentative and alternative communication. She is a member of the Project EXPRESS research team, comparing social and executive functioning skills programs for adolescents with autism. Jamelle works closely with students and preceptors to ensure high quality clinical learning across settings.
Summary
As the healthcare landscape evolves, so do the expectations placed on future audiologists and speech-language pathologists. Academic and clinical education programs must prepare students not only with foundational knowledge but also with the adaptive skills and professional competencies required for success in diverse and dynamic workplace settings. In this interactive session, participants will engage in case-based activities to explore strategies that promote self-efficacy, critical thinking, and professional readiness. Attendees will leave with practical tools to implement these approaches within academic and clinical environments.

Learning Objectives:
  • Explain key factors that influence student confidence and workplace readiness.
  • Identify evidence-based strategies to support professional growth and prepare students for success in diverse practice settings.
  • Apply practical approaches through an interactive case scenario to enhance student development.

How to Compassionately Counsel Graduate Students Who Are Not Succeeding (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions A (10:30 - 11:30 AM)

Location
Capitol 2
Speakers
  • Felicidad Garcia - Associate Professor of Instruction, Undergraduate Program Director
    Felicidad M. Garcia, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor of Instruction and the Undergraduate Program Director for the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department at Temple University. Her clinical area of expertise centers on bilingual and bidialectal children and adults with speech and language disorders, and she teaches courses related to cultural and linguistic diversity in the practice of speech-language pathology.
  • Lisa Bedore - Professor, Department Chair
    Dr. Lisa Bedore is Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and is a Fellow of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association. In her faculty roles (Chair, clinic director and director of MA level training projects) she has regularly advised students. Guiding students who are not well suited to a career as a SLP is as important as supporting students who continue.
Summary
Guiding graduate students when they are academically or clinically struggling is one of the most challenging responsibilities for all supervisors and advisors, across leadership positions. This session offers practical, compassionate strategies for navigating these difficult conversations within the field of communication sciences and disorders. Grounded in principles from Kim Scott’s Radical Candor, the session will explore how to balance direct feedback with genuine care. Participants will engage with real-world case studies, and have a space to share experiences and learn from one another's work in a supportive setting. Attendees will leave with specific tools for delivering honest, empathetic counsel, while maintaining the dignity and long-term success of students. This session aims to foster confident, compassionate leadership when supporting students through critical academic crossroads.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify key communication strategies to effectively and compassionately counsel students who are struggling in a graduate program.
  • Apply new approaches for counseling graduate students in difficult advising scenarios.
  • Develop a plan for delivering honest feedback while maintaining empathy and professionalism during conversations about program expectations, including potential dismissal or redirection.

Not Attending a Session During This Time Slot (S4)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions A (10:30 - 11:30 AM)

Poster: Data Without the Drama: Practical Strategies for Year-round Organization (0.05 CEUs)

April 9 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol Foyer North
Speakers
  • Stephanie Schaaf - Chair / Program Director / Associate Professor
    Stephanie Schaaf, EdD, CCC-SLP, is Chair, Program Director, and Associate Professor in the Center for Communication Disorders at Murray State University. A practicing SLP for 18 years, she has held leadership roles as department chair, program director, and clinic director. She teaches graduate courses on speech sound disorders, research, professional issues, and AAC. Her current interests include supervision, ethics, phonology, AAC, and leadership.
  • J. Nikki Gaylord - Associate Professor
    Dr. J. Nikki Gaylord, CCC-SLP, is an associate professor at Murray State University in the Center for Communication Disorders and has been a practicing speech-language pathologist for over 25 years. She completed her doctorate of clinical science in speech-language pathology in 2019 and a doctorate of education in 2022. Her current research interests include exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction in athletes, exercise-induced dyspnea, and ethics in speech-language pathology.
  • Alison Brown - Assistant Professor
    Alison Brown, EdD, CCC-SLP, is an assistant professor in the Center for Communication Disorders at Murray State University. She earned a B.A. in English from Murray State University, M.S. in SLP from the University of Kentucky, and an Ed.D. from Murray State University. She has practiced and taught in many settings, including schools, acute care, and outpatient. Alison's clinical and research interests include dyslexia and DEI in communication disorders programs.
Summary
Discover strategies for organizing and streamlining data collection to ensure your program is continuously informed and supported by meaningful evidence. Our program shifted from temporary fixes to systematic changes, resulting in more thoughtful decision-making, stronger stakeholder engagement, and sustainable growth. Importantly, we found that effective data practices thrive when viewed as a shared responsibility, not a reporting requirement. Building a team approach to data collection fosters collaboration, deepens understanding across faculty, staff, and students, and transforms compliance into a culture of continuous improvement. Strategies shared will highlight the development and implementation of an annual data retreat, maximizing the productivity of faculty meetings, organizing shared drives for easy access, engaging students and stakeholders in the process, and more.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify strategies for implementing systematic, year-round data collection that support program growth and decision-making.
  • Explain the benefits of a team-based approach to data collection and how it strengthens program culture and outcomes.
  • Develop a plan to integrate evidence-based practices, such as annual data retreats and organized documentation systems, into their own programs.

Poster: From Operating Room to Clinic: An IPE Event Enhancing Implant Education in Audiology (0.05 CEUs)

April 9 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol Foyer North
Speakers
  • Nicole M. Ferguson - Director of Clinical Services & Education, Audiology
    Dr. Nicole Ferguson is the Director of Clinical Services & Instruction in Audiology at Central Michigan University. She oversees multiple service lines in the Carls Center, coordinating clinical education and community partnerships. Her work emphasizes interprofessional collaboration between audiology and otology, highlighted through the MEI-CMU Audiology Day program. Dr. Ferguson previously served as President of the Michigan Board of Audiology and as a CAA Site Visitor.
  • Robert Hong - Director of Research & Senior Partner
    Dr. Hong is currently a senior partner and Director of Research at Michigan Ear Institute and has a joint appointment as an Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at Wayne State University School of Medicine. Dr. Hong is board-certified in adult and pediatric Neurotology, Otology, Otolaryngology, and Skull Base Surgery. He specializes in the medical and surgical treatment of ear and skull base disorders in both adults and children.
Summary
This poster highlights a partnership between Central Michigan University Audiology and the Michigan Ear Institute, where third-year students participate in an interprofessional training event including live surgical observations, live-narration of 3-D recordings of middle ear surgeries, temporal bone labs, and hands-on implant demonstrations. Guided narration from neurotologists connects surgical procedures to audiologic practice, strengthening students’ confidence in working with neurotologists, counseling patients and family members, clinical reasoning, and readiness for externships. Over time, the event has expanded to include students from other Michigan Au.D. programs and community-based audiologists. This model demonstrates a sustainable approach to advancing clinical education and preparing audiologists for collaborative practice.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe how surgical observation and narrated 3-D recordings enhance clinical education.
  • Explain how neurotologist collaboration improves student preparedness for counseling and externships.
  • Discuss how this IPE model could be applied to their clinical program.

Poster: An Escape Room IPE: Shaping Professional Identity in First-Year Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Students (0.05 CEUs)

April 9 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol Foyer North
Speakers
  • Joann Denemark - Program Director
    Joann Denemark, EdD, CCC-SLP, is the Program Director for the M.H.S. in Speech-Language Pathology at Augusta University. With 20+ years of clinical experience, she led program development and CAA Candidacy for Accreditation, demonstrating her commitment to SLP advocacy. Her scholarly interests include interprofessional education (IPE) and cultivating student dual identity development. Dr. Denemark was nominated and selected as a 2025 Distinguished Practitioner Fellow by the National Academies of Practice.
Summary
First-year SLP graduate students entering the third week of classes at Augusta University participated in an interprofessional education (IPE) Escape Room with 160+ pre-professional graduate students from the departments of Physician Assistant, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Nutrition & Dietetics. The students were divided into 29 small groups and participated in a one-day, immersive, gamified IPE experience. The experience not only engaged students but also shaped students' professional identities, transforming the future of healthcare through meaningful interprofessional collaboration. Aligning with a recent qualitative study grounded in the TILT Higher Ed framework, findings revealed that the event enhanced team communication and confidence in an engaging, low-stakes environment. This study presents a replicable IPE tool that fosters pre-IPE faculty-student open dialogue, promoting clarity, purpose, and clinical relevance.

Learning Objectives:
  • Assess how gamified interprofessional education (IPE) activities, such as escape rooms, reinforce patient-centered values and collaborative care competencies among pre-licensure healthcare students.
  • Utilize open communication and transparency with your students using a pre-IPE replicable tool that highlights the TILT Higher Ed framework, enhancing student preparedness and engagement during IPE experiences.
  • Discover the impact of reflective, gamified IPE on the development of dual-role professional identities within graduate-level SLP curricula.

Poster: Enhancing Graduate Student Self-efficacy Through Community-based Practicum with Individuals with Parkinson's Disease (0.05 CEUs)

April 9 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol Foyer North
Speakers
  • Melissa McGrath - Assistant Professor
    Melissa McGrath, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor at Ball State University in Muncie, IN. She teaches courses in neurogenic communication disorders and medical speech pathology, and has over 25 years of clinical experience. Her research focuses on maximizing therapeutic outcomes for people with neurogenic disorders.
  • Dawn Condon - Associate Clinical Lecturer
    Dawn Condon, MA, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Clinical Lecturer at Ball State University in Muncie, IN, where she has worked since the year 2000. Mrs. Condon teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on anatomy and physiology and voice/resonance disorders. She leads the coordination and clinical supervision for on- and off-campus services provided to people with Parkinson’s disease in East Central Indiana.
Summary
This poster presents preliminary findings from an ongoing project, which includes the impact of a unique community-based practicum on speech-language pathology graduate students' self-efficacy when working with individuals with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Students provide individual and group speech therapy, as well as stand-by support during Rock Steady Boxing sessions. This unique experience allows students to observe and treat communication within the context of motor symptoms like balance and gait. By targeting dual-task performance combining movement with speech and cognitive demands, students gained insight not achievable in traditional on-campus clinics. Preliminary results suggest increased student confidence and a stronger understanding of the complex interaction between motor and communication challenges in PD, supporting the value of integrated, community-engaged clinical training.

Learning Objectives:
  • Analyze how dual-task activities in a community-based practicum enhance graduate students’ clinical reasoning and understanding of functional communication in real-world settings.
  • Evaluate the impact of community-based practicum experiences on self-efficacy and preparedness for working with individuals with complex neurodegenerative conditions.
  • Apply principles learned regarding the observed relationship between motor symptoms and communication challenges in a community-based practicum experience to other settings, including traditional on-campus individual sessions.

Poster: Bringing Visibility to Clinical Workloads in Communication Sciences and Disorders Programs (0.05 CEUs)

April 9 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol Foyer North
Speakers
  • Haley Coleman - Assistant Professor; Program Director
    Haley Coleman, EdD, CCC-SLP, serves as Program Director and Assistant Professor in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program at Texas A&M University–Kingsville. She is a medically based speech-language pathologist with clinical experience across the lifespan, including acute care, outpatient rehabilitation, long-term care, and pediatric services. Her research examines clinical supervision, simulation-based training, competency development, and workload modeling in SLP education.
  • Eric Swartz - Professor
    Eric Swartz, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a Professor and Graduate Coordinator in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Program at Texas A&M University – Kingsville. Dr. Swartz teaches graduate courses in fluency disorders and counseling. His research interests include current workload practices for clinical faculty and administrators, counseling in communication disorders, and outcomes in stuttering therapy.
  • Farzan Irani - Professor and Chair
    Farzan Irani, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a Professor and Chair in Communication Disorders at Texas State University. He has published and presented on treatment effectiveness in stuttering, telepractice, and psychosocial and multicultural aspects of stuttering and other communication disorders.
  • Lydia Hernandez-Perez - Associate Professor of Practice
    Lydia Hernandez-Perez, MS, CCC-SLP, is Clinic Director and Associate Professor of Practice at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. She holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Texas A&M University-Kingsville and Texas A&I University. With over 30 years of experience, she has worked in private practice, early childhood intervention, and schools. She brings over a decade of experience as a clinic director, focusing on faculty clinical assignments and promoting balanced workload distribution.
Summary
This project examines and explores clinical workload practices for faculty in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) programs within the field of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD). A mixed-methods survey was distributed to clinical faculty and administrators across the United States, with 173 responses included in the analysis. Quantitative results indicated wide variability in workload formulas, inconsistent conversion of clinical hours into academic credit, and limited recognition of indirect tasks such as documentation. Qualitative themes highlighted inequities in compensation, faculty overload due to staffing shortages, and calls for more consistent practices. Findings underscore the importance of developing equitable workload models that support faculty well-being, promote program sustainability, and advance the shared goal of excellence in clinical education.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify current trends and challenges in clinical workload practices across SLP programs within CSD.
  • Describe key findings from a national survey regarding workload variability, equity concerns, and faculty well-being.
  • Identify potential strategies for developing equitable workload models that promote sustainability and elevate excellence in clinical education.

Poster: Advancing Dysphagia Simulation: Applying Best Practices to Elevate SLP Education (0.05 CEUs)

April 9 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol Foyer North
Speakers
  • Kelly Hansen - Lecturer
    Kelly Egan Hansen, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, is a Lecturer and Clinical Supervisor in the Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences at Boston University’s Sargent College and a practicing medical speech-language pathologist with over 20 years of clinical experience. She is a board-certified swallowing specialist, provides dysphagia care to adults at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and focuses teaching and scholarship on head and neck cancer rehabilitation and evidence-based dysphagia management.
  • Rachael Kammer - Clinical Assistant Professor
    Rachael E. Kammer, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences at Boston University. She has over 20 years of experience in medical speech/language pathology and has worked in a variety of settings. She teaches the Dysphagia course at Boston University and runs simulations to enhance learning experiences. Rachael has particular interest in head and neck cancer and Parkinson's Disease.
  • Samantha Brown - Director of Clinical Simulation; Clinical Assistant Professor
    Samantha Brown, PT, DPT, GCS, is Director of Clinical Simulation and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Boston University’s Sargent College. She specializes in simulation-based education across the health professions. As Director, Dr. Brown leads faculty development on best practices, advances simulation design and operations, and is building a standardized patient program to strengthen learner engagement, assessment, and program quality.
Summary
Boston University’s Sargent College launched a Simulation Lab in 2023 to expand experiential learning in Speech-Language Pathology and related disciplines. The dysphagia course was among the first to adopt simulation, but its initial year revealed challenges such as broad objectives and limited depth of debriefing. In response, faculty collaborated with the Simulation Director to refine learning goals, strengthen pre-briefing and debriefing structures, and enhance faculty facilitation. These adjustments, grounded in INACSL best practice standards, led to increased student confidence, stronger clinical reasoning, and greater engagement. This poster will present lessons learned from this iterative process, highlight outcome data from student feedback and faculty observations, and provide practical strategies for designing and sustaining effective simulation experiences in SLP education.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify common challenges in early simulation implementation and strategies to address them.
  • Explain how refining pre-briefing, learning objectives, and debriefing improves simulation outcomes.
  • Apply lessons from dysphagia simulation redesign to develop sustainable, scalable simulation practices in SLP programs.

Poster: Aiming for Synchrony Between Academic and Clinical Education: Leveraging a Journal Club Approach (0.05 CEUs)

April 9 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol Foyer North
Speakers
  • Grace Clark - Assistant Professor
    Grace Clark, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor at Montclair State University and Director of the ABLL Lab. Her research focuses on improving communication and literacy for nonspeaking and minimally speaking autistic children through neurodiversity-affirming, participatory, and evidence-based AAC interventions. A former school-based clinician, she is dedicated to bridging research and practice to support meaningful, inclusive communication for all.
  • Lesley Sylvan - Associate Professor
    Dr. Lesley Sylvan is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Montclair State University. She is also program director of the master's degree in speech-language pathology and deputy chair of the department. She completed a Master's degree in educational policy and management as well as a Doctorate degree in human development and education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Summary
Bridging research and clinical practice remains a challenge in CSD graduate education. This poster describes the development and implementation of a journal club designed to strengthen research-practice integration. We identified several areas where research has significantly changed clinical practices, and thus, updates to the synchrony between the academic and clinical education are needed (e.g., goal writing for pediatric clients, leveraging AAC to support language learning). Based on this, a journal club focused on “hot topics” in CSD was developed. Graduate students, faculty, and clinical supervisors engaged in structured discussions linking current research to clinical challenges. Outcomes were measured through surveys, interviews, and evaluation of changes in clinical documentation. This poster highlights strategies for fostering evidence-based decision-making and supporting scholarly teaching in CSD programs.

Learning Objectives:
  • Analyze strategies for implementing journal clubs to enhance research-practice integration in graduate CSD education.
  • Evaluate the impact of journal club participation on student engagement, clinical reasoning, and goal-writing practices.
  • Apply inclusive, evidence-based pedagogical strategies to design and facilitate collaborative learning experiences in CSD.

Poster: SLP Graduate Student Perceptions of Their Readiness to Engage in Client Counseling (0.05 CEUs)

April 9 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol Foyer North
Speakers
  • Karmen Porter - Department Chair, Associate Professor
    Karmen Porter is an Associate Professor and Chair of the CSD Department at Fort Hays State University. She is a certified speech-language pathologist. Her research interests and teaching areas include language development/disorders, literacy disorders, and SLP communication and collaboration with clients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.
  • Blythe Serrano - Undergraduate Student
    Blythe Serrano is a senior CSD student at Fort Hays State University and an SLPA with Des Moines Public Schools. She is involved in research on dyslexia assessment and the use of music in treating pediatric communication disorders. After graduating, she hopes to pursue a master’s degree in speech-language pathology.
Summary
This mixed-methods study explored SLP graduate student perspectives regarding their preparedness to counsel before and after completing a counseling course. Through a pre- and post-course survey consisting of Likert-scale and open-ended questions, participants were asked to rate their counseling skills and reflect on their strengths, weaknesses, and concerns. Statistical analysis of Likert-scale responses showed the perception of greater readiness and notable coalescence in that perception across the sample following formal instruction. Emergent coding of open-ended responses identified seven distinct themes ranging from a focus on counseling processes (‘Ethical Considerations, ‘Hard Conversations, and ‘Expected Skills’) to a focus on personal clinical development (‘Limited Experiences’, ‘Challenges and Boundaries, 'Growth in Skills’, and ‘Reflective Client Support’). Overall, results signified notable changes in student perspectives regarding their counseling skills.

Learning Objectives:
  • Compare and contrast graduate student perceptions of counseling in the field before and after completion of counseling-focused coursework.
  • Analyze graduate student perceptions of their greatest perceived weaknesses and greatest perceived strengths in relation to counseling their clients.
  • Analyze the potential benefits and limitations of counseling-focused coursework for developing student skills.

Poster: Transitioning from Metrics to Holistic Graduate Admissions Using Situational Judgment Tests (0.05 CEUs)

April 9 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol Foyer North
Speakers
  • Lauren Flora - Associate Professor and ASHA Program Director
    Lauren Flora, PhD, AuD, CCC-A, is an audiologist and Associate Professor at Radford University, where she serves as the ASHA Program Director for the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the Audiology Clinic Director. With over a decade of experience chairing the admissions committee, she led the transition from traditional to holistic admissions. Her research interests include holistic admissions, student wellness, aural rehabilitation, and pediatric hearing assessment techniques.
  • Diane Millar - Chair, Professor
    Diane Millar completed her doctoral degree in speech-language pathology at Penn State University in the area of augmentative and alternative communication. She is a professor at Radford University, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate students. She collaborates with students in research through undergraduate capstones and master's theses. Dr. Millar has enjoyed serving in a variety leadership positions, including the position of Chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.
  • Vrushali Angadi - Assistant Professor
    Vrushali Angadi, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Radford University. Her research focuses on voice rehabilitation following head and neck cancer, improving access to specialty care, and developing culturally responsive clinical practices. As Honorary Faculty at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, she supports global clinician education and remains dedicated to advancing evidence-based care and training for future speech-language pathologists.
  • Michelle Lenhart - Assistant Professor
    Michelle Lenhart, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an assistant professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Radford University. Dr. Lenhart is a licensed SLP with a background in child and adolescent language and literacy, with particular interests in syntax, language sampling, and school-based practice. Her research interests also include the scholarship of teaching and learning, particularly related to holistic admissions processes and improving uptake of EBP through didactic and clinical education.
  • Diane Shepard - Clinical Instructor and Externship Coordinator
    Diane Shepard, MS, CCC-SLP, is a senior instructor and externship coordinator at Radford University and has eight years of experience supervising at the Radford University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic. Her research interests include effective supervision strategies and improving outcomes for speech-language pathology students and the geriatric population.
Summary
Traditional academic metrics, such as GRE scores and GPAs, are limited in predicting clinical potential and may perpetuate inequities. Aligned with the theme 'Elevating Excellence,' this presentation traces the evolution of our admissions formula from a traditional metric-heavy approach to a holistic review, which incorporates measures of non-academic attributes that may aid in identifying graduate students with potential to be successful clinicians. Data from a two-part study will be reported: (a) a retrospective study on the effects of moving to a holistic admissions approach and (b) an analysis of admissions practices across health professions. The second part of the presentation will be a literature review on how situational judgment tests may help reduce bias when assessing non-academic attributes. Implications for CSD admissions will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:
  • Analyze the limitations of traditional admissions metrics in predicting clinical success.
  • Evaluate the role of holistic review and SJTs, including CASPer, in promoting equitable admissions and identifying clinical potential.
  • Synthesize insights from health sciences literature to inform CSD admissions practices and support student success.

Poster: Turning Analytics into Outcomes: What We Learned from Three Years of TrueLearn Implementation (0.05 CEUs)

April 9 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol Foyer North
Speakers
  • Rebecca Wiseheart - Associate Professor
    Rebecca Wiseheart, PhD, CCC-SLP, is Associate Professor and Chair in the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders at St. John's University in New York. Her research and clinical interests focus on language, learning, and cognition in college students with dyslexia. A secondary line of research explores the development of pre-professional identity in the CSD major. She teaches courses in language-based learning disabilities, assessment, and professional writing.
Summary
Over three years, our program integrated TrueLearn, a test-preparation and analytics platform, into graduate coursework to strengthen Praxis performance and evaluate curriculum alignment. TrueLearn’s item-level analytics identified student strengths and weaknesses, prompting targeted instructional adjustments and faculty-led curriculum review guided by the Praxis blueprint. Correlations between TrueLearn performance and Praxis scores suggest predictive value, with pass rates increasing by 25%. Challenges included variable student engagement, faculty workload, and limitations of test-item formats in capturing higher-order clinical reasoning. This poster will present key findings, highlight the balance of benefits and drawbacks, and engage attendees in discussion of how analytics-driven approaches can inform evidence-based decision making in curriculum design and student support.

Learning Objectives:
  • Explain how performance data from a test-preparation platform can be used to predict and monitor student outcomes.
  • Summarize how item-level analytics can guide curriculum mapping and inform instructional decision-making.
  • Evaluate the benefits and limitations of integrating a commercial test-preparation tool into graduate CSD programs.

Poster: Cultivating Undergraduate Leadership in CSD Programs: A Call for Curricular Innovation (0.05 CEUs)

April 9 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol Foyer North
Speakers
  • Hope Baylow - Associate Professor, Founding Program Director, CSD & SLP
    Hope E. Baylow, D.A., CCC-SLP, TSHH, BCS-S, was named Founding Program Director of Communication Sciences & Disorders and Speech-Language Pathology in the Department of Health and Human Performance at The University of Scranton in 2020 and Associate Professor in 2024. A board-certified specialist in swallowing and swallowing disorders, she has over 30 years of clinical and academic experience and has presented and published extensively on swallowing and voice disorders.
Summary
Although leadership development in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) is often reserved for graduate training, early exposure at the undergraduate level may better prepare students for clinical, supervisory, and advocacy roles. This poster explores how undergraduate CSD programs can serve as foundations for leadership capacity using evidence-based strategies grounded in Social Cognitive Career Theory (Lent et al., 1994). Drawing from literature in higher education and early findings from dissertation research, the poster highlights scalable curricular interventions such as curriculum-based mentorship, reflective journaling, and leadership-infused coursework. Attendees will gain practical tools to embed leadership development into existing curricula and are invited to engage in dialogue on fostering leadership identity in students prior to graduate-level preparation.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify key curricular and extracurricular opportunities that can support early leadership development in undergraduate communication sciences and disorders (CSD) students.
  • Analyze the potential impact of integrating leadership competencies into pre-graduate CSD curriculum design on student professional identity and readiness for advanced training.
  • Develop strategies for faculty and administrators to foster leadership capacity among students before entry into graduate programs.

