SPARC Award Winner

Submitted by Dr. Moore on August 19, 2005

Congratulations are in order for doctoral student Susan Hickey. Susan was the recipient of ASHA’s Students Preparing for Academic & Research Careers (SPARC) Award. The SPARC Award program was established as part of the 2004 Focused Initiative on Doctoral Shortage to provide opportunities to enhance educational mentoring experiences that prepare students for successful PhD education and academic careers, promote travel to enhance teaching and/or research exposure, and create a teaching and/or research experience under a mentor. Great job Susan!

Welcome New Students and Faculty

Submitted by Dr. Carpenter on August 19, 2005

Fall is here and so it’s once again time to welcome our new students. We have 19 new Master’s SLP students, 4 new Au.D. students, and 1 new Ph.D. student. Welcome students and we are glad to finally have you here!

We also welcome our new assistant professor of audiology, Dr. Ishara Ramkissoon. Dr. Ramkissoon earned her Ph.D. at the University of Illinois (2005). Her areas of interest include multicultural issues, aging, and evoked potentials. She will be teaching the AUD 612 and AUD 653 classes this Fall.

Be sure to check out all the new faces on the picture board in the clinic area.

Azalea Conference in Final Planning Stages

Submitted by Dr. Carpenter on August 19, 2005

“What is the Azalea conference?” you ask. Dr. Dagenais has decided to renew a former annual tradition of the department known as the Azalea Conference. Traditionally the conference has offered educational seminars on speech, language, and hearing issues. The Conference is scheduled for September 16-17 at the Mobile Marriot. Some of the featured speakers include Dr. Jack Dimico (Child and Adult Language Disorders), Dr. Andrew Stuart (Fluency), and Dr. Richard Roberts (Audiology). For all the details, visit the Azalea Conference website.

NSA Meeting

Submitted by Dr. Williams on August 19, 2005

Dr. Williams would like to remind everyone that the Mobile Chapter of the National Stuttering Association meets the 1^st Monday of every month. September’s meeting will be held on Monday the 12^th due to the Labor Day holiday. Meetings are held at the USA Speech and Hearing Center from 7-8:30 pm.

For information on the Mobile Chapter contact the Chapter Leader William McLean or Dr. Mandy Williams. Additional information is also available through the National Stuttering Association.

And the Winner is…

Submitted March 8, 2005

No, it’s not the Academy Awards, but something even better. Congratulations go out to our students, graduates, and faculty who were recent award winners.

Dean's award for the Outstanding Undergraduate Student: Susan Walker

SP&A Department award for Outstanding Undergraduate Student: Jennifer Landrith

SP&A Department award for Outstanding SLP Graduate Student: Lauren Buckalew

SP&A Department award for Outstanding Ph.D. Graduate Student: Fawen Zhang

NSSLHA Outstanding Contributor award: Melody Mathews

Previously awarded Faircloth winners: Amy LeTort, Caitlin Roberts, and Jennifer Landrith

Speech and Hearing Association of Alabama (SHAA) Student award: Daniela Renfroe

Recent USA graduate Dr. Elizabeth Adams was selected to receive the Outstanding Dissertation of the Year award for 2005. The University-wide award will be officially presented to Elizabeth at the 12^th Annual University Research Forum on Thursday, April 14, in the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center.

SP&A’s own Dr. Julie Estis was recently selected as a “Top Prof” for 2004-2005 by the Mortar Board National Honor Society and the Student Government Association. This honor is bestowed to faculty members for their exceptional contributions to the University and for their service to and support of our students.

Grant Workshop

Submitted by Dr. Guendouzi on March 8, 2005

Dr. Guendouzi attended a grant workshop held at Spelman College, in Atlanta, GA on February 24-25. The workshop was sponsored by the EARDA initiative (Extramural Associates Research Development Award) and the SCORE program (Support of Continuous Research Excellence). Some of the workshop topics included funding mechanisms, how activities of the primary investigator affect the proposal, and an overview of the grant review process. The workshop featured speakers from various funding programs, such as the National Science Foundation, Extramural Associates Program, National Institute for Mental Health, National Cancer Institute, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute on Ageing, NIH Center for Scientific Review, and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Interested parties are encouraged to ask Dr. Guendouzi for additional information.

Azalea Conference Preliminary Plans

Submitted by Kendra Hudson on March 8, 2005

Dr. Dagenais has decided to renew a former annual tradition of the department known as the Azalea Conference. Traditionally the conference has offered educational seminars on speech, language, and hearing issues. The Azalea Committee has met to discuss some preliminary plans. Currently we have a target date of September 16-17, to be held at the Mobile Marriot. Some of the featured speakers include Dr. Jack Dimico (Child and Adult Language Disorders), Dr. Michael Rastatter (Fluency), and Dr. Richard Roberts (Audiology). The Committee will continue to update information as it becomes available.

Cochlear Implant Workshop

Submitted by Dr. Tonia Beverly on March 4, 2005

Dr. Tonia Beverly attended the Cochlear Americas Advanced Training Workshop in Birmingham, Alabama on February 17-18. Topics at the workshop included Neural Response Telemetry, Correlating Electrical Stapedial Reflex Thresholds to C Levels, Streamlined Fitting Methods, Environmental Influences to CIs, and Using Assistive Technology with CIs. Interested parties are encouraged to ask Dr. Beverly for additional information.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA
COLLEGE OF ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS
DEPARTMENT OF SPEECH PATHOLOGY & AUDIOLOGY
email: ahpinfo@usouthal.edu
URL: http://www.southalabama.edu/alliedhealth/speechandhearing/index.html
Phone: (251) 380-2600