Poster: Creating a Repository of Clinical Documentation to Support Problem-based Learning (0.05. CEUs)

April 9 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol Foyer North
Speakers
  • BeckyAnn Harker - Assistant Professor
    BeckyAnn Harker, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an assistant professor in the department of Speech-Language Pathology at Monmouth University in New Jersey. She has 25 years of clinical experience working with pediatrics in outpatient and school settings. She recently earned her doctorate in Special Education and moved into higher education a year ago. Her fruitless searches for real-world case studies was the catalyst for the project shared at this conference.
  • Robyn Becker - Assistant Professor
    Robyn Becker, SLP.D, CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences/Disorders (CSD), Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey. With nearly 30 years of clinical experience as a licensed speech-language pathologist, she has worked across settings with children and adults. Her research interests encompass the impact of articulatory cues on early literacy development, the scholarship of teaching/learning in CSD, and the cultivation of interprofessional and parent partnerships.
  • SallyAnn Giess - Independent Researcher
    SallyAnn Giess, PhD, CCC-SLP, is currently an adjunct faculty instructor with Western Kentucky University. Dr. Giess has experience as a clinical educator, professor, and practicing clinician. Her professional research interest and practice area focuses on identification and intervention for language-based reading disorders. Dr. Giess is currently president of Hawaii Speech-Language Hearing Association and active with ASHA as a committee member, peer reviewer and mentor.
  • Lauren Bland - Associate Professor
    Lauren E. Bland, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an associate professor at Brescia University and is a former graduate program director at Western Kentucky University where she now holds emeritus status. She served on the CAPCSD IPE/IPP committee for 6 years. A site visitor for the CAA, she served on the board for 4 years. She has taught include Alternative and Augmentative Communication, Fluency, Counseling, Speech Sound Disorders and Professional Issues.
  • Leslie Blome - Assistant Professor
    Leslie Blome, EdD, CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Eastern Michigan University. Before pivoting to higher education, she was a clinical SLP for 25+ years. Dr. Blome's research interests include early identification of autism, inclusion strategies, and interprofessional education (IPE). She earned her master's degree in speech-language pathology from Florida State University, and a doctorate in early childhood education from the University of Colorado, Denver.
  • Kathryn Genoa-Obradovich - Assistant Professor
    Kathryn Genoa-Obradovich, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an assistant professor in the Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders at Michigan State University. Her primary areas of interest are two pronged – one dedicated to healthcare and clinical management of dysphagia and HNC, and the other concentrated on scholarship of teaching and learning with a focus on gamification and immersive technologies.
  • Jeff Siarto - Professor of Practice and Interim Director
    Jeff Siarto is a Professor of Practice and the Interim Director of the User Experience MS program at Michigan State University. He has over 20 years of experience as a designer and software engineer--spending the last decade leading large-scale design and UX projects within NASA Earth Science.
Summary
Speech-language pathology (SLP) faculty often struggle to access examples of high-quality clinical case studies and documentation which are essential for both education and practice. Results from a national SLP needs assessment survey regarding the creation of a repository for clinical documentation are shared. The authors began the second phase of the project, repository creation, by consulting with experts in User Experience (UX) and database creation. This poster will display progress on an alpha version of the repository and provide initial UX perspectives to date. Finally, the poster will outline the process for contributing clinical documentation to the repository and strategies for using such documentation to support problem-based learning.

Learning Objectives:
  • List three main faculty preferences identified in the clinical documentation repository needs assessment survey.
  • Summarize the User Experience (UX) perspectives obtained from an alpha version of this repository.
  • List three ways faculty could use this repository to support problem-based learning in academic and clinical education.

Scaffolding the Future: Fostering Clinical Skill Development Through Simulation Extension Activities [Simucase] (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Centennial F
Speakers
  • Erica Ligon - Manager, Content Strategy & Development
    Erica Ligon is an SLP and Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE). As the Manager for Content Strategy and Development, she develops speech-language pathology simulations and works with faculty to coordinate/implement Simucase supervision experiences. Erica regularly supervises graduate clinicians through Simucase Supervision Services. Erica has practiced as a speech-language pathologist for over fifteen years and has experience diagnosing and treating a broad range of communication disorders across the lifespan.
  • Rebecca Lulai - Director of Clinical Programs in Speech-Language Pathology
    Rebecca Lulai, MA, CCC-SLP, is the Director of Clinical Programs in SLP for the University of Minnesota. She will obtain her SLPD from Northwestern University in June 2026. Rebecca works as a clinical educator/supervisor for many years. She developed and currently implements the simulation curriculum used within the MA-SLP program. Rebecca has worked in a variety of settings including public schools, hospitals, private practice, and outpatient clinics.
Summary
This session will build on current evidence and best practice in clinical simulation to demonstrate evidence-based methods of teaching that expand the breadth and depth and knowledge and skills standards beyond the work within Simucase. Presenters will share extension activities, strategies for developing and scaffolding across a semester, and examples of how various programs are implementing them to support student growth. This session will review effective debriefing approaches and practical methods for maximizing the impact of extension activities. This session is designed for clinical educators and faculty using clinical simulations in their coursework or clinical education activities. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas to enrich clinical education and envision new possibilities for future-ready learning.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify best practices in simulation debriefing and the integration of extension activities to enrich learning outcomes.
  • Summarize strategies for scaffolding extension activities and evidence-based practice and feedback across a semester to support progressive skill development in simulation-based learning.
  • Summarize how various academic programs are implementing and customizing extension activities to meet diverse instructional goals.

Tracking Progressive Growth in Academic and Clinical Competencies to Meet Educational Standards [Audiology Technology Solutions, LLC] (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Centennial G
Speakers
  • Shae Morgan - Co-owner
    Dr. Morgan is a faculty member at the University of Louisville and a co-owner of Audiology Technology Solutions, LLC. He graduated from The University of Utah with his PhD and AuD in 2018. His current interests include hearing health care accessibility, competency-based education models, and innovation in Speech and hearing science (clinical simulation, standards and accreditation, etc.). Importantly, he loves to play ping-pong, tinker, and code.
  • Lexie Morgan - Co-owner
    Lexie graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics Education. She taught math professionally in a variety of school settings, with a particular focus on teaching best practices and pedagogy. Lexie continues her passion for education by homeschooling her two children, and sharing her expertise as a standards-based educator as the co-owner of Audiology Technology Solutions, LLC.
Summary
Academic programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders track student progress along multiple dimensions, including academic knowledge acquisition, clinical skill development, and personal behaviors such as professionalism. In this session, we will discuss strategies for tracking and monitoring student growth in these domains using Milo, a web-based tool. Presenters will provide examples of how learner progress can be tracked following principles of competency-based education as well as traditional methods (e.g., course/assessment completion and clinical time tracking). The presenters will also discuss strategies for aligning competency-based program requirements and objectives with standards for learner certification and program accreditation. Finally, the presenters will discuss the benefits of enhanced transparency with students via clearly defined expectations.

Learning Objectives:
  • Evaluate their own programs for spiraling competency goals.
  • Analyze how standards are met through academic and clinical curriculum.
  • Analyze how to separate clinical skill development from academic expectations and goals.

Elevating Excellence: A Data-driven Approach to Praxis Prep and Student Success [TrueLearn] (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Centennial H
Speakers
  • Carol Koch - Director of Curriculum and Professor
    Carol Koch, EdD, CCC-SLP, is Professor and Director of Curriculum at Oklahoma Baptist University. In higher education for 20 years, Carol has been involved in a wide range of program level work such as: curriculum development and mapping, program assessment, admissions, and accreditation. She has contributed to developing a competency-based framework. Dr. Koch also serves on the CAA. Her clinical, teaching, research interests include phonetics, SSDs, CAS, and early intervention.
  • Darsh Sharma - Director of Institutional Partnerships
    Darshan (Darsh) Sharma, Director of Institutional Partnerships at TrueLearn, brings over 12 years of experience to the role. He is passionate about empowering Speech-Language Pathology programs to elevate learning and outcomes using an e-learning platform grounded in learning science and powered by an analytics engine. Darsh has a background in Kinesiology and enjoys watching football and spending time with family and friends.
Summary
This session will build on the current evidence and best practice of the science of adult learning to demonstrate evidence-based methods of preparing students for the content, format, and structure of the Praxis exam. Presenters will share information about question bank development, strategies for integrating the question bank throughout the curriculum, and the ongoing review and revision process. This session will feature national trends and analytics that are useful for program assessment. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas to enrich academic content and science-based ways to enhance student learning.

Learning Objectives:
  • Explain the science of question and answer structure for enhanced learning.
  • Summarize the ways to integrate praxis style questions throughout the curriculum.
  • Outline performance indicators and metrics for program assessment.

Program Efficiency Through Artificial Intelligence and Unified Systems [Exxat Inc.] (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Mineral B-C
Speakers
  • Jake Killian - Business Development Executive
    Jake Killian Business Development Manager Exxat, Inc.
Summary
Higher education and clinical training programs face growing administrative demands—student placements, accreditation reporting, compliance management, and outcomes tracking. These processes are often handled across fragmented systems or manual spreadsheets, leading to inefficiency, errors, and lost time for faculty and staff. Artificial intelligence (AI), combined with unified digital platforms, offers a powerful solution. This session explores how AI can reduce administrative workload by automating scheduling, placement matching, compliance tracking, and report generation. We will examine a standardized framework that leverages cloud technology and AI to streamline program management, enhance accuracy, and free faculty to focus on teaching and mentorship. Participants will leave with practical strategies to improve operational efficiency while maintaining compliance and accreditation readiness.

Learning Objectives:
  • Examine innovative applications of AI to automate placement management, scheduling, and reporting in academic and clinical programs.
  • Outline strategies for using AI-driven tools to gather, organize, and report program metrics with accuracy and efficiency for accreditation.
  • Summarize how AI-driven efficiencies can reduce administrative burden and allow faculty to prioritize student learning and mentorship.

What Every Clinic Director Wishes a Student Knew Before Their First Clinical Assignment [Master Clinician Network] (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Mineral D-E
Speakers
  • Martin Fischer - Emeritus Professor
    Martin Fischer, PhD, is an Emeritus Professor at Pacific University and a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. He is the Co-founder and developer of the Master Clinician Network and recipient of the 2012 Distinguished Recipient Award by the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
  • Shesna Calkins - Vice President
    Shesna is the Vice President of Master Clinician Network. She has a strong background in academic administration, especially within the discipline of Communication Sciences and Disorders, and is passionate about creating sustainable educational platforms.
Summary
One of the biggest challenges for Directors of Clinical Education is preparing students for their first practicum experience. Many students begin practicum during their first semester in graduate school and as such, clinical supervisors are responsible for providing “on the job” training. Master Clinician Network’s Clinical Essentials have been designed to provide incoming graduate students with real-world examples of skills typically needed during their first practicum experience. Incorporating videos from our Master Clinician collection, we have created a series of self-directed modules that may be assigned to incoming graduate students prior to their first practicum placements. Once completed, each module will serve as partial fulfillment of one or more KASA standards.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe the frustrations experienced by clinical supervisors associated with first practicum placements.
  • Describe how KASA Standards may be obtained using Master Clinician's 'Clinical Essentials'.
  • Describe how videos of clinical practice may be used to prepare graduate students for their first clinical experience.

Not Attending a Session During This Time Slot (S5)

April 9 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Bridging Voices: Enhancing Clinical and Research Training Through Cross-institutional Immersion for Bilingual Speech-Language Pathology (0.15 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions B (1 PM - 2:30 PM)

Location
Mineral B-C
Speakers
  • Amelia Rau - MS SLP Program Director, Clinical Associate Professor
    Amelia M. Rau, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor of Speech-Language Pathology at The University of Texas at El Paso, directs the Graduate Program and Bilingual SLP Certificate. A Provost Curriculum Fellow recognized for high-impact teaching and mentorship, Dr. Rau co-leads a National Endowment for the Arts research grant on Somatics and Theater for Healthcare and promotes inclusion through global learning and community partnerships.
  • Vannesa Mueller - Dept Chair, Associate Professor
    Dr. Vannesa Mueller is Program Director and Associate Clinical Professor in Speech-Language Pathology at The University of Texas at El Paso. Her work centers on bilingualism, culturally responsive pedagogy, and expanding access to high-quality clinical education for diverse and borderland communities. She leads multiple programmatic initiatives while supporting faculty development and accreditation processes. She is committed to advancing equity, holistic review, and inclusive pathways into the CSD profession.
  • Carlos Benitez - Assistant Professor, CSD
    Carlos Benítez-Barrera, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders at the University of South Florida where he directs the Pediatric Auditory Experience & Brain Lab. His research focuses on how children’s everyday auditory environments shape speech-in-noise perception, language development, and neural processing. He is also a board member and Director of AUDITIO, the Spanish Journal of Audiology.
  • Rebecca Alper - Assistant Professor, CSD
    Rebecca Alper, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist, an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, a principal investigator at the Waisman Center, and an affiliated researcher with the Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Alper's research focuses on family-centered early language and literacy intervention.
  • Kendra Rosales - Clinical Assistant Professor
    Kendra Rosales, MS, CCC-SLP, ABD, is a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at The University of Texas at El Paso. Her research centers on culturally responsive assessment and parent engagement in pediatric feeding and swallowing, including food insecurity. She coordinates a specialty diagnostic rotation featuring interdisciplinary arena testing and community-based pediatric feeding assessments, and teaches courses in articulation/phonology, preschool language, and pediatric feeding.
  • Shelby Martin - Doctoral Student
    Doctoral Student, University of Wisconsin at Madison
Summary
Project Bridging Voices is a cross-institutional exchange between the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and the University of Wisconsin–Madison (UW–Madison) designed to address the shortage of culturally and linguistically responsive speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and research professionals in the field. Using a cohort model, students participate in a 10-day winter clinical immersion at UTEP and a mentored 21-day summer research experience at UW–Madison. Supported by ASHA’s Multicultural Activities Grant and now in its fourth year, the program demonstrates measurable gains in student research confidence, academic preparedness, and bilingual clinical competence. By integrating high-impact practices such as mentorship, clinical immersion, and research engagement, Bridging Voices offers a replicable framework for advancing student success and building a more diverse, culturally competent SLP workforce.

Learning Objectives:
  • Examine how cross-institutional exchange can enhance clinical training, research skills, and professional identity in speech-language pathology.
  • Apply strategies for integrating mentorship, clinical immersion, and research engagement into student training programs.
  • Summarize the effectiveness of exchange models as a pathway for improving student confidence, preparedness, and future academic or professional success.

Greasing the Wheels: Leveraging Technology to Build Stronger Professional Relationships (0.15 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions B (1 PM - 2:30 PM)

Location
Mineral D-E
Speakers
  • Lisa Belle - Speech-Language Pathologist, Doctoral Student
    Lisa Belle is an ASHA-certified Speech-Language Pathologist and doctoral candidate at Kean University. She provides speech-language evaluations for the NYC Early Intervention Program and the NYC Department of Education. Her research examines disparities in early identification of developmental delays and Autism Spectrum Disorder among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse populations. She is committed to empowering families with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to navigate services and advocate for their children’s needs.
  • Jacqueline Marchese - Speech-Language Pathologist, Doctoral Student
    Jacqueline Marchese is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist with the NYC Public Schools and a doctoral candidate in Speech-Language Pathology at Kean University. Passionate about augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), she intends to research its impact in schools and classrooms. Jacqueline is dedicated to supporting students' transitions from high school to postsecondary life, advocating for the essential role speech-language providers play in preparing students for success beyond the classroom.
  • Lauren Dennis - Speech-Language Pathologist, Doctoral Student
    Lauren Dennis, MS, CCC-SLP, is an NJ-licensed, ASHA-certified SLP working in the Montclair Public School system. She specializes in providing language services to CLD populations and individuals with ASD. By employing evidence-based interventions she works to promote both language development and classroom success. As a doctoral student at Kean University, Lauren’s focuses on the innovative use of technology in pragmatic language development, aiming to enhance real-world communication outcomes for learners.
  • Darya Hinman - Managing Assistant Director (Externship Coordinator)
    Darya Hinman, SLPD, CCC-SLP, is the externship coordinator and a course instructor at Kean University, where she manages off-campus clinical placements. She teaches undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral courses in SLP, with a focus on clinical education. Her research interests include clinical supervision, as well as intra- and interdisciplinary training of clinical educators. She has presented at state and institutional conferences and has published research in the area of clinical education.
Summary
This interactive training explores evidence-based and innovative strategies to strengthen supervisor–student relationships in speech-language pathology. Grounded in Anderson’s Continuum of Supervision (1988), Geller & Foley’s (2009) relational model, and Falender et al. 's (2014) multicultural competencies, the session emphasizes early rapport-building, communication awareness, and cultural humility. Participants will examine supervisory styles, personality-informed approaches, and tools that foster trust and clarity before externships begin. Emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft CoPilot will be demonstrated for designing compatibility assessments and interactive tools like the “SLP Student Baseball Card,” which highlights learning styles, motivators, and values of supervisees. Attendees will gain practical strategies to individualize mentorship, navigate cultural dynamics, and modernize supervision for stronger, more effective supervisor–student partnerships.

Learning Objectives:
  • Analyze the role of personality types in supervisor–student dynamics and apply this knowledge to enhance communication and feedback strategies.
  • Explain the importance of establishing supervisor–student compatibility before the start of a clinical placement, and describe how technology can facilitate this process through personalized questionnaires, compatibility profiles, and communication insights.
  • Integrate multicultural and diversity-informed practices into supervision by applying concepts of cultural humility, identity awareness, and power dynamics.

Beyond the Scenario: Best Practices in Simulation Design, Delivery, and Debriefing (0.15 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions B (1 PM - 2:30 PM)

Location
Mineral F-G
Speakers
  • Meredith Baker-Rush - Program Director for the IPHS Doctoral Program, Interprofessional Research Faculty Lead, DeWitt C. Baldwin Institute
    Meredith Baker-Rush, PhD, MS, CCC-SLP/L, CHSE, FNAP, is a Professor & Program Director for the Interprofessional Healthcare Studies (IPHS) Doctoral Program in the College of Health Professions, Interprofessional Research Faculty Lead, DeWitt C. Baldwin Institute at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFUMS). She is one of the lead faculty in RFUMS Department of Healthcare Simulation and holds a secondary faculty appointment in the Chicago Medical School.
Summary
Simulation in higher education continues to be an effective tool for teaching, learning, and assessment of knowledge, skills, and attributes / behaviors. However, simulation is complex with a scientific foundation and grounded in learning theory. This presentation will provide an advanced exploration of best practices in simulation, interprofessional education (IPE) implications, outcomes, and current and potential future trends. Discussion aims to increase the participants knowledge in the science of simulation including but not limited to instructional design, learning theory, simulation delivery, and debriefing.

Learning Objectives:
  • Discuss best practices in simulation.
  • Analyze the relationship of learning intent and simulation modality.
  • Summarize key principles of simulation-based feedback and debriefing that promote learning.

New Roles, New Titles: How to Ensure Your Next Chapter Is a Success (0.15 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions B (1 PM - 2:30 PM)

Location
Centennial F
Speakers
  • Erin Redle Sizemore - Chair, Associate Professor
    Erin Redle Sizemore, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor and Department Chair at Mount St. Joseph University. Her clinical experience and research largely focus on children and families in early intervention, including feeding and swallowing disorders and in-utero opioid exposure. Additionally, Dr. Redle Sizemore is a team member investigating current and best practices in supporting graduate students with disabilities in clinical placements.
  • Hannah Siburt - Associate Professor
    Dr. Hannah Siburt, AuD, PhD, is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences at the UNC-Chapel Hill and the director of the UNC Audiology LEND Program. Her primary areas of interest include supporting children and families with hearing loss and developmental disabilities and rural healthcare. She provides service to the profession through several professional organizations including CAPCSD, AAA and the NC-EDHI Advisory Committee.
  • Whitney Perkins - Chairperson, Graduate Program Director
    Whitney Perkins is a Mississippi native who received her bachelor’s in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), master’s in Deaf Education from USM, master’s in Communicative Disorders from Jackson State University (JSU) and doctorate in Early Childhood Education at JSU. I currently serve as the chairperson and graduate program director in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology at Jackson State University (JSU).
  • Leanna Lawrence - Associate Clinical Professor, Clinic Director
    Leanna Lawrence, MHS, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences at the University of Missouri. She currently serves as the director of their on-site clinic, supports graduate students in securing their off-campus placements, and teaches several clinic-based courses for the department. Leanna also serves CAPCSD as a member and current chair of the Conference Planning Committee.
Summary
So . . . you’ve been promoted (or tricked?) into a new role. Join a dynamic panel of colleagues who have successfully navigated multiple roles within academia to share their real-world experiences and insights. Through candid discussion and Q&A, panelists will reveal strategies, challenges, and lessons learned from the various positions they’ve held. Whether you know you are stepping into a new role, actively exploring new opportunities, or simply curious about career paths, you will leave with stories, strategies and a little humor to guide you along the way.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify professional development resources and mentorship/support systems while navigating various departmental roles.
  • Describe strategies to build relationships with colleagues, other administrators, students, etc. in a new role.
  • Discuss the benefits and challenges when moving into new positions.

Training GPTs for Clinical Simulation: AI-Augmented Learning (0.15 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions B (1 PM - 2:30 PM)

Location
Centennial G
Speakers
  • Caroline Brinkert - Clinical Lecturer
    Caroline Brinkert, MS, CCC-SLP, is a clinical lecturer in the SLHS department at Boston University and director of BU's Center for Stuttering Therapy. She is a founding member of the Simulation and Clinical Innovation Commitee and Chair of the Committee for Critical Literacy in AI Use. She supervises graduate students in evaluating and treating clients across the lifespan, and teaches the Stuttering and Related Disorders course.
Summary
This presentation explores how generative AI simulations can support learning in speech-language pathology education. Custom GPT models can act as clients and invested parties, creating realistic scenarios for students to practice communication, counseling, assessment, and therapy in a safe way. These simulations help learners build confidence, develop clinical skills, increase self-awareness, and reflect on future applications. Multiple AI simulations have already been embedded across BU’s MS-SLP curriculum, with preliminary qualitative and quantitative data on efficacy and student response. Attendees will see concrete examples across the curriculum, discuss outcome measurements, and consider how similar approaches might be used in their own teaching/supervision.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify key ways generative AI simulations can support clinical skill development in SLP education.
  • Evaluate preliminary outcomes related to student confidence, self-awareness, and engagement in AI-based learning.
  • Apply principles for integrating AI simulations into teaching or supervision practices.

Rethinking Grading with Specs: Clear Standards, Less Busywork (0.15 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions B (1 PM - 2:30 PM)

Location
Centennial H
Speakers
  • Lauren Burke - Simulation Coordinator
    Lauren Burke, MA, CCC-SLP, is the Simulation Coordinator and an Instructor at Mount St. Joseph University. Lauren was previously an acute care SLP and student intern coordinator for a large hospital system, with experience in neurogenic communication, head and neck cancer, and voice & swallowing disorders. Since transitioning to the MSJ Simulation Coordinator role in 2023, Lauren has aimed to boost students' confidence and competence through innovative, experiential learning techniques.
  • Collin Brice - PhD Candidate
    Collin Brice, MS, CCC-SLP, is a PhD candidate at the University of Cincinnati. His research interests include speech perception, fNIRS, social determinants of health and health equity, open science practices, and pedagogical practices in CSD.
Summary
Graduate faculty in Communication Sciences and Disorders spend significant time on grading that may not always align with meaningful student learning. Specifications (“specs”) grading offers an alternative framework that emphasizes clarity, mastery, and transparency while transforming a traditional point system into meaningful feedback. This session will explore the research base behind specs grading and highlight its dual benefits: empowering students with clear standards and autonomy, and providing faculty with more manageable, equitable grading practices. Presenters will review multiple models of specs grading including integration with AI learning environments, review methods to support flexibility and accountability, and share examples of successful implementation in SLP and AuD curricula. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for rethinking grading practices to better support both student outcomes and faculty time.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe at least three evidence-based benefits of specifications grading for faculty and students.
  • Compare at least two models of specifications grading (e.g., full-course vs. hybrid) used in graduate education.
  • Explain the function of a token economy within a specifications grading framework and provide one example of how it can be applied.

Organizational Science Meets CSD: Elevating Excellence Through Change (0.15 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions B (1 PM - 2:30 PM)

Location
Capitol 1
Speakers
  • Eusebia Mont - Associate Clinical Professor
    Eusebia Mont is an SLP and organizational psychologist whose work centers on inclusive learning, lifespan intervention, and organizational change. She holds Master’s degrees in CSD from Cal State Northridge and IO Psychology from the University of Maryland. With over 20 years of experience, she supports organizations in strengthening belonging and driving meaningful transformation. She is currently Director of Outpatient Speech-Language Pathology and Summer Programs at the Treatment and Learning Center.
  • Jerrold Jackson - CEO, Director of Specialized Supports
    Jerrold Jackson, MA, CCC-SLP, is CEO of the Roundtree Group, PLLC, an advocate for culturally responsive practices, a consultant, and an adjunct professor at three institutions. His active professional volunteer work with ASHA, NBASLH, and the Praxis NAC for SLP have led to advancements in SLHS. Personally, Jerrold is an avid action figure collector, enjoys baking and cooking, and experienced being a “TV star” on HGTV’s House Hunters.
Summary
Change is constant in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) departments, driven by shifts in accreditation standards, clinical models, technology, and the needs of both students and faculty. This presentation examines how principles of industrial-organizational (IO) psychology can assist academic leaders to navigate change with clarity and impact. Participants will learn evidence-based frameworks and diagnostic tools to assess readiness, reduce resistance, and implement sustainable improvements. The session emphasizes how organizational change directly enhances curriculum design, teaching effectiveness, and the learning climate, leading to stronger student outcomes. Case scenarios and interactive elements highlight strategies for faculty engagement, inclusive culture shifts, and aligning departmental practices with student success. Attendees will leave with actionable approaches to build resilient, collaborative, and learner-centered programs prepared for purposeful change in higher education.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify evidence-based change management frameworks that can be applied to CSD academic settings and assess organizational readiness for change.
  • Apply change management principles to real-world case scenarios with actionable strategies that align departmental practices, curriculum design, and teaching effectiveness with improved student outcomes.
  • Evaluate how organizational change initiatives directly contribute to elevating excellence in faculty engagement, curriculum innovation, and learner-centered environments.

Bridging Law and Practice: ADA Essentials for Clinicians (0.15 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions B (1 PM - 2:30 PM)

Location
Capitol 2
Speakers
  • Kathryn Sorensen - Associate Professor & Academic Fieldwork Coordinator
    Kathryn is an Associate Clinical Professor and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for the Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also a certified ADA specialist and loves to advocate for and educate others about the ADA law, accessibility, and the perspective of having a disability, both within her community and the greater healthcare community. She is undefeated in musical chairs.
Summary
This session will prepare healthcare providers to apply the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other laws in practice to better serve and empower clients. Dr. Sorensen will provide practical strategies for reducing barriers in healthcare, employment, education, and community settings. Through real-world examples, attendees will learn how to recognize accessibility challenges, respond to accommodation requests, and understand their own rights as practitioners who might have or could acquire a disability. The session will clarify the provider’s role in ensuring compliance in the clinic and community while upholding dignity, independence, and equity for people with disabilities. By the end, participants will gain actionable tools to integrate ADA principles into daily practice, strengthen advocacy efforts, and promote environments that advance health equity and meaningful participation.

Learning Objectives:
  • Summarize key provisions of ADA Titles I–III relevant to healthcare, employment, education, and community participation.
  • Identify common accessibility barriers and analyze how they impact clients’ health and participation.
  • Explain the rights of healthcare providers with disabilities and integrate ADA principles into daily practice to promote equity and compliance.

AAA Update 2026 (0.15 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions B (1 PM - 2:30 PM)

Location
Capitol 3
Speakers
  • Patricia Gaffney - Professor, Audiology
    Patricia Gaffney, AuD, MPH, is a professor at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in Ft Lauderdale, FL. Her specialty is vestibular diagnostics and treatment. She also teaches geriatric audiology, grand rounds, and leadership and professionalism courses. In addition to teaching, she sees patients in the NSU Audiology clinic with students seeing a mixture of vestibular and hearing aid patients. Dr Gaffney is the past-president of the American Academy of Audiology.
Summary
This session from the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) provides updates and resources to support audiology academic programs. Attendees will receive an overview of updates to clinical practice guidelines and how these documents can be integrated into coursework to reinforce evidence-based practice and current standards of care. The session will also highlight the AAA Practice Management Toolkit, with emphasis on how academic programs can use these materials to strengthen teaching in areas such as documentation and billing and coding. Additional updates will include AAA scholarships and awards, the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, and the annual AAA Conference. Attendees will leave with practical tools and insights to enhance curricula, support student success, and strengthen engagement with the Academy’s initiatives and resources.

Learning Objectives:
  • List updated guidelines published by AAA.
  • Describe how the practice management tool kit can aid in student learning.
  • List two AAA Foundation scholarships for students.

Not Attending a Session During This Time Slot (S6)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions B (1 PM - 2:30 PM)

From Grades to Growth: Fresh Approaches to Assessing Learning in CSD (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions C (3 PM - 4 PM)

Location
Mineral B-C
Speakers
  • Amy Yacucci - Assistant Professor
    Amy L. Yacucci, EdD, CCC-SLP/L, is an Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Illinois State University, specializing in AAC, autism, literacy, and severe/profound disabilities. She serves as Study Abroad Coordinator, leading undergraduate and graduate students in global clinical outreach experiences. Her research focuses on AAC, communication access, and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, with a commitment to advancing inclusive, evidence-based practices across clinical, educational, and international contexts.
Summary
Graduate programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) are increasingly challenged to assess not only students’ knowledge, but also their clinical readiness and ability to apply learning in authentic contexts. This session explores evidence-based assessment strategies that go beyond traditional exams to promote deep learning and competency development. Participants will examine practical approaches such as portfolio-based evaluation, authentic performance tasks, simulation-based assessments, and structured peer assessment protocols. The session will also highlight how Standards-Based Grading (SBG) can be integrated into graduate-level CSD courses to provide transparent, meaningful feedback aligned with learning outcomes and clinical competencies. Attendees will leave with actionable tools to implement innovative, competency-focused assessments in their own courses.

Learning Objectives:
  • Analyze the limitations of traditional testing methods in measuring competency and clinical readiness in graduate CSD programs.
  • Apply evidence-based assessment strategies, including portfolios, authentic tasks, simulations, and standards-based grading, to evaluate student performance.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of alternative assessment methods for fostering deep learning and preparing students for clinical practice.

Build-a-sim: Writing and Executing Simulation Experiences for Competency-based Education (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions C (3 PM - 4 PM)

Location
Mineral D-E
Speakers
  • Lauren Burke - Simulation Coordinator
    Lauren Burke, MA, CCC-SLP, is the Simulation Coordinator and an Instructor at Mount St. Joseph University. Lauren was previously an acute care SLP and student intern coordinator for a large hospital system, with experience in neurogenic communication, head and neck cancer, and voice & swallowing disorders. Since transitioning to the MSJ Simulation Coordinator role in 2023, Lauren has aimed to boost students' confidence and competence through innovative, experiential learning techniques.
Summary
This session will support educators and clinicians in creating simulations that fit within a competency-based education (CBE) model for speech-language pathology training. Participants will learn how to identify key competencies, design measurable learning outcomes, and embed meaningful assessment into simulation-based activities. The session will walk through practical steps: prioritizing competencies, aligning objectives, building debriefs that focus on competency growth, and field-testing scenarios. Attendees will also have the chance to apply this framework by drafting their own simulation ideas. By the end of the session, participants will leave with a clear, hands-on process for building competency-driven simulations that promote critical thinking, clinical decision-making, and measurable learner growth.

Learning Objectives:
  • Define key steps for building a competency-based education (CBE) simulation in speech-language pathology training.
  • Develop a basic simulation framework tailored to SLP training needs by applying a competency-mapping model during a hands-on activity within the session.
  • Identify and troubleshoot potential challenges in designing simulations that align with CBE principles.

Solution Focused Dialogue: Developing New Programs (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions C (3 PM - 4 PM)

Location
Mineral F-G
Speakers
  • Erin Redle Sizemore - Chair, Associate Professor
    Erin Redle Sizemore, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor and Department Chair at Mount St. Joseph University. Her clinical experience and research largely focus on children and families in early intervention, including feeding and swallowing disorders and in-utero opioid exposure. Additionally, Dr. Redle Sizemore is a team member investigating current and best practices in supporting graduate students with disabilities in clinical placements.
  • Laura Chapman - Assistant Professor
    Laura R. Chapman, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Scranton. Her area of expertise is adult neurogenic language disorders. She is an advocate for student and faculty wellness and has presented research nationally and internationally on the topics of mindfulness, self-compassion, and self-care. She is engaged in the scholarship of teaching and learning, studying teaching practices that foster well-being, belonging, and connection in the classroom.
Summary
This solution-focused dialogue session brings together new and developing program faculty to collaboratively address the challenges of establishing SLP master's programs. Through peer-to-peer discussion and shared problem-solving, participants will explore key milestones in the program development cycle and identify available supports for curriculum design, accreditation, and resource management.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify key challenges and considerations in developing new academic programs in speech-language pathology.
  • List learnings for key time points in the program development cycle.
  • Discuss available supports for program development, including curriculum design, accreditation requirements, and resource allocation.

From Classroom to Clinic: Leveraging AI Simulations for Clinical Readiness (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions C (3 PM - 4 PM)

Location
Centennial F
Speakers
  • Kelly Hansen - Lecturer
    Kelly Egan Hansen, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, is a Lecturer and Clinical Supervisor in the Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences at Boston University’s Sargent College and a practicing medical speech-language pathologist with over 20 years of clinical experience. She is a board-certified swallowing specialist, provides dysphagia care to adults at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and focuses teaching and scholarship on head and neck cancer rehabilitation and evidence-based dysphagia management.
Summary
Simulation is a powerful tool for bridging academic learning and clinical practice. This session presents two novel, AI-enhanced simulations designed for graduate speech-language pathology education: (1) an adult neurogenic case featuring post-stroke dysphagia management, and (2) a pediatric case featuring expressive language delay. Both simulations incorporate branching scenarios, SBAR-style handoffs, parent/caregiver interactions, and adjustable difficulty levels to scaffold learner growth. Attendees will learn how these simulations were designed using INACSL standards and how they address core competencies in communication, reasoning, and professionalism. Evidence from student feedback and implementation outcomes will be shared. Participants will leave with concrete strategies for integrating immersive, voice-enabled simulations into their own teaching and supervision practices.

Learning Objectives:
  • Explain how simulation design principles (e.g., INACSL standards, SBAR frameworks) can be applied in SLP education.
  • Identify strategies for using AI-enhanced simulations to target clinical reasoning, communication, and professionalism.
  • Apply lessons from adult and pediatric simulation cases to integrate problem-based learning and competency assessment into coursework.

Implementing Traumatic Brain Injury Experiential Learning to Improve Empathy, Knowledge and Interprofessional Partnerships (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions C (3 PM - 4 PM)

Location
Centennial G
Speakers
  • Kathy Hardin - Associate Professor, Interim Program Director
    Dr. Kathy Hardin, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor at MSU Denver and Interim Program Director. Kathy has spent over 20 years specializing in acquired communication disorders, particularly TBI. Her work focuses on improving long-term outcomes and participation for people living with TBI, reframing providers practices, and improving empathy in TBI. She was awarded Outstanding Clinical Practice in Colorado, and named both a Trailblazer and a Changemaker by ASHA.
  • Jessica Rossi-Katz - Professor
    Jessica Rossi-Katz, PhD, CCC-A, is a professor and inaugural chair of the Department of Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences and founding director of the speech-language pathology graduate program at Metropolitan State University of Denver. In Spring 2026 she will be on sabbatical, exploring contemplative practices in higher education and professional preparation. Originally trained in hearing processes, listening to different perspectives is now one of the most prominent features of her work.
  • Andrea Borrego - Professor
    Andrea R. Borrego, PhD, is chair and professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology at MSU Denver. She holds a PhD and MS in Criminology from Arizona State University and a BA in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame. Her applied research focuses on fatal police-citizen encounters, communities, crisis response in jails, as well as strengthening academic-practitioner partnerships. Dr. Borrego is committed to advocacy, inclusion, and serving her community.
  • Catrina Harrell - Graduate Student
    Catrina Harrell, BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders, is a graduate student clinician at Metropolitan State University Denver. She serves as a Traumatic Brain Injury Research Apprentice with 180 hours of literature analysis and interdisciplinary simulation work. With over a decade of experience as a Certified Pharmacy Technician, she brings advanced skills in intravenous therapy, including antibiotics, palliative care, parenteral nutrition, and immunotherapy.
  • Molly Werle - Graduate Student
    Molly Werle (B.S.) is a graduate student research assistant in speech-language pathology at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Under Dr. Kathy Hardin, she has studied ways to improve clinical training and supports projects that help people with communication challenges. Molly enjoys working with others and sharing research. She is excited to keep learning and contribute to the field, aiming to make a positive difference for people with diverse needs.
Summary
Students in speech-language hearing sciences often struggle to understand invisible conditions, and this can be particularly difficult with stigmatized conditions, like traumatic brain injury (TBI). Using co-design, our team created an experiential learning using ethical best practices for simulation, healthcare empathy training, and rigorous methodologies for research in the scholarship for teaching and learning (SOTL). The inclusive team brought together an SLP, an audiologist, and those with TBI lived experience. Given high TBI rates across settings, graduate student facilitators expanded this successful program to Criminal Justice & Criminology students, our Department of Education (nursing, OT, SLP behavioral health), our state brain injury association, and a local municipal public defender. Come see the simulation for yourself and consider how you can expand your own IPE/IPP.

Learning Objectives:
  • Summarize three reasons that speech-language pathologists and audiologists report challenges serving clients with traumatic brain injury.
  • List three factors that are important to consider when designing or implementing simulation.
  • Explain three ways that simulation technologies can enhance both graduate student education and engagement with our interprofessional partners.

Developing Critical Thinking Skills to Elevate Graduate Students' Classroom and Clinical Success (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions C (3 PM - 4 PM)

Location
Centennial H
Speakers
  • Laura Green - Professor
    Laura Green, PhD, CCC-SLP, a former public school SLP, is a professor at Texas Woman’s University. She coordinates the doctoral program in Communication Sciences, supervises in the TWU Speech and Hearing Clinic, and teaches leveling and graduate coursework in language development, preschool and school age language disorders, speech sound disorders, research methods, and pedagogy. Research interests include morphological awareness, literacy, classroom-based intervention, and the science of teaching and learning.
  • Michelle Nishida - Assistant Professor
    Michelle Nishida, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor at Texas Woman’s University. Michelle worked for 17 years in a variety of clinical settings prior to moving to higher education in 2022. She supervises graduate SLP students and teaches both undergraduate and graduate-level courses in assessment and diagnostics, language disorders, neurocognitive disorders, and special populations. Research interests include neurodevelopmental disorders, neurocognitive disorders, and the scholarship of teaching and learning.
  • Tiffany Sears-Leach - Assistant Clinical Professor/Clinical Supervisor
    Tiffany Sears Leach, MS, CCC-SLP, Assistant Clinical Professor and Supervisor at Texas Woman’s University, is a licensed speech-language pathologist with 27 years of experience in schools, outpatient care, home health, and private practice. She teaches and supervises graduate student clinicians, with interests in critical thinking, autism assessment, child language, and how artificial intelligence influences student learning. Tiffany earned both her B.S. and M.S. from Texas Woman’s University.
Summary
Critical thinking is essential for effective clinical decision-making in our field (ASHA, 2020), and contemporary students benefit from intentional, well-structured support as they develop these competencies. This presentation outlines evidence-informed strategies for cultivating critical thinking in both academic and clinical settings, drawing on Halpern’s Four-Part Model for Teaching Critical Thinking (2014) and Bloom’s Taxonomy. In the clinical context, supervisory discussion frameworks and illustrative examples will demonstrate ways to promote both the disposition toward, and application of, higher-order thinking necessary for evidence-based practice and patient-centered care. Practical pedagogical approaches—including threaded concepts, diversified assessments, strategic questioning, AI-enhanced learning, and case-based instruction—will be discussed to highlight how these methods strengthen students’ ability to analyze, evaluate, and generate effective solutions as they progress toward clinical competence.

Learning Objectives:
  • Explain the importance of critical thinking for our future clinicians and the need for specific instruction to develop this skill.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of various instructional methods and coaching strategies for improving students’ critical thinking skills in both academic and clinical settings.
  • Modify common teaching and supervision methods to promote the use of higher-order cognitive functions.

The Cultural Compass: Navigating New Landscapes in Curriculum & Practice (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions C (3 PM - 4 PM)

Location
Capitol 1
Speakers
  • Kimberly Green - Department Chair & Graduate Program Director
    Dr. Kimberly Green is Chair of the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders at Western Kentucky University. Her areas of focus are culturally responsive care and global health perspectives. She teaches abroad annually and has developed numerous interprofessional trainings. Current scholarship explores use of VR for clinical training. She serves on state and national committees, including the Board of Directors for the International Centers of Kentucky which resettles refugee populations.
Summary
CSD faculty are tasked with preparing students to serve clients across an increasingly diverse spectrum of cultural, linguistic, and social backgrounds. At the same time, faculty must be aware of evolving federal and state laws governing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in higher education. This session provides a framework for navigating these complex landscapes through a “Cultural Compass” model, which emphasizes ethical responsibility, compliance, and culturally responsive pedagogy. Participants will not only identify challenges but engage in discussion about practical strategies for admissions processes, inclusive curriculum design, and clinical training while considering institutional and legal requirements. This session will include sample scenarios and strategies that faculty can use for admissions considerations and preparing students for clinical practice in the context of DEI legislation.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify current federal and state legal considerations related to DEI that impact admissions processes, curriculum design, and instruction in CSD programs.
  • Analyze strategies for integrating culturally responsive practices into admissions processes as well as academic and clinical training while taking into consideration the need for compliance with regulatory guidelines.
  • Apply the “Cultural Compass” framework to case-based scenarios and participant-driven discussion to determine how faculty can balance CSD programming with legal and institutional expectations.

Fundraising in Higher Education (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions C (3 PM - 4 PM)

Location
Capitol 2
Speakers
  • Ashley Harkrider - Professor and Dean
    Ashley Harkrider is Dean of the University of Tennessee (UT) Health Science Center's College of Health Professions and UTAA Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology (ASP). Prior to becoming Dean, Dr. Harkrider was Professor and Chair of ASP for 16 years, providing oversight to ~55 faculty and staff members, 300+ students, large, multidisciplinary campus clinics, and a multimillion-dollar budget. Currently, she is Treasurer of CAPCSD.
Summary
Participants will discuss the creation of comprehensive fundraising plans that align departmental objectives with institutional priorities while addressing donor interests. The session will explore effective approaches to engaging and building long-term relationships with key stakeholders, including alumni, corporate sponsors, and philanthropic organizations. Additionally, attendees will gain practical tools for crafting compelling narratives that emphasize the transformative impact of donations and implementing stewardship practices that foster donor satisfaction and sustained support.

Learning Objectives:
  • Discuss creation of comprehensive fundraising strategies that align with departmental goals, institutional priorities, and donor interests.
  • Identify effective ways to engage, and build long-term relationships with potential donors, including alumni, corporate sponsors, and philanthropic organizations.
  • Facilitate the crafting of compelling narratives that highlight the impact of donations and to implement stewardship practices that ensure donor satisfaction and continued support.

From Classroom to Capitol: Teaching Advocacy in Audiology Education (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions C (3 PM - 4 PM)

Location
Capitol 3
Speakers
  • Chizuko Tamaki - Professor, AuD Program Director
    Chiz Tamaki, AuD, PhD, is Professor in the School of Human Services and Sciences and Director of AuD Program at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. Recently, she served on the AAA Board of Directors (2021-2024), CAPCSD Clinical Education Committee (2021-2024), and Vestibular Audiologist Specialty Certification (VASC) Task Force (2024-2025).
  • Patricia Gaffney - Professor, Audiology
    Patricia Gaffney, AuD, MPH, is a professor at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in Ft Lauderdale, FL. Her specialty is vestibular diagnostics and treatment. She also teaches geriatric audiology, grand rounds, and leadership and professionalism courses. In addition to teaching, she sees patients in the NSU Audiology clinic with students seeing a mixture of vestibular and hearing aid patients. Dr Gaffney is the past-president of the American Academy of Audiology.
Summary
Advocacy is essential to the sustainability and advancement of audiology. This presentation examines approaches to integrating advocacy education in audiology programs. Strategies include early and frequent discussion of the impacts of advocacy, modeling advocacy behaviors, embedding structured assignments that target legislative and professional engagement, fostering partnerships with state and national organizations, and providing experiential opportunities to interact with policymakers. Emphasis will also be placed on framing advocacy as a professional responsibility. Practical methods for incorporating reflective assessment and use of multimodal communication will be highlighted. By systematically incorporating advocacy training across the curriculum, academic programs can better prepare students to safeguard the profession, influence policy, and serve as effective representatives for patients and communities.

Learning Objectives:
  • Summarize the importance of advocacy education.
  • Identify strategies for integrating advocacy training into graduate audiology curricula.
  • Identify components of advocacy education that can be implemented within their current work assignment.

Not Attending a Session During This Time Slot (S7)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions C (3 PM - 4 PM)

Elevating Students: Addressing Basic Needs Insecurity in CSD Education (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions D (4:15 - 5:15 PM)

Location
Mineral B-C
Speakers
  • Danielle Osmelak - Associate Professor
    Danielle Osmelak, EdD, MS, CCC-SLP/L, FNAP, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Disorders at Governors State University. She serves as the local Site Director of the Great Lakes FAST (Faculty And Students Together) Fund Consortium and is the Chair of the FAST Funds Committee at Governors State University. In addition to her academic and leadership roles, Dr. Osmelak is the current President of the Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Summary
Basic needs insecurity is a growing yet often overlooked challenge among college students, including those in health professions such as Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD). This presentation highlights the Faculty and Students Together (FAST) Funds initiative, a faculty-driven model providing immediate financial assistance for essentials like food, housing, and emergencies. Student fellows sustain and expand its impact through peer education, resource navigation, and advocacy. Using a case study from a Midwest university where FAST Funds has operated for several years, we examine program implementation, its impact on CSD students, and its potential to support retention. Findings underscore the critical role of faculty-student partnerships in identifying needs, building trust, and fostering a more equitable academic environment.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify key factors contributing to basic needs insecurity among college students.
  • Explain the role of student fellows and peer support in addressing basic needs insecurity and enhancing student well-being.
  • Develop strategies for addressing basic needs insecurity within academic programs.

Harnessing CSDCAS Data for Strategic Growth: Recruitment, Admissions, and Retention in CSD (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions D (4:15 - 5:15 PM)

Location
Mineral D-E
Speakers
  • Jacqueline Brown - Director, Speech-Language Pathology Program
    Jacqui Brown is the Program Director for the Master's in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of New Haven. Jacqui's research focuses on the evaluation of speech-language pathologists working in public schools. She aims to educate administrators and policymakers on the need for unique approaches to supervision/evaluation, to better support professionals in their fields. Jacqui is a member of the CAPCSD Admissions Committee.
  • Caitlin Price - Assistant Professor
    Caitlin N. Price, AuD, PhD, CCC-A, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Her clinical experience in adult diagnostics, rehabilitation, and electrophysiology motivates her research interests in cognitive aging and speech-in-noise processing. Her passion for student success begins at admissions which informs her work as Audiology Admissions Director for her program and as CAPCSD's Admissions Committee Chair.
  • Teasha McKinley - Director of Centralized Admissions (CSDCAS)
    Teasha McKinley Director of Centralized Admissions | CSDCAS Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Summary
With the majority of SLP and AuD programs participating in CSDCAS, the centralized application service provides a robust data set on applicant numbers, designations, matriculation rates, and diverse applicant profiles (e.g., ethnicity, geographic distribution, and economic demographics). In this session, we will highlight current trends in these data and offer demonstrations on generating program-specific reports. The core of this session will be a facilitated discussion on how programs can leverage national data to inform recruitment strategies, optimize admissions processes, and enhance student retention efforts. Participants will collaborate to explore actionable ways to integrate these insights into their own program planning and growth.

Learning Objectives:
  • Summarize recent national trends in SLP and AuD applicant data.
  • Identify key factors influencing admissions in CSD programs.
  • Apply CSDCAS reporting tools to make data-driven decisions that enhance recruitment and admissions processes.

Leadership 101 (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions D (4:15 - 5:15 PM)

Location
Mineral F-G
Speakers
  • Jennifer Simpson - Dean
    Dr. Jennifer Simpson is the Dean of The Herbert H. & Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions at Central Michigan University. She has held numerous leadership and academic roles, including at Purdue University as Provost Fellow for Clinical/Professional Faculty (2020-2024), Associate Head of SLHS (2019-2024), and Director of Clinical Education in Audiology (2010-2025). She has experience teaching in the classroom and clinic and enjoys developing community partnerships.
Summary
Effective leadership in higher education is increasingly vital amid shifting student needs, evolving technologies, and complex institutional structures. This talk explores the foundational principles of impactful leadership in academic settings, with a focus on four key areas: communication, decision-making, team dynamics, and navigating institutional culture. We will examine how leaders can foster trust through transparent communication, make informed and inclusive decisions, build cohesive teams, and adapt to the unique cultural nuances of higher education institutions.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify common barriers to effective communication and collaboration in higher education.
  • Appraise strategies for creating positive team dynamics.
  • Explain the influence of institutional culture on leadership effectiveness.

Competency Based Education: Putting a Framework into Action (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions D (4:15 - 5:15 PM)

Location
Centennial F
Speakers
  • Christi Masters - Clinical Associate Professor; Director of Clinical Education in SLP
    Christi Masters, MS, CCC-SLP, is a Clinical Associate Program and Director of Clinical Education in SLP at Purdue University. She provides clinical education to graduate students, and her primarily areas of clinical practice are early intervention and pediatric stuttering. She also teaches Introduction to Communicative Disorders course at the undergraduate level.
  • Anne Gritt - Clinical Associate Professor
    Anne Gritt is a clinical associate professor and pediatric speech-language pathologist in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences at Purdue University. She provides clinical education to graduate students in the areas of developmental language disorder, deaf/hard of hearing, and complex communication needs in young children. She also teaches an undergraduate clinical practice course.
Summary
This session will provide an overview of competency-based education and learning as it relates to graduate student education in speech-language pathology. The presenters will share how they utilized a competency framework to develop the Purdue Early Childhood Competency Tool (PECCT) to measure student performance in clinical settings. The PECCT is a criterion-based tool for evaluating student clinicians in early childhood clinical settings. Students were evaluated using a 3-point scale at midterm and final. The presenters will share the benefits and challenges related to using a tool like the PECCT in clinical education, as well as qualitative feedback from the graduate student clinicians.

Learning Objectives:
  • Explain one model of implementing a competency-based framework in the clinical education setting.
  • Identify at least two potential benefits and challenges of implementing a competency-based measurement tool.
  • Discuss graduate student impressions of their experience with a competency-based framework.

Preparing to Provide Responsive Services in Diverse Populations: Shareable Resources for Graduate Education (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions D (4:15 - 5:15 PM)

Location
Centennial G
Speakers
  • Kerry Ebert - Associate Professor
    Kerry Danahy Ebert, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences at the University of Minnesota. Her research considers cognitive-linguistic relationships in children with developmental language disorder and related clinical implications, especially in multilingual populations. She has designed and taught graduate coursework on cultural & linguistic diversity in two graduate programs. Dr. Ebert is an Editor for the American Journal of Speech-Language-Pathology and an ASHA Fellow.
  • Benjamin Munson - Professor
    Benjamin Munson, PhD, is a Professor of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences at University of Minnesota. His research examines how people with and without communication disorders produce and perceive sociolinguistic variation related to gender, sexuality, and race.
Summary
This session will describe, discuss, and provide access to materials designed to prepare AUD and SLP graduate students to provide responsive services in diverse populations. The presenters have developed educational materials framed around five dimensions of client diversity: ability, culture, gender, linguistic experience, and race and privilege. For each dimension, we have created asynchronous learning modules and other reflection exercises. Within the session, we will demonstrate these modules and discuss the contents and approach. We will provide attendees with access to the modules, which can be used within a course or made available for independent learning when diversity-related courses are restricted. This session provides an exciting opportunity for educators to gain new ideas and concrete resources for diversity-related education in graduate professional programs.

Learning Objectives:
  • Analyze a 5-dimensional framework for providing education related to client diversity.
  • Summarize the format and content of five learning modules for graduate training.
  • Evaluate the complete set of modules for their own program and/or independent learning purposes.

Naming and Taming Clinical Education Challenges (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions D (4:15 - 5:15 PM)

Location
Centennial H
Speakers
  • Robin Samlan - Associate Professor, DCE
    Robin Samlan, MBA, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor, Associate Department Head, and Director of Clinical Education in Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences at the University of Arizona. Her teaching and research are in the areas of voice disorders and evaluation. As DCE, she has been working with faculty to integrate the curriculum across classroom and clinic, and with administration to balance the clinical education budget.
  • Mary Alt - Professor & Department Head
    Mary Alt, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a Professor and the Department Head of the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at the University of Arizona. The University of Arizona's graduate training program has challenges and opportunities that are both unique and universal. We look forward to sharing our experiences and facilitating discussion about yours.
Summary
This presentation will provide a framework for identifying common clinical education challenges, prioritizing needs, and applying innovative approaches to meeting the challenges. Using our clinic’s experiences as a case study, we will share how we approached in-house and off-campus challenges, including: clinic finances, variety of experiences, and consistent high-quality off-campus opportunities. We will share a range of novel policies and programs, describing their impacts on student growth, supervision consistency, opportunities to provide community-centered care, community access to speech-language and hearing services, and the financial health of the clinical education program. Small group discussion and sharing will complement the didactic component so that participants can share the challenges and successes of their particular programs and learn from one another.

Learning Objectives:
  • Explain a variety of financial and service-provision challenges common to university clinics.
  • Determine which barriers to high-quality off-campus clinical experiences are present for graduate students in their program.
  • Identify possible solutions to one in-house and one off-campus challenge faced at their individual university.

Interprofessional Training of Teachers of the Deaf, Speech-Language Pathologists, and Audiologists: Advancing Graduate Education (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions D (4:15 - 5:15 PM)

Location
Capitol 1
Speakers
  • Kristy Weissling - Professor of Clinical Practice
    Kristy S. E. Weissling, SLPD, CCC-SLP, is a Professor of Hearing and Speech Sciences and Director of the Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She earned her SLP.D. from Nova Southeastern University and her BS and MS from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Her expertise includes Augmentative and Alternative Communication and the assessment and treatment of individuals with acquired neurogenic communication disorders.
  • Anne Thomas - Associate Professor of Practice - Special Education
    Dr. Anne Thomas is an Associate Professor of Practice and coordinator of the online graduate program in Deaf Education at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln (UNL). She has over 22 years of experience in the field of deaf education and expertise in online teacher preparation, assessment and progress monitoring of children/students who are deaf or hard of hearing, and interprofessional collaboration and training.
  • Kelly Pritchett - Professor of Practice - Audiology
    Kelly Pritchett, AuD, CCC-A, is a Professor of Practice and Audiology Clinic Coordinator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her responsibilities include teaching in the undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as providing audiological services to individuals with hearing and balance disorders in the Barkley Speech Language and Hearing Clinic. She also oversees the clinical education of the Doctor of Audiology students throughout their graduate training.
Summary
This session will highlight two federally funded projects providing innovative interprofessional education (IPE) for graduate students in deaf education, speech-language pathology, and audiology. These programs augment discipline-specific coursework with collaborative classes, shared assignments, and interprofessional practicum opportunities. Presenters will share project design, implementation strategies, and data showing that participants perceive improvements in discipline-specific knowledge, collaboration skills, and leadership capacity. Attendees will gain insight into how these training models prepare practitioners to better meet the diverse linguistic and communicative needs of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The presentation will conclude with implications for replication, sustainability, and future directions for preparing preservice professionals across programs.

Learning Objectives:
  • List at least three strategies to promote effective interprofessional education and practice.
  • Explain the methods and impact of the author's federal grant projects on scholars’ discipline-specific and collaboration skills through interprofessional training and practice.
  • Evaluate the potential outcomes of the author's federal grant projects on practitioner effectiveness, collaboration skills, and student success in educational and clinical settings.

Two Campuses, One Program: Leading an Audiology Consortium Across Universities (0.10 CEUs)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions D (4:15 - 5:15 PM)

Location
Capitol 2
Speakers
  • Amy Hartman - AuD Program Director, Director of Clinical Education, Clinical Professor
    Amy Hartman is the Au.D. Program Director and Director of Clinical Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She instructs various courses, including Counseling for Audiologists and Enhanced Clinical Skills. Her clinical expertise lies in pediatric audiology, specializing in audiology assessments of infants and children. She is also involved in multiple community engagement and advocacy efforts, focusing on providing clinical services to underserved people throughout Wisconsin.
Summary
Consortium programs in audiology provide a collaborative model for graduate education, requiring careful coordination across institutions. This session will review how such programs are structured, with attention to admissions, student acceptances, financial organization, curriculum alignment, research, clinical placements, and faculty effort distribution. The presentation will highlight both the benefits of resource sharing and the challenges of inter-institutional collaboration. Practical strategies for governance, communication, and sustainability will be shared, grounded in real-world experience. Attendees will leave with an understanding of consortium program operations and insights applicable to their own institutions or regional partnerships.

Learning Objectives:
  • Explain the key structural elements of AuD consortium programs, including admissions, finances, curriculum, research, and clinical education.
  • Analyze the benefits and challenges of consortium models for students, faculty, and institutions.
  • Identify strategies to support successful collaboration, communication, and program sustainability within a consortium framework.

Not Attending a Session During This Time Slot (S8)

April 9 - Concurrent Sessions D (4:15 - 5:15 PM)

Networking Nights: Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE)

April 9 - Networking Nights (5:15 - 6:15 PM)

Location
Capitol 3
Summary
This is an informal time of networking for attendees associated with/interested in Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education.

Networking Nights: Midwest Clinic Directors

April 9 - Networking Nights (5:15 - 6:15 PM)

Location
Mineral F-G
Summary
This is an informal time of networking for attendees associated with/interested in the Midwest Clinic Directors.

Networking Nights: Non-Traditional Programs (online & slow progression programs; Master's degrees which are longer than traditional 5-6 term model)

April 9 - Networking Nights (5:15 - 6:15 PM)

Location
Capitol 1
Summary
This is an informal time of networking for attendees associated with/interested in Non-Traditional Programs (online & slow progression programs; Master's degrees which are longer than traditional 5-6 term model).

Networking Nights: Northeast Council of Clinical Educators

April 9 - Networking Nights (5:15 - 6:15 PM)

Location
Capitol 2
Summary
This is an informal time of networking for attendees associated with/interested in the Northeast Council of Clinical Educators.

Networking Nights: Southeastern University Clinic Educators

April 9 - Networking Nights (5:15 - 6:15 PM)

Location
Mineral B-C
Summary
This is an informal time of networking for attendees associated with/interested in the Southeastern University Clinic Educators.

Networking Nights: West Coast Clinic Directors

April 9 - Networking Nights (5:15 - 6:15 PM)

Location
Mineral D-E
Summary
This is an informal time of networking for attendees associated with/interested in the West Coast Clinic Directors.

Not Attending a Session During This Time Slot (S9)

April 9 - Networking Nights (5:15 - 6:15 PM)

GENERAL SESSION: From Vision to Action: Aligning Values, Goals, and Daily Work in Academic Life (0.15 CEUs)

April 10 - General Session (7:50 AM - 10 AM)

Location
Centennial A-D
Speakers
  • Katie Linder - Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Innovation and Strategy
    Dr. Katie Linder serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Innovation and Strategy at the University of Colorado Denver. Katie is also a Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation and a Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance. She holds a PMP credential from the Project Management Institute and is a Certified Change Practitioner through Prosci.
Summary
The General Session will include the Plenary Session, Honors & Awards, and Announcements.

Plenary: From Vision to Action: Aligning Values, Goals, and Daily Work in Academic Life (0.15 CEUs)

In the midst of constant demands and shifting priorities, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters. This session offers a practical framework for realigning your academic work with your deeper purpose—connecting your long-term vision to everyday actions through a nested system of values, life practices, goals, projects, milestones, and tasks. Whether you’re leading a department, mentoring students, or navigating your own professional growth, this session will help you: clarify your personal and professional vision, identify the values that shape your decisions, align goals and projects with what matters most, use milestones and tasks to track meaningful progress, and build habits that sustain your well-being and impact. Participants will leave with a renewed sense of direction in their academic and clinical work.

Learning Objectives:
  • Define a personal and professional vision that can guide decision-making during times of change or competing priorities.
  • Apply a nested framework—values, life practices, goals, projects, milestones, and tasks—to align everyday actions with long-term aspirations.
  • Develop strategies for building and sustaining habits that support purpose-driven work and well-being.


  • Honors & Awards: Honors of the Council, Distinguished Contribution Award, and Excellence in Diversity Award will each be presented to the selected recipients.

Not Attending a Session During This Time Slot (S10)

April 10 - General Session (7:50 AM - 10 AM)

Not Attending a Session During This Time Slot (S11)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions E (10:30 - 11:30AM)

Beyond the Basics: Elevating Excellence in Asynchronous Online Graduate Education (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions E (10:30 - 11:30AM)

Location
Mineral B-C
Speakers
  • Klaire Brumbaugh - SLPD Program Director
    Klaire Brumbaugh, EdD, ClinScD, CCC-SLP, is the Program Director for the Speech-Language Pathology-Doctorate (SLPD) program at Moravian University. Klaire received her Bachelor's and Master’s degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Kansas State University, a clinical doctorate in speech-language pathology from Rocky Mountain University, and a Doctorate in Education from Fontbonne University. Klaire’s research and professional interests focus on the areas of speech sound disorders and professional issues in SLP.
  • Lauren Wright-Jones - Clinical Assistant Professor & Graduate Program Chair
    Dr. Lauren Wright-Jones, CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Clinical Professor and Online Graduate Chair at Ithaca College. Dr. Wright-Jones' areas of expertise include issues in higher education and early intervention. She is dedicated to culturally responsive practice, program development, and preparing future SLPs through innovative, student-centered teaching. Her work integrates clinical expertise, advocacy, and inclusive education to support diverse learners and promote equity in communication sciences and disorders.
Summary
Drawing on the principles from Community of Inquiry models, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and adult learning theory, participants will learn strategies for creating learning objectives, assessments, and activities to create transformative asynchronous courses. This session will also address how these concepts apply not only to asynchronous course development but programmatic construction and delivery. The session will provide practical examples for cognitive, social, and teaching presence that supports academic rigor and ensures students have access to the knowledge needed for student achievement. Attendees will have the opportunity to apply these principles to their own courses during the presentation.

Learning Objectives:
  • Evaluate programmatic decisions and construction to support the success of the asynchronous learning methodology.
  • Apply principles of Community of Inquiry, Universal Design for Learning, and Adult Learning Theories to develop a learning activity for an asynchronous course.
  • Discover tools to leverage technology for student engagement in the asynchronous environment.

Cultivating Leadership Through Clinical Supervision (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions E (10:30 - 11:30AM)

Location
Mineral D-E
Speakers
  • Lori-Ann Ferraro - Associate Professor
    Lori-Ann Ferraro, PhD, CCC-SLP, is currently a faculty member and the Director of Clinical Education at the Medical University of South Carolina. She began her career in a public school and then transitioned to practice in an outpatient rehabilitation center affiliated with a large academic medical center where she provided clinical services, coordinated outpatient speech-language pathology services, and supervised many graduate students, which ignited her passion for clinical education.
  • Hannah Siburt - Associate Professor
    Dr. Hannah Siburt, AuD, PhD, is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences at the UNC-Chapel Hill and the director of the UNC Audiology LEND Program. Her primary areas of interest include supporting children and families with hearing loss and developmental disabilities and rural healthcare. She provides service to the profession through several professional organizations including CAPCSD, AAA and the NC-EDHI Advisory Committee.
  • Devon Weist - Associate Professor and AuD Program Coordinator
    Devon Weist, AuD, is an associate professor and AuD program coordinator at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. At UNC, she practices clinically, precepts students, and teaches within the AuD program. Her primary areas of interests include audiologic and vestibular diagnostics, counseling individuals with hearing and balance disorders, audiology education, and precepting.
Summary
This presentation positions clinical supervisors as leaders within the field of communication sciences and disorders, highlighting how their mission and work in clinical education shape professional standards, learner development, and practice culture. Core leadership principles, including effective communication, collaboration, conflict resolution, and evidence-informed decision-making, are examined in the context of clinical supervision. Participants will explore practical strategies for supporting student clinical placements through reflective practice and purposeful feedback, with emphasis on the role of clinical supervisors in cultivating leadership capacity and fostering the professional and personal growth of emerging practitioners.

Learning Objectives:
  • Examine foundational leadership theories and principles, including effective communication, collaborative team development, conflict resolution, and evidence-informed decision-making, with a specific focus on their application to clinical education in audiology and speech pathology.
  • Develop advanced supervisory and management competencies relevant to student clinical placements. This includes engaging in reflective practice, implementing effective feedback methodologies, and fostering critical thinking skills to create a supportive and pedagogically sound learning environment that promotes professional growth.
  • Investigate evidence-based strategies for mentoring emerging practitioners, emphasizing the cultivation of leadership capacities and the facilitation of both personal and professional development within the context of clinical education.

Guardrails and Gateways: Ethical AI in Admissions (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions E (10:30 - 11:30AM)

Location
Centennial F
Speakers
  • Christopher Bolinger - Chair
    Christopher Bolinger, PhD, CCC-SLP, is Department Chair and Associate Professor at Texas Woman’s University. A speech-language pathologist for more than 13 years, he previously served as Graduate Program Director, overseeing more than 200 students annually. His expertise in clinical education and program management informs his exploration of artificial intelligence as a tool to enhance efficiency and compliance in graduate program administration, while safeguarding privacy and aligning innovation with evidence-based practice.
Summary
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly shaping graduate admissions, offering new tools to streamline applicant review, manage large pools, and promote equity. For audiology and speech-language pathology programs, where admissions must balance on-campus and distance education cohorts, AI provides opportunities to enhance efficiency and fairness—while raising critical ethical questions. This session will examine current applications of AI in admissions, including automated screening, blind review, and predictive analytics. Participants will explore the benefits and risks of these tools with a focus on transparency, applicant privacy, and compliance with accreditation standards. Attendees will gain practical strategies and a framework for responsibly integrating AI into admissions practices, ensuring that innovation is aligned with professional values and human oversight.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify current applications of AI in graduate admissions for audiology and speech-language pathology programs.
  • Analyze the benefits, risks, and ethical implications of AI use with emphasis on equity, transparency, and applicant privacy.
  • Evaluate strategies for integrating AI into admissions processes while maintaining compliance with CAA accreditation standards and preserving human oversight.

Solution Focused Dialogue: Mentoring Junior Faculty (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions E (10:30 - 11:30AM)

Location
Centennial G
Speakers
  • Christie Needham - Director of Clinical Education, Full Professor
    Christie A. Needham, MA, CCC-SLP, is the Director of Clinical Education, and Professor at Baldwin Wallace University. She earned her B.A. and M.A. from the University of Akron and has been supervising for over 20 years. She leads a thriving clinical education program that serves over 1000 patients during a normal semester. Her research is in clinical education, use of technology, and community engagement practices.
  • Heather Thompson - Professor, Department Chair
    Heather L. Thompson, PhD, CCC-SLP, (she/her) is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, Professor, and Department Chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at CSU Sacramento. She serves as SLP Director for the Northern California Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities program, housed at the University of California, Davis MIND Institute. She provides per diem services as an SLP at Sacramento City Unified School District and Shriners Children’s Hospital Northern California.
Summary
Effectively mentoring junior faculty into speech-language pathology and audiology programs is crucial for the health of our profession. Polling, small group and large group discussions will be used to engage participants during the session. Participants will leave with ideas and solutions generated by the group to take back to their programs.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe the importance of clear and transparent expectations for junior faculty.
  • Name two suggestions to help junior faculty who may need extra support.
  • Name three strategies to use when mentoring junior faculty.

Helping Students Master Professional Practice Behaviors: Elevating Student Success Through Clinical Education (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions E (10:30 - 11:30AM)

Location
Centennial H
Speakers
  • Kelly Harrington - UNCG CSD On-Campus Externship Coordinator, Clinical Educator
    Kelly Harrington, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF, is a board-certified specialist in Stuttering, Cluttering and Fluency Disorders and the externship coordinator for the on-campus cohort in the Department of CSD at UNC Greensboro. She is actively involved in stuttering research, supervises first-year graduate students, and regularly presents at local, state, and national conventions. She has served as chapter leader of the National Stuttering Association in the Greensboro, NC area for eight years.
  • Lisa McDonald - Director, UNCG Speech and Hearing Center
    Lisa McDonald, MA, CCC-SLP, is a professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at UNC Greensboro and the Director of the UNCG Speech and Hearing Center. She has 27 years experience and supervises graduate students in the university clinic. Her interests include supervision/clinical education, language/reading disorders, cochlear implants and accent modification. She enjoys presenting at conferences and serving on professional committees at the local, state and national level.
  • RaMonda Horton - UNCG CSD Department Chair
    RaMonda Horton, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an associate professor and chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at UNC Greensboro.
Summary
This interactive presentation will explore the evolving definition of professionalism in educational and healthcare settings, current challenges related to bias, and our program’s attempt to facilitate the types of professional practice behaviors that can allow students to be successful in the environments where they will deliver services. Changes to clinical education developed in response to shifting student needs and student/supervisor feedback in this area will be discussed. Interprofessional Education opportunities will be explored by examining ways in which multiple departments in the university college/school can apply similar educational principles to ensure student success. Audience participation will be encouraged to further problem solve solutions to meeting the learning needs of the next generation of SLPs.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe the challenges associated with addressing professional practice behaviors and career readiness in clinical settings across disciplines in university departments.
  • Summarize one program’s approach to evaluating and defining “professional practice behaviors” and teaching career readiness from graduate student orientation to degree completion.
  • Summarize additional concerns with student professional practice behaviors and career readiness across programs and share ideas to improve overall student outcomes.

Problem-based Learning Across Disciplines: Discomfort as a Catalyst for Interprofessional Growth (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions E (10:30 - 11:30AM)

Location
Capitol 1
Speakers
  • Mikaely Schmitz - Associate Professor, Clinical Instructor
    Dr. Mikaely T. Schmitz, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at Concordia University Wisconsin. Her teaching and scholarship focus on school based practice, cognition and executive function, clinical education, person-centered care, cultural and linguistic diversity, and partnerships in speech-language pathology. She leads community-based initiatives connecting graduate students with schools to advance equity, belonging, and evidence-based practice in communication sciences and disorders.
Summary
This session presents a 10-plus-year interprofessional education (IPE) initiative that integrates problem-based learning (PBL) across speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work, and education. Using authentic IEP cases, faculty intentionally design discomfort into team-based scenarios to deepen students’ understanding of professional roles, communication, and collaboration. Pre/post survey data, including measures of self-efficacy and interprofessional competence (Axboe et al., 2016), demonstrate gains in confidence and readiness for collaborative practice. Findings align with recent literature showing that IPE–PBL strengthens collaborative competence and role clarity (Keck et al., 2025; Hsiao et al., 2020; MacQuillan, 2019). Attendees will gain insight into replicable strategies for using authentic, case-based PBL to introduce purposeful discomfort, enhance role clarity, and strengthen interprofessional teamwork skills in graduate students preparing for collaborative, team-based practice.

Learning Objectives:
  • Analyze how intentional discomfort in PBL fosters interprofessional growth and role clarity.
  • Evaluate student outcomes from IPE–PBL using self-efficacy and collaboration measures.
  • Design strategies to implement replicable, case-based interprofessional experiences within health professions curricula.

Meaningful Adult Hearing Health Outcome Measures: Educating Students and Preceptors on Recommended Domains (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions E (10:30 - 11:30AM)

Location
Capitol 3
Speakers
  • Colleen Le Prell - Professor and Department Head
    Dr. Colleen Le Prell is the Emilie and Phil Schepps Distinguished Professor of Hearing Science at the University of Texas at Dallas. She serves as Head of the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing, and Faculty Director for the UTD Clinical and Translational Research Center. Current research programs in her laboratory include translational research programs directed at prevention of noise-induced hearing loss.
  • Carol Cokely - Clinical Professor, AuD Program Head
    Carol Cokely, PhD, is clinical professor and AuD Program Head in the Department of SLH at the University of Texas at Dallas. She has a long-term commitment to andragogy of clinical and classroom education and program assessment. She is the current ACAE Chair of the Board of Directors, a past member of the boards of the AAA and ARA and has served on numerous committees within AAA and CAPCSD.
  • Julie Ambrose - Director, N-CEP
    Julie Ambrose, AuD, CCC-A, works as a Director in the National Center for Evidence-Based Practice in Communication Disorders at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Her professional areas of interest include outcome measurement, evidence-based practice, and aural rehabilitation. She completed her Doctor of Audiology degree at Towson University and her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at James Madison University.
Summary
The recent National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine report, “Measuring Meaningful Outcomes for Adult Hearing Health Interventions,” recommends using consistent hearing outcome measures across settings (clinic, research), indications (noise, age, drug) and interventions (hearing aids, drugs, auditory training). Two emergent and essential domains are understanding speech in complex listening environments and hearing-related psychosocial health. Recommended measurements include the Words-in-Noise test and Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit global score, and the Revised Hearing Handicap Inventory. We will describe the report process, outcome domains and measures, and strategies for implementing the protocol across research and clinical environments. We will discuss the importance of clinical data repositories and big data approaches that can provide essential insights when standard assessment outcomes are used. Peer discussion is encouraged.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify functional domains and measurements beyond the audiogram that are recommended for assessment in all patients and research participants who receive hearing interventions.
  • Implement the recommended protocols across research and clinical environments, and educate preceptors on the rationale for completing these measurements.
  • Explain the rationale for entering hearing outcome data in a data repository and identify at least one data repository.

Fostering Excellence Through Summative Portfolio Assessment: A Case Study in Graduate SLP Education (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions E (10:30 - 11:30AM)

Location
Capitol 2
Speakers
  • Mitzi Brammer - Associate Professor, Graduate Program Director
    Mitzi Brammer, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor in the Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences department at Saint Louis University. She serves as the Graduate Program Director. Dr. Brammer's current research interests are inclusive programming and creating a sense of belonging in higher education, interprofessional education/practice, and language and literacy. She is in her 39th year as a professional speech-language pathologist.
Summary
How can a graduate CSD program elevate excellence in assessment of student learning? This session highlights one department’s innovative approach to designing, implementing, and evaluating a summative portfolio assessment process, affording students the opportunity to authentically demonstrate academic and clinical competence, reflective thinking, and integration of practical career planning skills. Aligned with ASHA standards and grounded in continuous quality improvement, the portfolio model fosters professional identity formation while providing valuable data for program enhancement and accreditation reporting. Participants will gain insight into strategies for faculty calibration, student engagement, and sustainable rollout—as well as lessons learned from the first year of implementation. This session offers practical tools and inspiration for graduate CSD programs seeking to elevate excellence in their assessment practices through meaningful, mission-driven portfolio use.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe the key components of a summative portfolio assessment process that align with ASHA Knowledge and Clinical Standards and support student development in graduate speech-language pathology programs.
  • Analyze strategies for designing, implementing and sustaining a portfolio system, including faculty calibration, student engagement, and programmatic integration.
  • Evaluate how summative portfolio assessment data can be used to inform curricular improvements, accreditation reporting, and program evaluation.

Poster: Lessons Learned: Implementing Interprofessional Education in CSD Programs (0.05 CEUs)

April 10 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol Foyer North
Speakers
  • Melissa Brydon - Associate Professor
    Melissa Brydon, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor and the Director of the in person MSSLP program at Pennsylvania Western University- Clarion. Dr. Brydon completed her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Speech-Language Pathology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and her Ph.D. in Reading Education at the University of Pittsburgh. As a speech–language pathologist and reading specialist, she’s worked with children of all ages in a variety of settings since 2003.
  • Natalie Armstrong - Assistant Professor
    Natalie Armstrong, DEd, CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department at Pennsylvania Western University. Dr. Armstrong has served the profession of speech-language pathology by engaging in research with a focus on interprofessional education/practice and supervision. Areas of interest include; clinical supervision, IPE/IPP, adult swallowing disorders, and adult neurogenic disorders.
Summary
This presentation will offer clinical and academic faculty practical insights for successfully integrating Interprofessional Educational experiences (IPE) into CSD programs to enhance both undergraduate and graduate student experiences. Specifically, this session will propose a framework for incorporating IPE experiences into CSD programs by presenting findings from three sequential studies that focused on collaboration of CSD graduate students and Exercise Science undergraduate students in an IPE learning environment. The design, implementation, and modifications across the three years that the IPE learning experience was implemented will be described. Themes identified within the students’ reflections of the IPE learning experience will also be discussed. Benefits and challenges from these three studies will be presented and compared to findings from recent research on IPE in the field of CSD.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify potential benefits and challenges when creating IPE/IPP experiences for CSD students.
  • Explain collaborative and clinical competencies that CSD students have the opportunity to develop through active participation in IPE/IPP experiences.
  • Summarize newly learned general and specific IPE/IPP opportunities for undergraduate and graduate CSD students.

Poster: Enhancing Interprofessional Practice in Audiology Training: Opportunities Within Clinical Externships (0.05 CEUs)

April 10 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol Foyer North
Speakers
  • Jillian Hubertz - Clinical Assistant Professor
    Jillian Hubertz is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at Purdue University. She provides clinical education to audiology graduate students at the on-campus clinic, serves as the 4th year audiology externship coordinator, and coordinates interprofessional education events as part of Purdue’s SLHS IPE curriculum.
Summary
Off-campus externships in the third and fourth years of Purdue University’s Doctor of Audiology (AuD) program provide opportunities to apply interprofessional practice (IPP) skills introduced through on-campus training during the first two years. This study examined the extent of IPP engagement reported by AuD students during externships and compared findings with the 2023 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) IPP survey. Results indicated that while 75% of students engaged in IPP, only 47% reported that clinical educators explicitly addressed IPE/IPP, revealing a gap in instructional emphasis. This disparity underscores the need to strengthen IPP integration within clinical training. Proposed strategies aim to enhance externship-based IPP while supporting clinical educator productivity. Future directions include professional development for supervisors to evaluate if intentional IPP education influences student learning.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify opportunities for IPP skill development in clinical externships and the role of clinical educators in supporting learning.
  • Compare AuD student-reported IPP experiences during clinical externships with findings from the 2023 ASHA IPP survey.
  • Propose strategies for clinical educators to enhance IPP integration in AuD clinical externships.

Poster: Fostering AI Literacy and Critical Thinking Through Course-embedded Assignments (0.05 CEUs)

April 10 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol Foyer North
Speakers
  • Ying-Chiao Tsao - Associate Professor
    Dr. Ying-Chiao Tsao, Associate Professor of the Communication Sciences and Disorders at California State University-Fullerton, is a member of the CAPCSD Leadership Academy and the ASHA Faculty Development Institute, and the Coordinator for ASHA Special Interest Group 20 (Counseling). Since 2010, Dr. Tsao has spearheaded technology and has recently received several Artificial Intelligence (AI) credentials: AI Tools for Teaching and Learning, Academic Application of AI, and Critical Thinking with AI.
Summary
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been around for decades and has progressed rapidly in the past few years. Embracing AI in teaching and learning is inevitable for Higher Education. Unfortunately, faculty and students have expressed hesitations and concerns about utilizing AI, such as plagiarism, cheating, ethical issues, or discouragement of critical thinking. Considering these concerns, this project aimed to provide graduate students with hands-on experience through course-embedded assignments. Ten-question pre- and post-surveys were collected and analyzed to reveal students’ experiences and reactions. The preliminary results are encouraging and affirm that AI can promote critical thinking skills if appropriately scaffolded. The author will discuss the benefits, limitations, ethical concerns, and AI teaching strategies.

Learning Objectives:
  • Summarize the applications of AI in healthcare and higher education.
  • Identify the benefits, limitations, and ethical concerns of using AI.
  • Illustrate scaffolding strategies for delivering course-embedded assignments.

Poster: Unlearning at the University: How to Combat Subtle Sizeism in CSD Programs (0.05 CEUs)

April 10 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol Foyer North
Speakers
  • Ashley Gambino - Associate Professor/Chair
    Ashley Gambino, AuD, is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Communication Sciences & Disorders department at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. Her research interests are teaching and learning in communication sciences and disorders, professional issues in audiology and speech-language pathology, and women in higher education.
  • Rachel Flemming - Clinical Director & Placement Coordinator
    Rachel Flemming, MA, CCC-SLP,is the Clinical Director of Speech-Language Pathology at the Plattsburgh State Speech and Hearing Center. She is a proud alumna, receiving both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from SUNY Plattsburgh. Her research interests include clinical education, ableism and sizeism in healthcare, mentorship, collaboration, and diversity within CSD. She is particularly passionate about teaching and supporting ethical clinicians for modern service delivery.
Summary
This poster will examine sizeism in Communication Sciences & Disorders academic programs. Presentation and discussion will focus on developing the following: understanding how helping professions, including speech-pathology and audiology, are fat phobic, identifying body shaming practices and how they are unethical and harmful to CSD clients and students, reviewing the literature related to body size and conditions that fall within the CSD scopes of practice, and how to create academic/clinical experiences and relationships that are supportive of individuals of all sizes.

Learning Objectives:
  • Explain key terms and concepts from the literature related to sizeism and the research that demonstrates sizeism within CSD and CSD graduate programs.
  • Summarize the impact of non-size-inclusive practices, language, and attitudes on academic curricula and clinical practica.
  • Identify inclusive and non-inclusive practices related to sizeism within CSD academic and clinical settings.

Poster: Tracking Clinical and Cultural Competence Development in Graduate Speech-Language Pathology Students (0.05 CEUs)

April 10 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol Foyer North
Speakers
  • Mikaely Schmitz - Associate Professor, Clinical Instructor
    Dr. Mikaely T. Schmitz, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at Concordia University Wisconsin. Her teaching and scholarship focus on school based practice, cognition and executive function, clinical education, person-centered care, cultural and linguistic diversity, and partnerships in speech-language pathology. She leads community-based initiatives connecting graduate students with schools to advance equity, belonging, and evidence-based practice in communication sciences and disorders.
Summary
Graduate speech-language pathology (SLP) programs must prepare clinicians to serve culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) clients, yet evidence shows graduate students report limited confidence and face systemic barriers to CLD-responsive practice (Cao, Keller-Bell, & Figueroa, 2022). This IRB-approved, multi-semester mixed-methods study integrates pre/post surveys—the Cultural Awareness and Competence Scales (CACS), an evidence-based practice supplement, and the Social Desirability Scale (SDS)—with reflective journals in graduate coursework and placements. Preliminary results (N ≈ 21) indicate pre–post gains in cultural awareness and self-efficacy, while reflections revealed increased depth of responsiveness. These findings align with prior research showing experiential learning enhances cultural competence (De Diego-Lázaro et al., 2020) and address calls for outcomes-based evaluation in SLP education (O’Shea et al., 2016; Howells et al., 2016).

Learning Objectives:
  • Outline how validated survey tools and reflective journaling can be integrated to assess cultural competence in graduate SLP education.
  • Identify implications of longitudinal, mixed-methods assessment for strengthening culturally responsive curriculum design in SLP programs.
  • Summarize preliminary data showing graduate student growth in cultural awareness, self-efficacy, and responsiveness across one semester.

Poster: Integrating Video-Review Feedback in Clinical Supervision: Enhancing Student Competency in Speech-Language Pathology (0.05 CEUs)

April 10 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol Foyer North
Speakers
  • Natasha Moran - Assistant Clinical Professor
    Natasha D. Moran, MS, CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Clinical Professor in Communication Disorders at Sacred Heart University. A licensed, ASHA-certified SLP, she specializes in adult neurogenic communication and swallowing disorders. Moran teaches undergraduate and graduate courses, mentors students, and focuses on interprofessional education, dysphagia management, clinical supervision, and evidence-based neurologic treatment. She has presented nationally, earned multiple ASHA ACE awards, and serves on several departmental and college committees.
  • Bridget Hosey - Graduate Student
    Bridget Hosey, BS, is a first-year graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology program at Sacred Heart University. She serves as a research assistant currently supporting projects in clinical supervision and collaborative learning. Her interests include stroke, traumatic brain injury, apraxia of speech, and dysphagia, with a growing focus on evidence-based neurorehabilitation. Hosey is actively developing her clinical and research skills through coursework, and participation in scholarly activities, including poster presentations.
  • Caitlin Zimyeski - Assistant Clinical Professor
    Caitlin Zimyeski, EdD, CCC-SLP, is the Undergraduate Program Director for Communication Disorders at Sacred Heart University and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the graduate Speech-Language Pathology department. Prior to coming to Sacred Heart University in 2022, Dr. Zimyeski worked as a school based certified SLP for six years. Her areas of specialty are school based speech-language pathology, multilingual learners, multi-tiered systems of support and clinical education.
Summary
This proposal examines the integration of video-review feedback in clinical supervision within a graduate speech-language pathology program. Traditional supervision methods rely on verbal and written feedback; however, technological advancements provide opportunities for enhanced learning through video review. The primary argument is that video-review feedback fosters self-assessment, reflective practice, and collaborative learning between students and supervisors, ultimately improving clinical competencies. Through structured implementation, students engage in experiential learning by observing and analyzing their clinical interactions. This presentation outlines the methodology, implementation strategies, and results from a study evaluating the impact of video-review feedback. Findings indicate that this approach enhances self-awareness, acceptance of feedback, and clinical skill progression. This presentation provides insight into best practices, challenges, and strategies for integrating video-review feedback into clinical education.

Learning Objectives:
  • Evaluate strategies for fostering reflective practice and guiding students' active engagement in self-assessment.
  • Design approaches to integrate technology with traditional clinical feedback to enhance experiential learning.
  • Interpret survey data from students and clinical educators to assess the effectiveness and impact of technology on clinical learning and implications for practice.

Poster: Improving Dementia Care Outcomes: An Interprofessional Simulation Model for Developing Empathy (0.05 CEUs)

April 10 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol Foyer North
Speakers
  • Jennifer Whited - Director, School of Allied Health
    Jennifer Whited, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an associate professor and clinical supervisor in the Speech Language Pathology Program at the University of Louisiana Monroe. She is the Director of the School of Allied Health, teaches adult neurological disorders, and directs the Dementia Compassion Project at ULM, which supports health care providers and caregivers in the Monroe area. Dr. Whited's research interests include dementia and scholarship of teaching and learning.
  • Amanda Stead - Professor, Interim Director
    Amanda Stead is the Interim Director and a professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders. She is also the coordinator of the school's simulation program and is credentialed as a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE). It is her personal goal to educate students and the community about the vital role speech-language pathologists play in the care of patients with dementia and in end-of-life care.
  • Patti Calk - Director, Occupational Therapy
    Patti Calk, OTD, MEd, LOTR, is a professor and program director of the Master of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Therapy Doctorate Programs at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Dr. Calk teaches research/evidence-based practice, pathology, assessment, pediatrics, and anatomy and has OT experience in neurorehabilitation, eldercare, early intervention, and neonatal-care. She is certified as a Handwriting Specialist, Therapeutic Listening Program® Provider, Virtual Dementia Tour® Facilitator, and Simulation from DREXEL University.
  • Ashanti Jones - Associate Director, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program|Admissions Chair|Neurophysiology Curriculum Coordinator
    Ashanti M. Jones, PT, DPT, EdD, serves as Associate Program Director, Admissions Chair, and Neurophysiology Curriculum Coordinator for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University of Louisiana Monroe. She holds a B.S. in Public Health (Dillard University), a Master of Physical Therapy (University of Texas Medical Branch), a Doctor of Physical Therapy (University of the Incarnate Word), and a Doctor of Education (University of Louisiana Monroe).
  • Paula Griswold - Associate Dean, College of Health Sciences
    Dr. Paula Griswold serves as the Associate Dean of the College of Health Sciences at University of Louisiana Monroe. She received both her B.S. in Medical Technology and her M.S. in Life Sciences (Microbiology) from Louisiana Tech University. She earned her Ph.D. in Toxicology from Northeast Louisiana University (now University of Louisiana Monroe). Dr. Griswold has expertise in student internships, online course delivery, working with the elderly, and healthcare law.
Summary
Dementia's rising prevalence strains healthcare providers, specifically speech-language pathologists (SLPs), lacking specialized training in cognitive-communication disorders. Simulations, like the Virtual Dementia Tour (VDT), offer safe, standardized learning. Interprofessional simulations significantly shift student perspectives, boosting knowledge, empathy, and motivation to serve persons with dementia (PWD). Allied health professional students participated in a structured simulation experience with a debrief to impact their empathy and understanding of those living with dementia as well as application in a clinical setting. Results indicate that interprofessional students recognize the need for support and adaptation and recognize the gaps in understanding of the current system. Positive feedback highlights the effectiveness of refining intervention skills. This ultimately improves practical care for PWD by early-career professionals, addressing crucial gaps in dementia management.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify the interdependencies among healthcare disciplines in managing the challenges of degenerative cognitive-communication disorders in dementia, and articulate the specific role of SLP within this collaborative framework.
  • Explain the necessary steps for developing and evaluating high-quality simulations that effectively facilitate interprofessional learning.
  • Summarize the observed changes in empathy and interprofessional skills among interprofessional healthcare professionals following participation in an experiential dementia care simulation.

Poster: Burnout and Well-Being of SLP Graduate Students and Practicing SLPs (0.05 CEUs)

April 10 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol Foyer North
Speakers
  • Chantal Whiteduck - Director of Clinical Education; Assistant Clinical Professor
    Chantal Whiteduck (she/they) is an Assistant Clinical Professor and Director of Clinical Education of Speech-Language Pathology in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at Moravian University. Her current clinical and research interests include voice disorders, PVFMD/ILO, neurodiversity-affirming and gender-affirming care, and burnout and well-being in the field of speech-language pathology.
  • Alexa Van Doren - Graduate Student
    Graduate Student, Moravian University
Summary
Burnout has long been studied in helping professions and is emerging as a critical concern in speech-language pathology (SLP). While research has focused on practicing clinicians, growing evidence highlights significant implications for SLP graduate students’ mental health. Using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory and supplemental questions, this study surveyed 418 graduate students and 365 practicing SLPs in the United States. Preliminary findings reveal concerning levels of burnout, with students reporting financial strain, imposter syndrome, and difficulty with work-life balance as key stressors. These factors threaten academic persistence, professional identity formation, and long-term workforce retention. This poster will share survey data and highlight student perspectives. Findings underscore the urgency of addressing burnout early to support graduate student success and strengthen the future SLP workforce.

Learning Objectives:
  • Explain the historical context related to burnout and its relevance to understanding current challenges faced by SLP graduate students and practicing SLPs.
  • Analyze survey data on burnout among graduate students and practicing SLPs to identify key contributing factors of burnout.
  • Discuss the implications and potential impact of graduate student burnout for academic success, clinical readiness, and transition into the workforce.

Poster: Gamifying Orientation: Utilizing a Microgame to Engage and Prepare Students (0.05 CEUs)

April 10 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol Foyer North
Speakers
  • Cara Singer - Associate Professor/SLP Graduate Program Director
    Cara M. Singer, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an associate professor and the SLP Program Director in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Grand Valley State University. Her primary research interest relates to childhood stuttering, with a focus on improving prognostic assessments and social-emotional outcomes for children who stutter.
Summary
Gamification is used across fields to promote engagement and target key concepts with students. We adapted the “Making History” microgame for our program’s orientation to highlight program policies, discuss potential dilemmas, and promote student success when students are entering the program. The game addresses concepts essential to academic and clinical success – academic honesty, professional ethics, and academic standards – and encourages students to consider the credibility of sources and seek out university supports. Working in groups, students are provided clues to answer the question “Why are Jay and Alex no longer in the program?” The game will be presented, student feedback will be provided, and potential modifications will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:
  • Assess how student engagement is maximized within their program's orientation.
  • List four central components of microgames.
  • Plan a microgame to include concepts and policies they want to highlight with their students.

Poster: Fostering Ongoing Collaboration and Reflective Practice in Graduate Clinical Experiences (0.05 CEUs)

April 10 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol Foyer North
Speakers
  • Prachi Bengeri - Assistant Professor & Clinical Director
    Prachi Bengeri, MS, CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor and Clinical Director in Communication Sciences and Disorders at St. Cloud State University. Prachi’s clinical experience has primarily been with the early childhood population in outpatient and school settings. Her areas of expertise and teaching include ASD, executive functioning, early childhood speech and language disorders, and childhood apraxia of speech. Her research interests include autism spectrum disorders and clinical education.
  • Sarah Schaefer - Assistant Professor, Clinical Educator, Educational Internship Coordinator
    Sarah Schaefer, EdD, CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor, Clinical Educator and Educational Internship Coordinator at St. Cloud State University. She specializes in pediatric communication disorders and bilingual service delivery (English/ASL). With experience in medical and school-based settings, she is passionate about preparing future clinicians through reflective practice, interprofessional collaboration, and experiential learning. Her interests include symbolic gesture, gestalt language processing, and bridging theory to practice in clinical education.
Summary
This presentation will describe a graduate clinical learning experience that included the components of caregiver coaching, early childhood speech and language intervention, and a caregiver support group. Post-therapy session debriefs were facilitated by clinical educators in a group format that included both clinicians working with individual clients and clinicians running the caregiver support group. Findings will be described related to the students’ learning experiences (qualitative) and self-efficacy in caregiver coaching (quantitative) based on data collected from multiple cycles of the program. The implications for setting up the debrief environment to facilitate peer-to-peer reflective learning and foster a culture of ongoing collaboration and support will be described. The poster format of the presentation will lend itself to discussions between the authors and audience.

Learning Objectives:
  • Explain how to use group debriefings to facilitate peer-to-peer learning.
  • Analyze how this type of debriefing leads to the development of a practice of finding value in appraising varied perspectives in the same clinical situation.
  • List ways to create an ongoing practice of collaboration and reflection within similar frameworks presented.

Poster: From Learners to Reviewers: Experiential Peer Review in an SLPD Program (0.05 CEUs)

April 10 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol Foyer North
Speakers
  • Klaire Brumbaugh - SLPD Program Director
    Klaire Brumbaugh, EdD, ClinScD, CCC-SLP, is the Program Director for the Speech-Language Pathology-Doctorate (SLPD) program at Moravian University. Klaire received her Bachelor's and Master’s degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Kansas State University, a clinical doctorate in speech-language pathology from Rocky Mountain University, and a Doctorate in Education from Fontbonne University. Klaire’s research and professional interests focus on the areas of speech sound disorders and professional issues in SLP.
  • Kevin Miller - Co-Editor, Communication Disorders Quarterly
    Kevin J. Miller, EdD, CCC-SLP, is Co-Editor of Communication Disorders Quarterly, which is affiliated with Hammill Institute on Disabilities. Dr. Miller received his Bachelor's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, his Master's Degree from the University of Cincinnati in Deaf Education, and his doctoral degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Special Education. He is the recipient of three Fulbright Scholar Awards (Taiwan, Greece, and Armenia).
  • Cheryl Gabig - Associate Professor Emerita; Co-Editor, Communication Disorders Quarterly
    Cheryl Smith Gabig, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor Emerita of the department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, Lehman College/CUNY. Her research focuses on relationships between language and literacy in children and adolescents. She is currently the Co-Editor-in-Chief of Communication Disorders Quarterly.
  • Nicole Redman - SLPD Program & Student Coordinator
    Nicole Redman, SLPD, CCC-SLP, currently serves as the Student and Program Coordinator for the SLPD Program at Moravian University. Dr. Redman is particularly interested in implementation science and the efficacy and efficiency of treatments for pediatric speech sound disorders. Nicole is deeply committed to mentoring and supporting students at every stage of their professional journey. She believes in fostering confidence and curiosity in the next generation of speech-language pathologists.
Summary
This poster describes a collaboration between an SLPD program and a professional peer-reviewed journal to provide an active learning opportunity for SLPD students to learn the peer review process. Students completing a course in scientific communication and dissemination engaged in directed peer review training, participated in focused discussions, and completed a mentored peer review of a submission to a professional journal. Students applied new knowledge and skills to the review process and then compared their reviews against the professional reviews submitted to the journal. Qualitative analysis of the students’ (n = 14) guided reflections revealed improved confidence and understanding of the peer-review process. This presentation outlines one strategy for preparing clinicians to engage in the peer review process through a partnership with a journal.

Learning Objectives:
  • Summarize the collaborative partnership method established for the active learning project.
  • Discuss two themes identified in the qualitative analysis of student reflections of the applied learning project.
  • Assess the added value of incorporating an authentic active learning project to teach the scholarly peer-review process as compared to standard lecture and class discussion.

Poster: Developing the Therapeutic Alliance: A Tutorial for Evidence-informed Counseling Coursework in Speech Language Pathology (0.05 CEUs)

April 10 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol Foyer North
Speakers
  • Melanie Beukema - Assistant Professor
    Dr. Melanie Beukema is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Grand Valley State University. With over a decade of clinical experience in medical speech-language pathology and a more recent leap into higher education, she is passionate about easing the transition of graduate students and early career speech-language pathologists to the workforce.
Summary
The role of therapeutic alliance is well-supported within the literature to positively support patient outcomes across health professions, with the suggestion that therapeutic alliance is more strongly associated with the results of interventions than the specific techniques and approaches used. There is limited information detailing how these skills are taught and learned for SLP graduate student clinicians. This information is well-documented within psychotherapeutic education. Thus, this tutorial uses the established guidelines from psychotherapeutic literature to propose guidelines for instruction methods on how best to develop therapeutic alliance in students entering the field of SLP. Review of the literature revealed several instructional methods and ideas for implementation, which are defined and described for application to SLP graduate coursework. This informs further implementation research and application.

Learning Objectives:
  • Define instructional methods supporting development of therapeutic alliance in speech language pathology graduate students.
  • Explain the importance of explicit instruction of therapeutic alliance skills for student and patient/client outcomes.
  • Assess ideas for application and integration of instructional methods to graduate coursework and clinical instruction.

Not Attending a Session During This Time Slot (S12)

April 10 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Enhancing Student Learning and Teaching Efficiencies [ClinicNote Inc] (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Centennial F
Speakers
  • Lana Fox - President/CEO
    Lana Fox is co-founder & CEO of ClinicNote. Our mission at ClinicNote is to always help you help others!
Summary
Attendees will learn strategies for building documentation skills progressively, providing timely and consistent feedback, and fostering reflective practice for diverse learners. The session emphasizes turning documentation into an active learning process that supports different learning styles and helps students develop higher-level clinical reasoning skills. Faculty will also see how collaboration features streamline supervision, reduce redundancy, and create more equitable teaching experiences across teams. Participants will leave with a practical framework and actionable techniques to integrate into supervision and instruction, enhancing both student success and teaching efficiency.

Learning Objectives:
  • Apply Collaboration tools to provide structured feedback that improves student learning.
  • Evaluate documentation workflows to identify opportunities for efficiency and enhanced engagement.
  • Design supervision strategies that build student independence and clinical reasoning.

Innovative, Evidence-informed Training Model Bridging Academic Knowledge and Clinical Application in Early Communication Intervention [Kennedy Krieger Institute] (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Centennial G
Speakers
  • Rebecca Landa - Executive Director, Center for Autism Services, Science and Innovation
    Dr. Rebecca Landa is executive director, Kennedy Krieger Center for Autism Services, Science and Innovation, and Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Her research foci include effective professional development approaches, early detection of autism and communication delays, learning processes, and intervention efficacy. She developed an interactive LMS-based SLP graduate course supplement on early communication intervention and a translational science public health initiative -Bundle of Learning® (www.bundleoflearning.com).
  • Pamela Mathy - Clinical Professor Emeritus
    Pamela Mathy, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a Clinical Professor Emeritus from the University of Utah. She served as the Director of Clinical Education at Arizona State University. She was Director of the Preschool Program and supervisor of the speech-language pathology department at the Center for Autism Services, Science and Innovation at Kennedy Krieger Institute. She retired from University of Utah where she served as the Director of Clinical Education.
Summary
Preparing graduate students for early communication intervention requires a structured bridge from academic knowledge to clinical practice. This session presents an innovative model that combines the Early Communication Intervention (ECI) Module, an engaging LMS-based course providing theoretical foundations and instruction in multimodal interactive book sharing (MIBS), with the Bundle of Learning® therapy kits that reduce cognitive load by packaging storybooks, props, and clinician prompts into ready-to-use tools for practice. Together, they create a sequential pathway—knowledge building, guided MIBS application, and structured reflection—that supports hybrid and flipped instruction. In addition to an overview by the developers, panelists from three universities will share their implementation experiences and student outcomes, offering practical insights into advancing clinical readiness and excellence.

Learning Objectives:
  • Analyze the theoretical foundations of early communication intervention and the principles of multimodal interactive book sharing (MIBS) introduced in the ECI module.
  • Apply structured therapy materials from the Bundles of Learning to design and implement intervention sessions that reduce extraneous cognitive load for novice clinicians and young children.
  • Evaluate the integration of online learning (knowledge building) and practice-based materials (guided application) as a hybrid model for advancing graduate student readiness in early intervention.

The Impact of Giving Back, Community, and an Inclusive Environment in Audiology Education [Entheos Audiology Cooperative] (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Centennial H
Speakers
  • Jenna Vallario - Academic Outreach Director
    Jenna Vallario, AuD, is the Academic Outreach Director at Entheos Audiology Cooperative. After teaching in Malawi’s first Bachelor of Science in Audiology program from 2019-2024, she developed a strong commitment to education, capacity building, and sustainable hearing healthcare. Through her work with Entheos and its nonprofit partner, Hearing the Call (501[c][3]), Jenna connects universities, students, and clinics to advance global impact and empower the next generation of audiologists.
  • Gail Whitelaw - Audiologist/Clinical Professor/Clinic Director
    Gail Whitelaw, PhD, is a clinical professor, audiologist, and clinic director in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science at The Ohio State University. She is the audiology faculty member on the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Other Disabilities (LEND) grant. Dr. Whitelaw is the 4th year placement coordinator for the AuD program. She currently serves on the Board of the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE).
Summary
Today's students are looking for more than a job at the end of their education. They want fulfillment, connection and service. This session introduces Entheos Audiology Cooperative, a unique business model uniting private practices, universities, and nonprofits. Through humanitarian outreach, local service projects, and community clinics, students develop problem-solving skills, adaptability, empathy, and confidence while gaining clinical independence. The session will highlight how integrating service into training not only enriches student education but also strengthens recruitment, retention, and employment outcomes. Attendees will gain strategies to integrate community engagement into training programs and learn how they can enrich student education while increasing access to hearing healthcare in underserved populations. Attendees will also be invited to connect after the session for questions and feedback.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify the educational benefits of incorporating community service and humanitarian outreach into audiology training.
  • Evaluate how serving underserved populations expands clinical experiences and strengthens student confidence and independence.
  • Apply strategies for integrating collaborative service opportunities into university training programs.

Using Video Observation to Support Clinical Education and Supervision in CSD Programs [Intelligent Video Solutions] (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Mineral B-C
Speakers
  • Carrie Rhoads - Director of Marketing Engagement
    Carrie Rhoads Director of Marketing Engagement Carrie Rhoads is the Director of Marketing Engagement for Intelligent Video Systems (IVS). She has 30 years of experience in the technology industry as a marketing and sales professional. Since joining IVS in 2019, Carrie has helped healthcare organizations, educational institutions, and simulation centers use the power of video to increase the effectiveness of education & clinical training programs, research, and overall experiential learning.
Summary
This session examines the use of video observation as an instructional strategy to support clinical education, supervision, and student learning in speech-language pathology and audiology programs. Attendees will explore practical approaches for integrating video-based review into teaching and supervision workflows, including methods for promoting reflective practice, providing effective feedback, and supporting skill development. Real-world examples from academic and clinical training settings will be shared, along with demonstrations of technology tools that can support these educational practices.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe instructional applications of video observation that support clinical education, supervision, and skill development in speech-language pathology and audiology settings.
  • Identify best practices for integrating video-based review and feedback into clinical teaching and supervision workflows to promote reflective practice and learner growth.
  • Apply strategies for using video observation to enhance supervision, assessment, and feedback across academic and clinical training environments.

Optimizing Clinical Education: Implementing Web-Based Management Tools for SLPA and CF Preparation [CALIPSO] (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Mineral D-E
Speakers
  • Amy Dickson - Client Development Manager
    Amy Dickson, MHA, MS, CCC-SLP, has served as CALIPSO’s Client Development Manager since 2015. Amy has over 25 years of experience working with the adult population across diverse settings. She has focused on clinical education throughout her career. Amy formerly coordinated internal and external placements and taught academic courses at an academic medical center, and she remains active in clinical practice, providing clinical supervision to students and clinical fellows.
  • Karalee Cole - Consultant
    Karalee Cole, MA, CCC-SLP, joined the CALIPSO team in April of 2025. She earned her degrees at The University of Iowa. Karalee began her career as a school speech-language pathologist but also has clinical experience in early intervention, content creation and teacher training with a language/literacy company, and as a university clinical educator. Karalee’s clinical interests were early intervention, early literacy, and providing real-world clinical opportunities for graduate students.
Summary
This session provides a comprehensive overview of digital methodologies for managing the clinical education and professional preparation of Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs) and Clinical Fellows (CFs). Presenters will examine the pedagogical rationales for utilizing web-based systems to monitor clinical performance, aligning with current certification requirements and 2020 standards. Attendees will analyze workflows for clock-hour verification, performance evaluation, and data collection. The session addresses strategies to enhance instructional efficiency and streamline supervisory responsibilities. The session will conclude with a question-and-answer period, providing participants with the opportunity to deepen their understanding and clarify aspects related to instructional use and implementation.

Learning Objectives:
  • Articulate the pedagogical and administrative advantages of utilizing web-based 'Inventory of Performance' systems for documenting SLPA and CF clinical experiences.
  • Evaluate digital features designed to increase instructional efficiency and streamline supervisory workflows in alignment with 2020 certification standards.
  • Analyze essential reporting data required for programmatic assessment to ensure compliance with clinical certification documentation.

Deaf/Hard of Hearing Accessibility Options on iOS and Android [InnoCaption] (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Lunch Sessions (11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Location
Capitol 1
Speakers
  • Tina Gonzales Childress - Accessibility Consultant
    Tina Gonzales Childress, AuD, CCC-A, is an audiologist, advocate, and accessibility consultant who blends clinical expertise with lived experience as a late-deafened adult with bilateral cochlear implants. A sought-after presenter and mentor fluent in ASL, she offers a rare dual perspective across Deaf/Hard of Hearing and hearing communities. She specializes in assistive technology, inclusive practices, and creating widely used resources. Visit TinaChildressAuD.com.
Summary
Mobile technology has revolutionized communication access for individuals who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH). This session will explore the latest native accessibility features available on iOS and Android platforms, including speech-to-text and text-to-speech services, sound notification alerts, captioning options, and hearing device integrations such as Auracast. Participants will also examine selected third-party apps that extend functionality for real-time captioning, text-to-speech, video communication, and remote microphone use. Through demonstrations and discussion, attendees will gain practical knowledge on how these tools can enhance daily communication, safety, and independence for DHH users across multiple settings. Strategies for recommending and customizing features based on individual needs will also be highlighted.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify and describe native iOS and Android accessibility features that support communication access for individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
  • Evaluate third-party mobile apps that enhance real-time captioning, text-to-speech, and remote communication capabilities.
  • Summarize strategies for recommending and customizing mobile technology tools to meet the diverse needs of DHH users in various environments.

A Case Study for Increasing Accessibility in SLP and AuD Education (0.15 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions F (1 PM - 2:30 PM)

Location
Mineral B-C
Speakers
  • Vicki Haddix - Clinical Associate Professor
    Vicki L. Haddix, MS, CCC-SLP, is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Memphis. She teaches the graduate level AAC course and supervises students in the university clinic. Her current research interests involve UDL in graduate school and clinical education. Vicki was a principal investigator on the Tennessee Talks grant that ended in 2023, which helped to build school districts’ capacity to support students using AAC across Tennessee.
  • Morgan Jameson - Assistant Professor
    Morgan Jameson, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an assistant professor at the University of Memphis. She received her PhD in Speech and Hearing Science at The Ohio State University in 2024. Her research focuses on the effects of neurotype on language and reciprocal communication, neurodiversity-affirming supports and services for autistic people, and intersections of gender and autism.
Summary
The UDL framework is particularly relevant in higher education where students with disabilities are not required to, and may not wish to disclose their disabilities. Getting student input on elements of UDL that break down barriers to learning can help faculty design more equitable courses. This presentation will share the results of a faculty and student survey in 2023 on the perception and implementation of UDL principles in a graduate level SLP and audiology program. An overview of the training provided to faculty in 2024 will be provided, and the changes that were evident in the follow-up survey in 2025 will be discussed. There will be opportunities for participants to reflect on their own teaching and how they may incorporate specific UDL strategies.

Learning Objectives:
  • Name at least three UDL strategies.
  • Analyze why UDL is relevant in graduate school education.
  • Analyze teaching practices for the presence or usefulness of UDL principles.

Innovate, Educate, Publish: A Guide to SoTL and Simulation (0.15 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions F (1 PM - 2:30 PM)

Location
Mineral D-E
Speakers
  • Amanda Stead - Professor, Interim Director
    Amanda Stead is the Interim Director and a professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders. She is also the coordinator of the school's simulation program and is credentialed as a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE). It is her personal goal to educate students and the community about the vital role speech-language pathologists play in the care of patients with dementia and in end-of-life care.
Summary
Clinical simulation provides the ideal platform for the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). This session is designed to help you marry your clinical simulations with more robust pedagogy and research design for better outcomes. We will address key areas in simulation design to increase rigor, enhance assessment, and leverage data triangulation to turn your innovative teaching into publishable science. Through interactive case studies and collaborative discussion, you will learn to refine your research questions and design effective studies, navigating the ethical considerations unique to clinical simulation. This presentation will focus on tools to not only enhance student learning but also to contribute meaningfully to the broader body of educational research.

Learning Objectives:
  • Outline a research study that uses simulation-based pedagogy.
  • Identify at least three strategies to enhance the rigor and validity of their simulation-based research.
  • Identify and explain the unique research design considerations required for SoTL studies utilizing clinical simulation.

Voices That Matter: Elevating Excellence in Interprofessional Geriatric Training for SLPs (0.15 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions F (1 PM - 2:30 PM)

Location
Mineral F-G
Speakers
  • Holly Kleiber - Director of SLP Clinical Education; Clinical Assistant Professor
    Holly Kleiber, SLPD, CCC-SLP, is a Clinical Assistant Professor and the Director of SLP Clinical Education at the University of Colorado Boulder, specializing in acquired adult neurogenic cognitive-linguistic disorders. She supervises and provides professional mentoring to graduate students in the MA SLP program. Before joining the faculty at CU Boulder, she worked with adults in the hospital setting for nearly a decade.
  • Cari Levy - Division Head of Geriatric Medicine
    Cari Levy, MD, PhD, is a tenured Professor of Medicine in the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado where she serves as Division Head for Geriatric Medicine and Director of the Multidisciplinary Center on Aging. She maintains active board specialty certification in Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Geriatric Medicine. She also serves as the National Director for Palliative and Hospice Care for the Veterans Health Administration.
  • Julie Maertens - GeriCare EveryWhere Program Manager
    Julie Maertens, PhD, is a program manager in the Division of Geriatrics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (CUAMC), where she has helped develop and administer a graduate certificate program in Multidisciplinary Geriatrics (GeriCare EveryWhere). This program provides training to health professions graduate students across 9 disciplines with the goal of expanding the number of clinicians with professional Geriatrics education to meet growing healthcare needs among older Coloradoans.
  • Jodi Waterhouse - Director, Strategic Partnerships & Programs
    Jodi Waterhouse, MHA, currently serves as the Director of Strategic Partnerships & Programs at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus’s Multidisciplinary Center on Aging (MCoA). Since joining in 2019, Jodi has been instrumental in driving forward initiatives that enhance the lives of older adults through education, policy, and community engagement.
Summary
An aging baby-boomer generation and longer life expectancy is leading to a growing aging population in the United States, and the demand for healthcare services is forecasted to exceed supply of providers. One strategy to meet this need is to ensure interprofessional education opportunities are available for health professions students focused on geriatric care. This presentation will describe a Multidisciplinary Geriatrics Certificate Program created in the state of Colorado. Attendees will learn how the 5Ms of geriatric care are integrated into curriculum for students in 10 health professions, supplemented with opportunities for clinical observations of other health professionals working with geriatric clients. Program evaluation and trainee outcomes will be shared, along with specific information on funding, barriers and facilitators to success, and sustainability.

Learning Objectives:
  • Discuss factors that influence the need to provide interprofessional educational experiences specific to the geriatric population.
  • Explain program and student outcomes for an interdisciplinary geriatric training program for health professions trainees.
  • Create a plan for how you will incorporate elements of interprofessional geriatric training into your academic program.

Project Management Strategies for Academic Leaders (0.15 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions F (1 PM - 2:30 PM)

Location
Centennial F
Speakers
  • Katie Linder - Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Innovation and Strategy
    Dr. Katie Linder serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Innovation and Strategy at the University of Colorado Denver. Katie is also a Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation and a Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance. She holds a PMP credential from the Project Management Institute and is a Certified Change Practitioner through Prosci.
Summary
In the midst of constant demands and shifting priorities, academic leaders need tools to bring structure and focus to their work—and to the work of their teams. This session introduces accessible project management strategies tailored for department chairs, clinical directors, and faculty navigating complex academic environments. Learn more about how to define clear deliverables, create visual timelines, manage team workloads, and avoid common pitfalls like scope creep. Whether you’re managing a curriculum redesign, clinical initiative, or accreditation process, this session will offer immediately applicable tools to bring more clarity and coordination to your projects.

Learning Objectives:
  • Define clear and measurable project deliverables that align with institutional goals.
  • Utilize visual planning tools—such as timelines and workload charts—to coordinate tasks and resources effectively.
  • Identify and prevent common project pitfalls, including scope creep, unclear roles, and unrealistic timelines.

Grand Rounds in CDS: One Program’s Proven Method for Scaffolding Student Success (0.15 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions F (1 PM - 2:30 PM)

Location
Centennial G
Speakers
  • Nichole Mulvey - Professor & Graduate Coordinator
    Nichole Mulvey, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a professor in the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences at Eastern Illinois University. She is the graduate coordinator and teaches graduate courses in language disorders as well as the educationally based graduate capstone course. Her research interests include social communication and language development, language and narrative sampling, and school-based issues.
  • Lynne Cameron - Assistant Professor
    Lynne Cameron, PhD, MS, CCC-SLP, is an assistant professor at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. She currently teaches dysphagia, voice, professional regulations and issues, and grand rounds. Lynne has a background in the medical setting and has experience in acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient neuro and voice, and skilled nursing. She is passionate about preparing students to provide quality care to patients across medical settings and situations.
Summary
Take a deep dive into Eastern Illinois University’s Grand Rounds course that has proven essential in scaffolding student success on the Praxis and in clinical practice within the ever-changing landscape of speech-language pathology. Rooted in constructivism and experiential learning, this course offers students an opportunity to strengthen their mental frameworks to bridge the gap between coursework and practice. Assignments and reflection are designed to reveal breakdowns in knowledge and clinical reasoning that can be addressed prior to students taking the Praxis and participating in internships. Teaching strategies as well as sample assignments with accompanying grading rubric and instructor feedback to students, test questions, simulations, and reflections will be provided as a model for any programs seeking to integrate a similar capstone course into their program.

Learning Objectives:
  • Develop assignments and evaluations to reveal and remediate gaps in graduate students' clinical reasoning.
  • Utilize grading methods that are effective and efficient for developing graduate students' clinical reasoning.
  • List teaching strategies that have proven successful in preparing graduate students for the Praxis and internships.

Student Recruitment to Our Professions in the Changing Higher Education Landscape (0.15 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions F (1 PM - 2:30 PM)

Location
Centennial H
Speakers
  • Arnold Olszewski - Graduate Director, Associate Professor
    Arnold (A.J.) Olszewski, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an associate professor and graduate director in the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA. He currently serves on the CAPCSD admissions committee. His research interests include development and evaluation of early literacy interventions, specifically focusing on phonological awareness, alphabet knowledge, and vocabulary.
  • Douglas Parham - Chair, Program Director & Professor
    Douglas F. Parham, PhD, CCC-SLP, is the Chair, Program Director, and Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Wichita State University. He serves as the Vice President of Admissions for CAPCSD and is a Site Visitor for ASHA's CAA. His research interests include infant vocalization, speech breathing, typical and atypical speech-language development, physiological instrumentation, and conversational interaction.
Summary
This facilitated session provides an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss successes, challenges, and goals regarding recruitment of students to the CSD professions in the changing higher education landscape. Topics will include increasing awareness and engagement with the professions, meeting the needs of diverse students/advisees, and strategies for recruiting students from outside the traditional CSD degree pathway to each graduate profession. This discussion-based event will promote creative problem-solving, brainstorming, and sharing among attendees, with the goal of fostering dialogue among the broader student recruitment and advising space.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify current student recruitment challenges and successes.
  • Identify the diversity of advising needs for undergraduates and prospective students from other fields, and discuss strategies that have been successful with these groups.
  • Develop strategies to increase high-schooler and undergraduates’ awareness and engagement with the professions.
  • Discuss/identify innovative or novel recruitment strategies.

Reaching the Summit through Team-based Learning (0.15 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions F (1 PM - 2:30 PM)

Location
Capitol 1
Speakers
  • Suzanne Moineau - Professor & Associate Chair
    Dr. Suzanne Moineau is the founding faculty member of the Department of SLP at CSUSM where she has served as Chair, MS Program Director and lead faculty in her main area of specialization in adult neurogenic communication and swallowing disorders. She has a special interest in the scholarship of teaching and learning and innovative instruction.
  • Alison Scheer-Cohen - Professor & Department Chair
    Dr. Alison Scheer-Cohen, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a Professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at California State University San Marcos. Dr. Scheer-Cohen worked as a speech-language pathologist in the hospital setting and private practice. She was an instructor, clinical educator, and researcher at multiple academic institutions. Her primary professional interests include teaching and learning and accreditation. Research interests include the speech of children with low-incidence disorders and typical speech acquisition.
Summary
Team-Based Learning (TBL) offers a structured, evidence-based approach to active learning that aligns well with the clinical reasoning and collaboration required in speech-language pathology. In graduate SLP education, TBL promotes deeper understanding of complex concepts through individual accountability, peer discussion, and real-world application. By shifting the instructor role from content deliverer to facilitator, TBL fosters clinical decision-making, ethical reasoning, and interprofessional communication which are core competencies in SLP practice. The use of readiness assurance and problem-solving tasks mirrors diagnostic and therapeutic scenarios, preparing students for professional roles. TBL has been especially effective in bridging theory and practice, supporting long-term retention and student engagement in both in-person and hybrid instructional formats.

Learning Objectives:
  • Explain the core contents and structure of team-based learning.
  • Evaluate the advantages and challenges of implementing team-based learning in speech-language pathology coursework.
  • Develop a plan for integrating a team-based learning module into an existing speech-language pathology course.

Teaching for Inclusion and Equity in Communication Sciences and Disorders (0.15 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions F (1 PM - 2:30 PM)

Location
Capitol 2
Speakers
  • Charlie Lunaris - Assistant Professor
    Dr. Charlie Lunaris (they/them), PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Northern Colorado.
  • Kim Murza - Professor
    Kim Murza, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a Professor and Graduate Coordinator in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Northern Colorado, specializing in language and school-based issues. She previously served as Associate Dean of Research and Faculty Affairs in the College of Natural and Health Sciences. She currently serves on the CAPCSD Academic Affairs Committee and ASHA's Committee on Clinical Research, Implementation Science, and Evidence-Based Practice.
Summary
Responsive teaching practices require professionals to reimagine traditional teaching resources, methods, and formats to best meet the needs of future clinicians in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD). This presentation will integrate what the authors have learned through educational programs such as the TIE (teaching for inclusion and equity) at the University of Northern Colorado into their CSD courses. Attendees will learn about updated pedagogical practices such as equitable policies (e.g., grading, attendance, and participation policies), alternative teaching formats (e.g., team-based and case-based learning), and equitable teaching resources (e.g., open educational resources and online texts). Attendees will also learn how the authors revised their current CSD courses through practical and achievable goals that positively impact student learning and engagement.

Learning Objectives:
  • List three updated teaching practices that bolster equitable teaching practices within their classrooms.
  • Identify three areas in how to revise current syllabi and/or assessment tools.
  • List three ways to access free and open access resources to supplement their CSD courses.

Supporting Au.D. Students Through the Externship Journey: Practical Tools, Emerging Challenges, and Future Directions (0.15 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions F (1 PM - 2:30 PM)

Location
Capitol 3
Speakers
  • Madison Howe - Assistant Professor; Audiology Clinical Education Director; LEND Discipline Coordinator
    Madison Howe, AuD, CCC-A, CH-AP, is Director of Clinical Education for the Doctor of Audiology Program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). She also serves as Audiology Discipline Coordinator for Arkansas LEND, Director of Communications for SENTAC, chair of ASHA’s Multicultural Issues Board, and member of the Praxis National Advisory Council. She is passionate about training future pediatric audiologists and guiding students toward success.
Summary
The externship year represents a pivotal milestone in the Au.D. student experience, yet navigating this process can be complex for both students and programs. This session will share practical strategies for preparing students with polished resumes and cover letters, effective interview skills, and approaches for programs to address challenges that emerge during the externship process. Drawing on recent feedback from both programs and sites, we will examine current practices, identify common barriers, and highlight opportunities to streamline externship preparation and placement. Additionally, we will explore how artificial intelligence tools can be leveraged for application materials, interview coaching, and process tracking. Attendees will leave with actionable resources to enhance student support and foster stronger partnerships between academic programs and externship sites.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify effective strategies to prepare Au.D. students for externship applications, including resume, cover letter, and interview preparation.
  • Summarize common challenges students face during the externship process and approaches Au.D. programs can use to navigate and address these issues.
  • Discuss potential applications of artificial intelligence and technology to support student preparation, interview coaching, and process management.

Not Attending a Session During This Time Slot (S13)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions F (1 PM - 2:30 PM)

Beyond Implementation: Advanced Exploration of IPE Outcomes, Trends, and Sustainability in CSD (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions G (3:00 - 4:00 PM)

Location
Mineral B-C
Speakers
  • Jennine Harvey Northrop - Associate Professor
    Jennine Harvey-Northrop, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor at Illinois State University in the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders. She conducts research in cognitive aging, cognitive and language interventions, dual-task, speech in noise, virtual reality for rehabilitation, interprofessional practice, and scholarship of teaching and learning.
Summary
This presentation offers an advanced exploration of Interprofessional Education (IPE) within Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) programs, focusing on long-term outcomes beyond initial implementation. Long-term outcomes of Interprofessional Education (IPE), current implementation trends, longitudinal assessment models, and strategies for overcoming barriers and ensuring sustainability will be examined through case-based examples. Utilizing ASHA’s 10-year IPE/IPP data and established models such as simulation-based learning, participants will analyze how IPE impacts student competencies and preparation for clinical practice. Through interactive activities and discussion, attendees will evaluate IPE model implementation approaches and develop sustainability mapping tailored to their institutional contexts. This session will equip participants with tools to enhance IPE integration, align it with accreditation standards and workforce demands, and adapt to evolving interprofessional education models.

Learning Objectives:
  • Analyze long-term outcomes of IPE in CSD programs, including impacts on student competencies.
  • Evaluate current trends in IPE implementation across speech-language pathology and audiology education.
  • Create mapping for sustainability factors within their own institutional context to inform strategic planning.

Ready for the "Real World:" Using Simulation to Teach the Untaught Skills (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions G (3:00 - 4:00 PM)

Location
Mineral D-E
Speakers
  • Amanda Stead - Professor, Interim Director
    Amanda Stead is the Interim Director and a professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders. She is also the coordinator of the school's simulation program and is credentialed as a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE). It is her personal goal to educate students and the community about the vital role speech-language pathologists play in the care of patients with dementia and in end-of-life care.
Summary
Clinical simulation offers a powerful medium for developing essential workplace competencies beyond discipline-specific skills. This presentation explores strategies for leveraging simulation to teach and assess critical soft skills, such as clinical and 'professional.' By clearly communicating expectations and providing practice opportunities, students can better develop skills that are often assumed but rarely taught. Through case-based examples, attendees will learn how to design simulation experiences that not only reinforce CSD-specific knowledge but also prepare students to meet workplace expectations for 'professionalism', communication, and effective collaboration.

Learning Objectives:
  • Design a clinical simulation scenario that specifically targets the development and assessment of 'soft skills.'
  • Create a rubric or checklist for a given simulation scenario that clearly defines and measures student performance on key 'professional' competencies.
  • Identify and apply practical strategies for teaching and reinforcing 'professionalism' in a simulated environment.

Elevating Excellence with ASHA's Competency Frameworks for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions G (3:00 - 4:00 PM)

Location
Mineral F-G
Speakers
  • Donna Smiley - Chief Staff Officer for Audiology
    Donna Smiley, PhD, CCC-A, ASHA Fellow, is the Chief Staff Officer for Audiology at ASHA. She liaises with the staff who oversee ASHA’s Audiology Professional Practices Unit, Certification, Accreditation, and Ethics.
  • Todd Philbrick - Chief Certification Officer
    Todd Philbrick, CAE, ICE-CCP is ASHA's Chief Certification Officer and Ex Officio to the CFCC. Todd has over 20 years of healthcare certification and regulation experience and is a past Chair of the Institute of Credentialing Excellence's Board of Directors.
Summary
A competency model defines what professionals in a specific field do and the skills, knowledge, and attributes they need to perform effectively at different levels — from entry-level roles to advanced and specialized expertise. The use of competency frameworks will drive the future of professional growth, ensuring that audiologists and speech-language pathologists are equipped with the skills and expertise needed for success in an evolving professional landscape. In this session participants will examine the two core competency frameworks – one for audiology and one for speech-language pathology – that were completed at the end of 2025. The potential application of these frameworks for educational programs and professional preparation will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:
  • Summarize the relevance and application of a competency framework model.
  • Construct academic course materials utilizing the ASHA competency framework models.
  • Adapt the ASHA competency framework models into clinical education measures for AUD and SLP students.

Beyond the Ladder: Navigating Career Transitions in Higher Education (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions G (3:00 - 4:00 PM)

Location
Centennial F
Speakers
  • Katie Linder - Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Innovation and Strategy
    Dr. Katie Linder serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Innovation and Strategy at the University of Colorado Denver. Katie is also a Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation and a Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance. She holds a PMP credential from the Project Management Institute and is a Certified Change Practitioner through Prosci.
Summary
In higher education, careers rarely follow a straight path. They twist, turn, and sometimes leap sideways—creating more of a climbing wall than a linear ladder. This session will explore strategies for navigating career transitions and new roles, the critical differences between sponsors and mentors, and how to recognize and pursue alternative career paths. Participants will leave with practical tools to chart their own unique trajectory while building the relationships and skills that open unexpected doors.

Learning Objectives:
  • Contrast roles of mentors and sponsors and identify when each can support career advancement.
  • Apply strategies for navigating role changes and transitions in higher education, including lateral and nontraditional moves.
  • Evaluate alternative career paths within and beyond traditional academic structures.

Solution Focused Dialogue: Clinical Site Relations (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions G (3:00 - 4:00 PM)

Location
Centennial G
Speakers
  • Lori-Ann Ferraro - Associate Professor
    Lori-Ann Ferraro, PhD, CCC-SLP, is currently a faculty member and the Director of Clinical Education at the Medical University of South Carolina. She began her career in a public school and then transitioned to practice in an outpatient rehabilitation center affiliated with a large academic medical center where she provided clinical services, coordinated outpatient speech-language pathology services, and supervised many graduate students, which ignited her passion for clinical education.
  • Katie Russell - Audiology Program Director and Director of Clinical Education
    Katherine (Katie) Russell, AuD, MBA, CCC-A, BCPA, Associate Professor, is the Program Director and Director of Clinical Education for the Audiology program at the University of Cincinnati. Her professional experience includes working in a clinical hospital setting, in the primary education setting as an educational audiologist, and in higher education. She has clinically supervised students for 15 years and coordinated student placements for 9 years.
Summary
This interactive dialogue session is designed for clinical educators in audiology and speech-language pathology who are actively engaged in building and sustaining effective clinical site relations. Strong partnerships between clinical sites and academic programs are essential for student success, supervisor satisfaction, and high-quality clinical education.
Using a solution-focused dialogue framework, this session invites participants into a collaborative conversation specifically centered on enhancing clinical site relations. Through whole-group synthesis, attendees will explore what contributes to strong partnerships, identify strengths within their current relationships, and generate practical strategies for improving communication, alignment, and mutual support between universities and clinical sites.
Real scenarios from audiology and SLP participants will ground the discussion, allowing participants to co-construct actionable, future-focused approaches to strengthening clinical site relations.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify key strengths and existing successful practices within their current clinical site relations.
  • Analyze common challenges and communication barriers that impact partnerships between academic programs and clinical sites.
  • Develop actionable, future-oriented strategies to strengthen and sustain effective clinical site relations in audiology and speech-language pathology settings.

Pre-Admissions Predictors of Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Students’ Academic and Clinical Outcomes (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions G (3:00 - 4:00 PM)

Location
Centennial H
Speakers
  • Reva Zimmerman - Assistant Professor
    Reva M. Zimmerman, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an assistant professor and the Graduate Program Coordinator in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Her research area of expertise is aphasia and cognition, with developing lines of research in stroke preparedness, issues related to diversity, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. Dr. Zimmerman's clinical expertise is in adult acquired language, cognitive, and swallowing disorders.
  • Sarah Moreau - Director of Clinical Education
    Sarah Moreau, MA, CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education at West Chester University. Her work centers on fostering clinical excellence and mentoring graduate students toward confidence, competence, and compassionate practice. She is committed to understanding the factors that shape student success and to creating meaningful learning experiences that prepare future clinicians for effective, reflective practice.
  • Sojung Kim - Professor and Chairperson
    Sojung Kim, PhD, CCC-SLP, Chairperson and Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders West Chester University Sojung Kim is a faculty member in Communication Sciences and Disorders at West Chester University whose teaching and research expertise includes augmentative and alternative communication, scholarship of teaching and learning, qualitative and quantitative analyses, and virtual reality as a learning platform.
  • Elizabeth Grillo - Professor
    Elizabeth U. Grillo, PhD, CCC-SLP, CHSE, EMT, is a professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at West Chester University specializing in voice, medical speech-language pathology, interprofessional education, and simulation. Her NIH-funded research focuses on voice therapy efficacy, telepractice, and mobile apps. She is a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator, Estill Master Trainer, and ASHA Fellow. From 2023-2025, she served as Editor of ASHA’s SIG 18 Perspectives.
  • Timothy Huang - Associate Professor
    Timothy Huang is an associate professor in Communication Sciences and Disorders at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. His research focuses on child language and teaching with AI in higher education.
  • Patricia Washington - Associate Professor
    Patricia Swasey Washington, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an associate professor in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department at West Chester University (WCU). Her research areas include bilingual speech/language development and disorders, cultural and linguistic diversity, and interprofessional education and practice. She is the Founder and Director of the Bilingual Course Sequence (BECS) and Communication Sciences and Disorders Study Abroad in Costa Rica program at WCU.
Summary
This research addresses gaps in graduate admissions for speech-language pathology. While undergraduate GPA predicts academic success, it fails to predict clinical competence. Our study introduces a novel, equity-focused framework examining multiple predictors simultaneously using a robust sample (n=141). We eliminate the GRE and instead use hours of employment, service, and leadership experience, and undergraduate grades as predictors of academic and clinical course GPAs. This methodology addresses limitations where 'clinical success' definitions varied across studies. Expected contributions include validation of holistic admissions metrics and development of a more inclusive, evidence-based selection model. Findings will directly inform admissions practices, offering practical guidance for program administrators. Discussion will engage audiences through interactive examination of implementation strategies, addressing questions about methodology, and exploring applications across diverse clinical programs.

Learning Objectives:
  • Analyze the limitations of traditional graduate admissions metrics (GPA, GRE) in predicting clinical competence.
  • Evaluate the methodology for quantifying work, service, and leadership experiences by hours and assess how CALIPSO clinical performance data can inform admissions decisions in their own programs.
  • Apply equity-focused admissions framework principles to develop more inclusive selection processes that recognize diverse student backgrounds and non-traditional experiences in clinical allied health programs.

Transforming Graduate Preparation: Advancing Lifespan-inclusive CSD Education (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions G (3:00 - 4:00 PM)

Location
Capitol 1
Speakers
  • Kristin Nellenbach - Adjunct Assistant Professor
    Kristin Nellenbach, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders in the College of Applied and Natural Sciences at Louisiana Tech University. Her areas of research interests include literacy development and disorders in youth 12-24 years of age and older adults with a special focus on assessment of reading comprehension.
  • Carrie Knight - Associate Professor
    Carrie Knight, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Louisiana Tech University. Her areas of research interests include literacy development and disorders in youth and young adults 16 to 26 years of age with a special focus on writing skills.
  • Jacob Barbosa - Graduate Student
    Jacob J. Barbosa, B.A., is a first-year graduate student at Louisiana Tech University. Jacob is a member of NSSLHA. He completed this research project as an undergraduate at Louisiana Tech University.
Summary
Adolescence is overlooked as a distinct developmental phase in CSD graduate programs. Because language in curricula shapes how developmental stages are framed and valued, the omission/underemphasis of adolescents from instructional language risks their continued neglect in professional training. The purpose of this presentation is to share findings from two systematic reviews investigating how adolescents are positioned or excluded in professional training programs listed in ASHA EdFind. We analyzed course titles, descriptions, and instructional hours related to language development, disorders, and adolescent representation. Findings revealed a striking lack of adolescent-specific courses, minimal explicit references, and a disproportionate emphasis on young children. Persistent underrepresentation reflects a critical gap and we encourage faculty to elevate excellence by reimagining curricula and preparing future clinicians to deliver lifespan-inclusive care.

Learning Objectives:
  • Analyze how curricular language and content choices impact the perceived importance of adolescent development and disorders in professional training.
  • Evaluate how the distribution of course information and instructional hours across age groups impacts clinical competence and equitable service delivery.
  • Apply lifespan-inclusive care by reimagining CSD curricula to integrate adolescence as a distinct developmental stage, enhancing inclusivity, relevance, and responsiveness.

UGH, No More: Practical AI Strategies for CSD Academics (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions G (3:00 - 4:00 PM)

Location
Capitol 2
Speakers
  • Colleen Visconti - Professor & Program Director
    Colleen F. Visconti, PhD, CCC-SLP, is Professor/Program Director of Speech-Language Pathology at Baldwin Wallace University. She is the Editor and co-founder of Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders; co-author of Evidence-Based Education in the Classroom: Examples from Clinical Disciplines; and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology: Evidence-Based Education. Her research focuses on service-oriented study abroad, peer review and peer mentoring, and evidence-based educational practices.
  • Patrick Walden - Associate Professor & Chair of SLP
    Patrick R. Walden, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor, Chair, and Program Director of the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ. He is a nationally certified Speech-Language Pathologist with research interests in disorders of voice and speech in adults, learning theory, and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL).
  • Joann Benigno - Associate Professor & Chair
    Joann P. Benigno, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor and the Chair of Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences at Ohio University. Research interests include examining the links between social cognition, language, and cognitive abilities in children with and without communication disorders. Teaching interests include child language development and disorders. Scholarship of teaching and learning foci involve training students to work with autistic children and their families through community outreach programming.
  • Jennifer Friberg-Fort - Cross Endowed Chair in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Professor of CSD
    ​​Jennifer Friberg-Fort is the Director of Scholarly Teaching and Cross Endowed Chair in SoTL at Illinois State University. There, she also serves as a professor of communication sciences and disorders. She is the co-editor of two recent volumes: Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences and Disorders (2024) and Evidence-Based Education in the Classroom: Examples from Clinical Disciplines (2022). Friberg is a founding editorial board member of TLCSD. ​
Summary
The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) is increasing across higher education. This interactive presentation will provide real-world ideas for using AI to assist in the development of course content, assignments, and rubrics, as well as in managing aspects of your program. The panel will discuss various AI platforms, ethical aspects of using AI, and real-world examples of how these platforms can be leveraged to help us work smarter, not harder. Informed by the Revised AI Assessment Scale (Perkins et al., 2024), the discussion will include ideas on creating effective prompts, considerations in choosing an AI platform for the questions being posed, types of output that can be generated (i.e., assignments, rubrics, images, slides, email responses, letters) along with pros and cons of using AI.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify three AI platforms that faculty can leverage to aid student learning and program management.
  • Identify three ways to use AI in your academic setting and relate these ways to the Revised AI Assessment Scale presented.
  • Summarize the ethical aspects of using AI in teaching and learning.

Threading the Access Needle: Supporting Disability Inclusion in Communication Sciences and Disorders Programs (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions G (3:00 - 4:00 PM)

Location
Capitol 3
Speakers
  • Madhu Sundarrajan - Associate Professor & Department Chair
    Madhu Sundarrajan (she/her), PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor and the Department Chair of Speech-Language Pathology at the University of the Pacific. She has focused her research and teaching on speech and language development with the aim to understand complex developing systems (as in the case of bilingual children, autistic children and Deaf/Hard of Hearing children). She is passionate about promoting and teaching students about neurodiversity-affirming and culturally responsive practices.
  • Daniel Nuss - Director of Disability Services
    Daniel Nuss is the Director of Disability Services for the Sacramento campus at University of the Pacific and has more than twenty years of experience as a disability services provider in higher education. Daniel has a background in communications and is completing a Doctor of Health Sciences degree in December 2025.
Summary
Communication Sciences and Disorders programs have made tremendous strides in supporting differently abled students, especially in their didactic experiences. However, guidance, and practical implementation of reasonable accommodations can be difficult for the varied clinical experiences. In this interactive session, participants will discuss current practices in supporting students in clinical experiences. We will then consider best practices, shared responsibility frameworks and areas of change through micro lectures, and collaborative brainstorming activities. Finally, we will apply this knowledge to various case studies and evaluate benefits and potential pitfalls. Overall, this session will provide the participants with clear guidance to support students in both didactic and clinical experiences.

Learning Objectives:
  • Contrast deficit-based views of learning with inclusive and asset-based mindsets and its impact on success of differently abled students in CSD.
  • Identify common barriers to success for college students with different abilities and discuss reasonable accommodations in clinical experiences.
  • Summarize inclusive strategies and shared responsibility frameworks that support the success of students in didactic and clinical courses.

Not Attending a Session During This Time Slot (S14)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions G (3:00 - 4:00 PM)

Current Challenges for PhD Programs (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions H (4:15 - 5:15 PM)

Location
Mineral B-C
Speakers
  • Colleen Le Prell - Professor & Department Head
    Dr. Colleen Le Prell is the Emilie and Phil Schepps Distinguished Professor of Hearing Science at the University of Texas at Dallas. She serves as Head of the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing, and Faculty Director for the UTD Clinical and Translational Research Center. Current research programs in her laboratory include translational research programs directed at prevention of noise-induced hearing loss.
Summary
There are many challenges for PhD programs that train students in the Speech, Language, and Hearing Science disciplines. Recruitment of and funding for PhD students are ongoing challenges, particularly when students pursue both clinical and scientific credentials, extending program durations. We need to grow the number of clinician scientists to enable scientific advances, train students, and assure faculty sufficiency. However, the potential for changes in government funding for research and associated costs of research create uncertainties for students considering PhD program applications as well as hiring bodies. Other ongoing topics of discussion include the role of standardized testing in admissions and the use of generative AI in comprehensive exams and dissertations. Attendees are invited to learn about and discuss challenges associated with PhD programs.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify recruitment strategies that may attract applicants to your PhD program.
  • List reasons for use of standardized testing in admissions, and reasons to discontinue use of standardized testing in admissions.
  • Discuss the impact of uncertainties in the federal funding landscape with peers and colleagues.

Not Attending a Session During This Time Slot (S15)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions H (4:15 - 5:15 PM)

"Did I Make it Weird?": Pedagogy for Difficult Topics (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions H (4:15 - 5:15 PM)

Location
Mineral D-E
Speakers
  • Laura Wolford - Assistant Professor
    Laura Wolford, PhD, MS, CCC-SLP, CSE, is an Assistant Professor at MGH Institute of Health Professions and director of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Center. She teaches courses on clinical supervision, counseling, and the scholarship of teaching and learning through a social justice lens. As director of the TASSEL (Teaching and Supporting Student Experience in Learning) lab, Dr. Wolford promotes mixed-methods of improving the student experience.
Summary
Teaching challenging and sensitive topics in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) requires balancing rigor, compassion, and inclusivity. We will explore educational approaches to navigating awkward, challenging, or potentially triggering topics in coursework, such as sexual health, religion, and end-of-life care. Participants will consider strategies for creating supportive learning environments while engaging students in difficult but essential conversations. We will lean into the tensions inherent in encouraging student growth while also promoting their wellbeing.

Learning Objectives:
  • Summarize key challenges and sensitivities in teaching difficult topics within CSD.
  • Identify trauma-informed and culturally responsive strategies for fostering emotionally-supportive learning environments.
  • Discuss the tensions inherent in creating environments that encourage students to expend their knowledge while also promoting emotional wellbeing.

Reflect, Regulate, & Reframe: Tools to Elevate Excellence in Your Curriculum (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions H (4:15 - 5:15 PM)

Location
Mineral F-G
Speakers
  • Carrie Axt - Assistant Professor
    Dr. Carrie Axt is an Assistant Professor and Clinical Educator in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND. With broad clinical experience in medical and educational settings, she brings an integrative perspective to her teaching and scholarship. Her work focuses on developing reflective, competent clinicians prepared for today’s complex practice environments. Her current research examines simulation-based learning, competency development, and reflective practice in health professions education.
  • Robyn Zeltinger - Department Chair, Associate Professor
    Robyn L. Zeltinger, PhD, MS/CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor and Program Chair of Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND. With over a decade in higher education, she teaches courses on speech sound disorders, autism, research methods, and professional issues. Dr. Zeltinger has led program development, accreditation, and strategic planning. She serves the profession through appointments to the ND State Licensing Board for SLPs and AuDs.
Summary
Reflective thinking is essential for preparing student clinicians to meet the complexities of professional practice. Yet as instructors and supervisors, how do we encourage deeper and more transformative reflection for learning? This session examines how structured debriefing conversations can foster reflection across classroom, simulation, and clinical contexts. Findings from a recent qualitative study of graduate SLP students showed that structured debriefing enhanced reflective depth and supported key shifts in emotional regulation, perspective-taking, and professional identity development. Attendees will participate in a guided reflective exercise to experience debriefing strategies first-hand. Practical methods for embedding structured debriefing in coursework, clinical teaching, and supervision will be shared, along with tools for assessing reflective thinking. Participants will leave with evidence-based strategies to support the formation of reflective, practice-ready clinicians.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe the role of structured debriefing in fostering reflective thinking and professional identity development in graduate SLP education.
  • Identify strategies and tools for integrating reflection into teaching, supervision, and curriculum design.
  • Integrate principles of evidence-based debriefing practices to foster reflective learning across coursework, simulation, and clinical teaching.

Structured Peer Feedback: Supporting Clinical Skill Development in Graduate SLP Education (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions H (4:15 - 5:15 PM)

Location
Centennial F
Speakers
  • David Rehfeld - Assistant Professor
    Dr. David Rehfeld, BCBA, CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders within the School of Health Sciences at Kansas State University. His teaching and research focus on advancing clinical education through simulation-based learning, professional identity formation, and interprofessional education in speech-language pathology. Dr. Rehfeld’s scholarship emphasizes the integration of reflective practice, evidence-based decision-making, and values-driven clinical training to prepare students for collaborative, person-centered care.
  • Ashlyn Bruns - Graduate Student
  • Lakota Persing - Undergraduate Student
    Lakota Persing, Undergradute CSD Studtent, Kansas State University. Lakota is from Hugoton, Kansas and is currently a student at Kansas State University studying Communication Sciences and Disorders. She is involved in Blue Key Senior Honorary, Snyder Leadership Legacy Fellows, Student Alumni Board, Student Foundation, Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, Kansas State Student Speech Language Hearing Association, Tri-Alpha Honor Society, KSU Homecoming Committee, and Collegiate 4-H.
Summary
We examined the effects of a structured peer feedback intervention on graduate speech-language pathology (SLP) students’ clinical skill implementation accuracy as an adjunct to traditional supervision. Using a single-case multiple baseline across participants design, we found immediate improvements in performance accuracy for most students following intervention onset. Qualitative reflections revealed that structural supports, peer dynamics, and scaffolded expectations shaped how students engaged with and benefited from feedback. Integration of quantitative and qualitative findings underscored peer feedback as a promising, scalable tool for reducing supervisory burden while enhancing learner reflection and self-regulation. This work supports best practices in clinical education by illustrating how structured peer mechanisms can strengthen feedback processes and support graduate student success in clinical training. Implications for supporting clinical educators will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:
  • Analyze how structured peer feedback interventions influence graduate students’ clinical skill development.
  • Evaluate the role of scaffolded supports and peer assignment in shaping the quality and effectiveness of peer feedback.
  • Design strategies for integrating structured peer feedback into clinical education to supplement supervisory input and promote learner success.>/li>

Strengthening Learning Outcomes through Collaboration: IPE and Service Learning as Educational Models (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions H (4:15 - 5:15 PM)

Location
Centennial G
Speakers
  • Lisa Bowers - Associate Professor; Director, Service Learning Initiative
    Lisa Bowers, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Program at the University of Arkansas. Her research focuses on best practices in Interprofessional Education and Practice within educational settings. She also serves as Director of the Service Learning Initiative, a campuswide effort that expands service learning opportunities for students while strengthening the university’s partnerships and impact in the community.
  • Valeria Matlock - Associate Professor
    Valeria R. Matlock, EdD, CCC-A, is an associate professor in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Matlock currently serves as Director of Clinical Education – SLP and Student Community Engagement. Her current focus areas are SOTL, counseling, hearing healthcare disparities, and IPE/IPP. Prior to returning to Vanderbilt in 2022, Dr. Matlock was a professor/clinical audiologist at Tennessee State University for 26 years.
  • Sarai Granados - Assistant Professor of Practice
    Sarai Granados, MS, CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor of Practice for the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (SLHS) at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC). Academically, her primary role is to teach didactic courses within the undergraduate Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences program. Professor Granados also supervises graduate students within the TTUHSC SLHS Clinic. Her main clinical focus is assessment and treatment of pediatric feeding disorders.
Summary
Student learning outcomes can be strengthened through intentional use of educational models that foster collaboration and community engagement. This session highlights Interprofessional Education (IPE), Service Learning, and Interprofessional Service Learning (IPSL) as complementary approaches to professional preparation. Presenters will demonstrate how these models promote collaborative practice while addressing community needs. Using the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) competencies, participants will discuss strategies for integrating IPE, Service Learning, and IPSL into coursework and clinical experiences to enhance competence, reflective practice, and cultural understanding. Examples will illustrate the positive impact of these models on student-learning, attitudes, and cultural humility. Attendees will develop an actionable plan to implement or expand one or more models in alignment with program goals and community partnerships.

Learning Objectives:
  • Illustrate how Interprofessional Education (IPE), Service Learning, and Interprofessional Service Learning (IPSL) are effective educational models in professional preparation.
  • Analyze strategies for integrating IPE, Service Learning, and IPSL into academic coursework and clinical experiences to enhance student competence and achieve learning outcomes aligned with the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) competencies.
  • Outline key steps for implementing or expanding IPE, Service Learning, and IPSL in alignment with program goals and community needs.

Master Adaptive Learner Framework for AI Literacy in CSD Programs (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions H (4:15 - 5:15 PM)

Location
Centennial H
Speakers
  • Melissa Randazzo - Academic Officer, Speech-Language Pathology
    Melissa Randazzo, PhD, CCC-SLP, is the Academic Officer for Speech Language Pathology at Evidence in Motion where she directs the development of hybrid accelerated graduate programs. Dr. Randazzo is a cognitive neuroscientist, SoTL researcher, and faculty developer who is passionate about expanding access and diversity in graduate healthcare programs through online education.
  • Reem Khamis-Dakwar - Academic Program Director
    Reem Khamis, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a Professor in the CSD Program at Long Island University, Brooklyn, Director of the Culture, Language, and Society in SLP (CLaS in SLP) Lab, holding Professor Emeritus status at Adelphi University. Her expertise lies in language development, processing, and clinical practices, in diverse sociolinguistic contexts. A founding member of the SLHS Human Rights and Translanguaging Collective and cofounder of the JCSCD journal.
Summary
Artificial intelligence is transforming clinical practice and education. Just as information literacy was woven into higher education to help students evaluate sources and adapt to an information-rich world, CSD programs must now prepare students to use AI responsibly to develop skills in clinical reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving. This session introduces the Master Adaptive Learner (MAL) framework as a guide for designing learning objectives that help students critically evaluate and apply AI. Drawing lessons from the integration of information and digital literacy in higher education, we highlight parallels, controversies, and strategies that inform the incorporation of AI literacy into CSD curricula. Participants will draft AI-focused learning objectives aligned with MAL, preparing adaptive clinicians and lifelong learners who use AI to enhance rather than replace learning.

Learning Objectives:
  • Analyze how the history of information and digital literacy integration informs current approaches to AI literacy in CSD education.
  • Design program- and course-level learning objectives that integrate AI literacy with clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills.
  • Apply the Master Adaptive Learner framework to foster adaptive expertise for AI literacy and utilization in CSD students.

Solution Focused Dialogue: Current Cultural Considerations in CSD (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions H (4:15 - 5:15 PM)

Location
Capitol 1
Speakers
  • Mark Guiberson - Professor & Chair
    Mark Guiberson is a professor in the Speech Pathology and Audiology program at the University of Nevada. His research focuses on culturally responsive early interventions and the use of social media to support underserved populations. He also examines cultural competence among speech-language pathology providers, as well as holistic admissions and training approaches that strengthen cultural competence and humility in graduate education.
  • Leslie Grubler - Director of Clinical Education & Clinical Services
    Leslie Grubler, EdD, CCC-SLP, is the Director of Clinical Education/Clinical Services at Lehman College CUNY. A speech-language pathologist, consultant, and family/child advocate through 28 years of practice, Dr. Grubler has presented nationally and locally and advocated for the rights of disabled individuals throughout her entire career from NYC Hall to Albany to Washington D.C. Dr. Grubler’s research and professional practice interests have been in culturally responsive and disability-affirmative practice.
Summary
Solution-Focused Dialogue offers a timely framework for examining how Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) programs in higher education navigate today’s complex cultural landscape. Challenges include addressing evolving accreditation standards (e.g., the tenets of person- and family-centered care), responding to state or national legislation restricting DEI activities, and maintaining ethical integrity. CSD faculty and leaders face renewed urgency to cultivate culturally responsive, justice-centered environments for students and clients in the current context. This session invites dialogue around these issues through a solution-focused lens emphasizing collaboration, respect, and actionable problem-solving. Participants will engage with academic and clinical scenarios to identify strategies for leadership, curriculum design, and supervision that promote equity, responsiveness, and meaningful student learning.

Learning Objectives:
  • Apply a solution-focused dialogue framework to explore context-specific approaches for addressing cultural and programmatic challenges in CSD programs.
  • Develop actionable strategies that uphold accreditation standards professional code of ethics, and personal beliefs while aligning with the policies and realities of their institutional contexts.
  • Evaluate approaches for fostering justice-centered, culturally responsive environments that promote equity, belonging, and meaningful learning within academic and clinical training contexts.

Game On! Use of Virtual Reality (VR) Simulation in Dysphagia Lessons (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions H (4:15 - 5:15 PM)

Location
Capitol 2
Speakers
  • Hia Datta - Associate Professor, Undergraduate & PhD Program Director
    Hia Datta, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) at Molloy University and Program Director for the B.S. Speech-Language-Pathology and Audiology and the Ph.D. in CSD programs. She completed her Ph.D. in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences from CUNY Graduate Center and a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Sackler Institute of Developmental Psychobiology at Weill Cornell Medicine. Her research focuses on investigating the brain bases of language processing in children and adults.
  • Kaitlin Brooks - Assistant Professor
    Kaitlin Brooks, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor in the Communication Disorders Department at Molloy University. She is a certified Speech-Language Pathologist with experience working with adults with speech, language, and swallowing disorders in various settings. Dr. Brooks' current research focuses on ways to use technology to enhance teaching and learning. She is also passionate about improving aphasia awareness and educating the community about this topic.
  • Asecera Credle - Former undergraduate student
    Asecera Credle is an emerging professional in the field of Speech-Language Pathology/Audiology from Long Island, NY, holding a Bachelor's degree from Molloy University in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD). Her undergraduate academics allowed her to complete a research course in CSD, where she began to investigate into the impact of learning clinical skills through Virtual Reality (VR). Asecera continues to pursue a master's in Speech Language Pathology at St. John's University.
Summary
This study investigated if Virtual Reality (VR) offers a more effective experience as compared to students learning clinical skills through more traditional learning practices. Eleven master’s level Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) students participated in a VR experience in a master’s level dysphagia course. Participants completed a pre- and two post-tests on content taught through case studies, using traditional PowerPoint and VR as well as a perception questionnaire to provide feedback on the methods of learning. Results demonstrated that the VR experience offered participants a more interactive way to effectively practice skills learned in the traditional classroom setting; these findings provide valuable information on the role of VR in the learning process and student preparation to go into the workplace.

Learning Objectives:
  • Define Virtual Reality (VR) simulations.
  • Evaluate use of VR simulations in the classroom as compared to traditional learning methods.
  • Summarize the impact of VR simulations for clinical content such as Dysphagia.

Unleashing Audiology’s Potential: Modernizing the Au.D. Curriculum to Support Audiology's Vision for the Future (0.10 CEUs)

April 10 - Concurrent Sessions H (4:15 - 5:15 PM)

Location
Capitol 3
Speakers
  • Erin Miller - Professor of Instruction
    Erin L. Miller, AuD, is a Professor of Instruction and Audiology Graduate Coordinator at the University of Akron. She serves as Clinical Education Coordinator for the Northeast Ohio Au.D. Consortium (NOAC). Dr. Miller is a past president of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA), and currently serves as audiology advisor to the AMA RUC HCPAC. She co-authored the “Diagnostic Audiology Pocket Guide: Evaluation of Hearing, Tinnitus and Middle Ear Function”.
Summary
The transition to the AuD was prodigious, yet there is still much to be done if the profession is to meet the challenges of a growing population of individuals with hearing and balance disorders. Audiologists have envisioned a future that expands the role we will have in diagnosing, managing, and treating individuals with hearing and balance disorders. This vision could support reduction in hearing healthcare costs and efficiencies in care provision. While there are many issues to be considered to support this vision, transforming the Au.D. curriculum is foundational to ensure that AuD graduates have the necessary knowledge and skill to provide these services. This session will focus on the curricula that would be needed to support this envisioned future.

Learning Objectives:
  • Outline potential expansions to the audiology scope of practice.
  • Discuss methods for this expanded scope to improve access, reduce costs and create efficiencies in the healthcare system.
  • Identify graduate curricula and other methods needed to support the envisioned future for the profession.

Networking Nights: Audiologists

April 10 - Networking Nights

Location
Capitol 3
Summary
This is an informal time of networking for audiologist attendees.

Networking Nights: Clinic Directors

April 10 - Networking Nights

Location
Mineral B-C
Summary
This is an informal time of networking for clinic director attendees.

Networking Nights: CSD Faculty

April 10 - Networking Nights

Location
Mineral D-E
Summary
This is an informal time of networking for CSD Faculty attendees.

Networking Nights: Department Chairs

April 10 - Networking Nights

Location
Mineral F-G
Summary
This is an informal time of networking for department chair attendees.

Networking Nights: New Programs

April 10 - Networking Nights

Location
Capitol 1
Summary
This is an informal time of networking for attendees from new programs.

Networking Nights: Program Directors

April 10 - Networking Nights

Location
Capitol 2
Summary
This is an informal time of networking for program director attendees.

Not Attending a Session During This Time Slot (S16)

April 10 - Networking Nights

General Session (0.15 CEUs)

April 11 - General Session (7:50 AM - 10:00 AM)

Location
Centennial A-D
Speakers
  • Todd Philbrick - Chief Certification Officer
    Todd Philbrick, CAE, ICE-CCP is ASHA's Chief Certification Officer and Ex Officio to the CFCC. Todd has over 20 years of healthcare certification and regulation experience and is a past Chair of the Institute of Credentialing Excellence's Board of Directors.
  • Gretchen Ehret Hoshaw - Chief Accreditation Officer
    Gretchen Ehret Hoshaw, MA, CCC-SLP, ICE-CCP, CAE, is the Chief Accreditation Officer at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and ex-officio to the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA).
  • Laura Purcell Verdun - Chair, CFCC
    Laura Purcell Verdun, MA, CCC-SLP, is owner of Voicetrainer, LLC serving metropolitan DC; and Lecturer at George Washington University, and Visiting Lecturer at Hampton University. She is CFCC Chair, 2026.
  • Shatonda Jones - Chair, CAA
    Shatonda S. Jones serves as Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Education in Speech-Language Pathology at St. Bonaventure University. She holds an MPS from Loyola University New Orleans, a PhD in Therapeutic Science from the University of Kansas, an MA in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Iowa, and a BS in Speech Pathology from the University of Tulsa. She will serve as chair of the CAA in 2026.
Summary
The closing General Session will include the Plenary Session, CAPCSD Annual Meeting, and Announcements. Join us Saturday morning for the closing General Session. Included will be important announcements and updates, the Annual Business Meeting where you can learn about what CAPCSD committees have been working on over the past year and what's coming up next, and the CFCC/CAA update, presentation, and Q&A time.

Plenary: CFCC/CAA Update (0.15 CEUs) Abstract: The Council for Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) and the Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CFCC) have been monitoring several state and federal bills, which impact education and certification. In addition, each council is conducting their periodic knowledge and skills updates to ensure accredited education programs and entry-level certification meet current education and practice requirements, and to ensure that ASHA certification is available for all. Please join the ASHA staff from the accreditation and certification teams to receive key updates on recent and upcoming changes.

Learning Objectives:
  • Summarize key changes to CAA Accreditation Standards.
  • Outline key changes to CFCC Certification Standards.
  • Discuss current executive and regulatory matters that may further impact accreditation and certification standards.

Not Attending a Session During This Time Slot (S17)

April 11 - General Session (7:50 AM - 10:00 AM)

CATALYST: Embedding Critical Thinking Instruction Across Undergraduate and Graduate CSD Coursework (0.10 CEUs)

April 11 - Concurrent Sessions I (10:30-11:30 AM)

Location
Mineral B-C
Speakers
  • David Rehfeld - Assistant Professor
    Dr. David Rehfeld, BCBA, CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders within the School of Health Sciences at Kansas State University. His teaching and research focus on advancing clinical education through simulation-based learning, professional identity formation, and interprofessional education in speech-language pathology. Dr. Rehfeld’s scholarship emphasizes the integration of reflective practice, evidence-based decision-making, and values-driven clinical training to prepare students for collaborative, person-centered care.
Summary
Critical thinking is central to clinical competence, yet students in CSD often progress without explicit support for reasoning skills. The CATALYST program was developed as a brief, embedded approach to strengthen reasoning, argument evaluation, and related skills within existing CSD courses without requiring curricular overhaul. Implemented in both undergraduate and graduate contexts, the program consistently improved critical thinking performance, but student perceptions diverged: graduate students connected the activities to clinical reasoning, while undergraduates often questioned their relevance. This session will share the program model, practical strategies for integration, and lessons learned across learner levels. Emphasis will be placed on how faculty can adapt critical thinking instruction to their own courses and address challenges in fostering student engagement and buy-in.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe the structure and instructional design of the CATALYST program for embedding critical thinking into CSD coursework.
  • Compare undergraduate and graduate student responses to the intervention, noting both measured gains and differences in perceptions of relevance.
  • Develop strategies to adapt and integrate critical thinking instruction into participants’ own courses while addressing challenges with student engagement and buy-in.

The Reaccreditation Roadmap: From Preparation to Presentation (0.10 CEUs)

April 11 - Concurrent Sessions I (10:30-11:30 AM)

Location
Mineral D-E
Speakers
  • Erica Friedland - Assistant Dean and Professor
    Erica Friedland, AuD, is Chair and Professor in the Department of Audiology and Assistant Dean in the School of Rehabilitative Sciences at Nova Southeastern University (NSU). Dr. Friedland teaches pediatric audiology, auditory/vestibular disorders, electrophysiology, and grand rounds. Dr. Friedland is member of the Professional Development Council of the American Academy of Audiology and a program reviewer/site visitor for the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE).
Summary
Re-accreditation can feel overwhelming, but a clear plan makes the process manageable. This session offers a practical roadmap for programs preparing for a site visit. Topics include how to structure and document key areas for review, prepare students and faculty for questions, and provide additional evidence when needed. Suggestions will also be shared for highlighting program strengths and ensuring they are recognized by site visitors. Attendees will gain concrete strategies and checklists to streamline preparation, reduce uncertainty, and present their program with confidence.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify the essential components of program documentation and assessment required for a successful reaccreditation site visit.
  • Apply strategies for preparing faculty, staff, and students to effectively respond to questions and interact with site visitors.
  • Develop a structured plan for presenting supplemental evidence and highlighting program strengths during the reaccreditation process.

To AI or Not to AI, That is the Question. AI Ethics in CSD. (0.10 CEUs)

April 11 - Concurrent Sessions I (10:30-11:30 AM)

Location
Mineral F-G
Speakers
  • AnnMarie Knight - Program Director
    Dr. AnnMarie Knight, PhD, CCC-SLP, is Associate Professor of Speech-Language Pathology and Director of the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program at Oklahoma Baptist University. Dr. Knight currently serves in state and national leadership roles through SCSHA, ASHA, and CAPCSD. She is an advocate for high-quality accessible and innovative SLP academic and clinical training and for the ASHA SLP Assistant Certification (C-SLPA) program.
  • Becky Jones - Director of Clinical Education, Associate Professor
    Dr. Becky Jones, CCC-SLP, is Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Education for the MS-SLP program at Oklahoma Baptist University. She earned her master’s from the University of Memphis and doctorate from Murray State University. Her research includes topics on simulation-based and AI-integrated SLP clinical education and uncovering healthcare disparities in Parkinson’s disease. She has presented at ASHA, the Oklahoma SLP-Hearing Association, and the Tennessee Association of Audiologists and SLPs.
Summary
In a world where AI is becoming more prevalent and readily available in clinical and academic settings, establishing ethical AI practices in CSD is imperative. To ensure that students employ ethical uses of AI in clinical and academic settings, AI ethics must be integrated into CSD curriculum and instructors must help students understand the ethical dimensions of their work and empower and motivate them to do ethical work. This presentation will explore AI ethics in CSD higher education through case studies and provide current resources related to AI in higher education. Current ethical dilemmas related to the use of AI in academic and clinical settings will be connected to the ASHA Code of Ethics.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe current ethical issues related to AI use in CSD academic and clinical settings.
  • Apply the ASHA Code of Ethics to case studies involving AI use in higher education and clinical practice.
  • Identify strategies and resources for integrating AI ethics into CSD curricula to motivate students to use AI responsibly and ethically in academic and clinical settings.

Preparing CSD Students for Trauma-Informed, Interprofessional Collaboration (0.10 CEUs)

April 11 - Concurrent Sessions I (10:30-11:30 AM)

Location
Capitol 1
Speakers
  • Emily Weston - Assistant Professor & Externship Coordinator
    Ms. Weston is a pediatric speech-language pathologist, clinical educator, and faculty member passionate about empowering students and families through communication. She specializes in supporting children with complex communication needs, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and trauma-informed care. Her work blends evidence-based practice with relational connection, aiming to equip the next generation of clinicians to lead with compassion and cultural responsiveness.
Summary
This session highlights an innovative interprofessional education (IPE) training that engaged speech-language pathology, criminology, and child advocacy students alongside practicing professionals. Developed in response to student-identified concerns about mandated reporting, systemic inequities, and professional boundaries, the event included a moderated expert panel, interdisciplinary case simulation, and large-group reflection. The design intentionally incorporated non-traditional IPE partners and emphasized cultural humility, systemic awareness, and trauma-informed practice. Students analyzed ethical decision points, practiced applying strategies in a safe environment, and received immediate feedback from professionals. This replicable model demonstrates how tailoring IPE experiences to student needs, expanding partnerships beyond common OT/PT/ABA collaborations, and embedding application-based activities can better prepare students for collaborative practice in diverse and complex real-world settings.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify strategies for creating interprofessional education opportunities with non-traditional partners to expand beyond typical OT, PT, and ABA collaborations.
  • Design interprofessional learning experiences that intentionally address student-identified needs related to trauma, professional boundaries, and systemic inequities.
  • Demonstrate approaches for embedding cultural humility and application-based activities, such as case studies, into IPE training.

On the Construction of the Social Identity of LGBTQ+ People Who Stutter: Clinical Implications (0.10 CEUs)

April 11 - Concurrent Sessions I (10:30-11:30 AM)

Location
Capitol 2
Speakers
  • James Mancinelli - Associate Professor
    James M. Mancinelli, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor in the CSD Department at La Salle University in Philadelphia, PA. His doctorate is from Temple University in Communication Sciences and Disorders in the area of fluency. He has 20 years of clinical experience in medical speech-language pathology. He supervises graduate students working with people who stutter across the lifespan. His research interests include the sociological aspects of stuttering, and clinical education/supervision.
Summary
This presentation presents findings from a qualitative study of LGBTQ+ people who stutter (LGBTQ+PWS) on processes involved in the construction of their intersectional identity and to provide clinical guidance for inclusive, respectful, and effective assessment and treatment. A hybrid methodology combining Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and Grounded Theory methodologies (GT) was used to obtain and analyze 12 hours of interview data across 4 participants. The results indicated that the construction of the intersectional LGBTQ+PWS identity involves a dynamic interplay of identity salience, centrality, and situational negotiation, factors that are common to both marginalized groups. These processes are interactive in that one identity influences the visibility, management, and meaning of the other. Clinical implications and timely cultural relevance are discussed, and audience engagement is encouraged.

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe how the intersectional identity of LGBTQ+ people who stutter (LGBTQ+PWS) develops out of shared cognitive, affective, and cultural elements.
  • Apply knowledge of the intersectional identity by making adjustments to the counseling, education, and interviewing techniques associated with clinical practice.
  • Apply understanding of the socio-communicative implications of the LGBTQ+PWS identity into assessment methods and treatment planning specific to their client's social and clinical presentation.

Reaching the Peak: Strategies for Accreditation Site Visits for New SLP and Audiology Programs (0.10 CEUs)

April 11 - Concurrent Sessions I (10:30-11:30 AM)

Location
Capitol 3
Speakers
  • Christina Pelatti - Division Director and Associate Professor
    Christina Yeager Pelatti, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an associate professor and director of the Division of Speech-Language Pathology at the Medical University of South Carolina. As a clinical SLP, Dr. Pelatti demonstrates teaching and research expertise in the areas of oral and written language in children, specifically Down syndrome and traumatic brain injury. She has extensive experience supervising/mentoring students, and she is an active, engaged leader.
Summary
Launching a new speech-language pathology or audiology program is exciting and complex, with site visits serving as a pivotal milestone in the process. This session will outline key components of site visit preparation and provide a practical roadmap for new programs as they prepare for candidacy/initial accreditation site visits. Specifically, this session will explore how to align program operations with accreditation standards, foster collaborative preparation among partners, and create a positive, transparent site visit environment. Participants will learn actionable strategies to strengthen readiness, minimize challenges, and leverage the site visit as an opportunity to highlight program strengths and future goals.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify the key components and expectations of candidacy/initial accreditation site visits for new speech-language pathology and audiology programs.
  • Develop a comprehensive plan for site visit preparation, including timelines, documentation, and engagement activities.
  • Summarize and apply strategies in preparation for a successful site visit experience.

Not Attending a Session During This Time Slot (S18)

April 11 - Concurrent Sessions I (10:30-11:30 AM)

The Business of Learning: Running a Student Clinic That Pays Off (0.10 CEUs)

April 11 - Concurrent Sessions J (11:30-12:30 PM)

Location
Mineral B-C
Speakers
  • Lauren Mann - Assistant Professor
    Lauren Mann AuD, PhD, CCC-A, Assistant Professor, Department of Hearing & Speech, University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Mann has been on faculty at the University of Kansas for over 12 years acting as Clinical Director and Clinical Education Coordinator for 8 years. With her transition to research faculty and through the Business Audiology course at KU, she emphasizes actively engaging students in the financial side of clinical practice.
Summary
University clinics serve dual missions: delivering care and training future clinicians. But can they also be financially self-sustainable? This session explores how to run a student clinic that educates and earns. Learn to identify key performance indicators (KPIs), calculate return on investment (ROI), and make data-informed decisions about services, staffing, and operations. We’ll cover strategies for scheduling efficiency, marketing to the community, and engaging students in the business side of clinic life; turning learning moments into leadership opportunities. Whether launching a new clinical service or refining an existing model, attendees will leave with actionable insights to help their clinic thrive without compromising its educational mission. Come ready to rethink what’s possible when purpose meets profit.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) that reflect both clinical and financial success in student clinic operations.
  • Explain how to calculate return on investment (ROI) for services, staffing, and operational decisions within a university clinic setting.
  • Apply strategies for scheduling efficiency, community marketing, and student engagement in clinic management.

Financial Literacy for Students (0.10 CEUs)

April 11 - Concurrent Sessions J (11:30-12:30 PM)

Location
Mineral D-E
Speakers
  • Victor Bray - Professor
    Victor Bray, MSC, PhD, FNAP is a Professor in the Osborne Audiology Department in the College of Nursing and Health Professions at Drexel University in Philadelphia PA. He is a former Dean of the Osborne College of Audiology (late career), former Vice President for two start-up hearing aid companies (mid-career), and former Director of Clinical Audiology (early career). His research interest is the post-AuD state of the audiology profession.
  • Robert Serianni - Chair & Program Director, Associate Professor
    Robert W. Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP, FNAP is Chair and Program Director and Associate Professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at Drexel University, Elkins Park Campus, with a primary role of administration, in addition to teaching and clinical supervision responsibilities. Bob earned his Master’s degree from Loyola University Maryland, and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Higher Education at Temple University focusing on underrepresented groups in graduate education.
Summary
A presentation and discussion on the ways that faculty can communicate with and educate students on how to maximize financial opportunities while minimizing financial debt during post-undergraduate degree training.

Learning Objectives:
  • Explain the current debt-to-income ratio for emerging graduates in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.
  • Demonstrate to students ways to reduce debt-to-income ratio in pursuit of these degrees.
  • Design on-campus support system(s) to rearrange their financial plan for the degree process.

Building Bridges: Developing Relationships and Resources for Affiliation Agreements and More in CSD Programs (0.10 CEUs)

April 11 - Concurrent Sessions J (11:30-12:30 PM)

Location
Mineral F-G
Speakers
  • Gail Whitelaw - Audiologist/Clinical Professor/Clinic Director
    Gail Whitelaw, PhD, is a clinical professor, audiologist, and clinic director in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science at The Ohio State University. She is the audiology faculty member on the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Other Disabilities (LEND) grant. Dr. Whitelaw is the 4th year placement coordinator for the AuD program. She currently serves on the Board of the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE).
Summary
Clinical placements are both a rewarding and challenging aspect in CSD programs. One on one teaching is a significant component of clinical education. However, the logistics of the these opportunities including affiliation agreements, contracts, and insurance are the foundation for being able to offer a strong clinical education experience. This session will focus on program responsibilities and resources that support clinical education in a University setting. Covering a range of issues including addressing resources from programs from smaller and larger institutions and supporting those new to clinical placement to those with experience, the information provides practical solutions. Cases will be shared. An opportunity to share experiences with each other regarding legal aspects of clinical education.

Learning Objectives:
  • Summarize the vocabulary of legal aspects related to clinical education.
  • Discuss relationships with legal and clinical entities that must be developed for successful clinical placements.
  • List resources available to support clinical placements from legal and regulatory guidelines.

Engaging with the Dynamic Nature of Artificial Intelligence in Communication Sciences and Disorders (0.10 CEUs)

April 11 - Concurrent Sessions J (11:30-12:30 PM)

Location
Capitol 1
Speakers
  • Ramesh Kaipa - Associate Dean, College of Allied Health Sciences
    Dr. Ramesh Kaipa is the inaugural Associate Dean of Community Partnerships and Impact at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Allied Health Sciences. He leads initiatives that advance community health, reduce disparities, and enhance student learning through engagement. Formerly Department Head of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Oklahoma State University, his research focused on neurogenic communication disorders and evidence-based teaching, earning multiple awards for excellence in research and education.
Summary
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the clinical and educational dimensions of speech-language pathology and audiology. This session examines AI through the lens of elevating excellence in Communication Sciences and Disorders, highlighting how innovations in virtual therapy, diagnostic tools, and interactive platforms are reshaping clinical care and education. Emphasis will be placed on both the opportunities and the challenges, including data privacy, ethical use, and limited datasets. The audience will be engaged using case examples, reflective questions, and opportunities for discussion about programmatic and curricular integration. Attendees will critically consider AI as an augmentation, not a replacement, of professional expertise. This forward-looking session equips faculty, administrators, and clinical educators to prepare programs and learners for the evolving AI landscape in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Learning Objectives:
  • Analyze current artificial intelligence tools and platforms, distinguishing their benefits and limitations for use in speech-language pathology and audiology.
  • Evaluate ethical, legal, and practical challenges (e.g., data privacy, equitable access) to integrating artificial intelligence in clinical practice and education.
  • Apply artificial intelligence literacy, case-based learning, and curricular innovations in speech-language pathology and audiology.

Creating Equitable Clinical Faculty Workloads (0.10 CEUs)

April 11 - Concurrent Sessions J (11:30-12:30 PM)

Location
Capitol 2
Speakers
  • Caitlin Al-Mutawa - Assistant Instructor
    Caitlin Street Al-Mutawa, MS, CCC-SLP, is an assistant instructor and externship coordinator in the Master's in Speech Language Pathology program at the University of South Florida.
  • Charlotte Purcell King - Assistant Professor of Instruction; Clinic Director
    Charlotte King, SLPD, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS, is an Assistant Professor of Instruction and the Clinic Director at the University of South Florida Speech-Language Clinic. She completed her clinical doctorate in April 2022, completing her culminating capstone addressing a treatment comparison for acquired apraxia of speech. Her interest areas for research are treatment effectiveness for motor speech disorders, implementation science, and bridging clinical and research opportunities for students and clinicians.
  • Kelli Gorajec - Assistant Instructor
    Kelli Gorajec, MA, CCC-SLP, is employed full time as an assistant instructor at the University of South Florida. Her clinical interests include adult neurogenic communication disorders with a primary interest in mTBI/post-concussion, and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s Disease and ALS. She is the primary clinical SLP for the USF SPEAK OUT!® Therapy & Research Center and a graduate of the ASHA Leadership Development Program (LDP).
  • Marie Sepulveda - Speech Language Pathologist
    Marie Sepulveda, MS, CCC-SLP, is a bilingual speech-language pathologist with over 30 years of experience serving multilingual populations in a variety of settings. She currently works with Polk County Schools and a home health agency in Florida. Previously, Marie was an Assistant Instructor at the University of South Florida, where she supervised student clinicians in the university’s clinic. Her professional interests focus on multilingual assessment and early childhood intervention.
Summary
Presenters will review lessons from an ongoing project beginning September 2024, aimed at developing a data collection method and formula for calculating workloads within a university clinic. This presentation will highlight the specific contextual factors within the university clinic that impacted this project and the workload considerations that broadly impact clinical faculty. Authors developed a workload questionnaire collaboratively with clinical faculty members to calculate task duration across clinical, research, administrative, and service-related functions unique to each individual clinical faculty member. The presenters will discuss their use of the questionnaire and clinical faculty interviews for creating equitable workload distribution. Participants will review the task list to identify changes needed given their clinical context and address implications in their programs.

Learning Objectives:
  • Explain the benefits of equitable workloads amongst clinical faculty.
  • Identify methods used by presenters to collect data on the workloads of clinical faculty.
  • Examine and revise a tool for creating equitable workloads for clinical faculty.

TikTalking about Clinical Education: How to Leverage Social Media-formatted Reels for Graduate Education (0.10 CEUs)

April 11 - Concurrent Sessions J (11:30-12:30 PM)

Location
Capitol 3
Speakers
  • Samantha Dvorak - Clinical Associate Professor, Associate Chair for Residential Academic Programs, UG Program Director
    Dr. Samantha Dvorak, SLPD, CCC-SLP, is Associate Chair for Residential Academic Programs, Undergraduate Program Director, and Clinical Associate Professor in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Baylor University. A licensed and certified speech-language pathologist, she earned her SLPD from the University of Kansas (2018) and is pursuing an EdD in Higher Education. Her research focuses on adult learning, graduate education, parent coaching, and speech sound interventions.
  • Kelcie Dao - Clinical Assistant Professor
    Kelcie Dao, SLPD, CCC-SLP, is a Clinical Assistant Professor in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Baylor University. She earned her MS from the University of North Texas (2017) and her SLPD from Rocky Mountain University (2021). A licensed Texas SLP and ASHA & TSHA member, Dr. Dao previously practiced in public schools for five years before joining Baylor’s faculty in 2022, where she teaches and supervises graduate clinicians.
  • Kacie Dolezel - Clinical Assistant Professor
    Kacie Dolezel is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department at Baylor University. She earned her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Baylor University in 2017. Licensed in Texas and holding the CCC-SLP, she is an active member of the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association and ASHA. She has also been recognized with ASHA’s Distinguished Early Career Professional Certification.
Summary
Healthcare students increasingly prefer hybrid and online learning, making best practices in digital instruction critical. In a graduate speech-language pathology (SLP) practicum, we examined social media–formatted multimedia videos as a supplement to clinical teaching on speech sound disorders. Students who engaged with the videos demonstrated greater pre- to post-test gains compared to those taught via traditional lecture and reported valuing concise delivery and on-demand access. Building from these findings, this presentation will outline best practices for developing social media–styled instructional videos, drawing on current literature, evidence-based design principles, and available technologies to support creation and implementation. Examples from our own work will illustrate how faculty can integrate platform-appropriate video instruction into graduate clinical education.

Learning Objectives:
  • Summarize current trends and research findings on the use of social media–formatted videos in graduate-level clinical education.
  • Identify best practices for designing concise, engaging, and platform-appropriate instructional videos.
  • Apply practical strategies and examples to develop their own social media–styled videos for pre-professional education.

Not Attending a Session During This Time Slot (S19)

April 11 - Concurrent Sessions J (11:30-12:30 PM)

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