God has been good to the School of Communication Sciences & Disorders. During the 2021-2022 academic year, the school, like many others, learned how to thrive in the midst of a global pandemic. Our students and even faculty at times struggled with the emotional strain this moment in our world’s history brought. But, praise God, we pressed on. Our students grew. We celebrated two faculty members achieving advanced degrees. We celebrated our faculty contributing to our growth with their research, academic and clinical expertise. We were blessed to have the opportunity to teach our classes through a face-toface delivery model during some of the most stressful periods of the pandemic. The programs within the school were designed for this mode of delivery. Therefore, the benefits were evident. Students were able to engage with each other, faculty, clients and our community. The Andrews University National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association (student club) was also very active, providing multiple social, academic and spiritually based programs. The faculty and staff celebrate the club’s hard work under the leadership of President Savana Hayes (MS-SLP class of 2024) and club sponsors Assistant Professor Jenica Joseph, MS-SLP, CCC-SLP, and Brittanni Perry, administrative assistant to the chair. Community service and outreach was the theme of their work and efforts. The school celebrated the graduation of 13 undergraduate students in May 2021 and 25 graduate students in August of 2021. This group went through half of their graduate experience during the height of COVID-19. However, they graduated on time. Congratulations to an amazing faculty team that literally went above and beyond for their students. Because of their dedication, not only did the graduate students graduate on time, but 100% of the graduates are now gainfully employed with 96% of them passing the national examination for speech-language pathology. Students weren’t the only ones who celebrated degree conferrals and graduations. Associate Professor Tammy Shilling (Andrews University, May 2022) and Assistant Professor Brynja Davis (Wayne State University, May 2022), faculty in the School of Communication Sciences & Disorders, both successfully defended their dissertations and had PhDs conferred by their respective institutions. Thank God for His mercy and faithfulness during this journey. Our faculty have conducted research, presented at conferences, supported student research, written articles and book chapters, written grant applications, and submitted articles for publication. We are excited because as a collective group, the skills and expertise are diverse and holistic. Our students have many opportunities to learn across the knowledge and skills continuum set forth by the American Speech-LanguageHearing Association. This came full circle for SCSD in Spring 2022 when the faculty and students spearheaded the “Lift Every Voice” voice awareness effort to celebrate World Voice Day (see p. 5) As we move forward into a new and untried academic year, we solicit the prayers of our alumni, families, students, administration and community. We remain committed to completing this work as a part of the Andrews University community to seek, affirm and change. World Changers continue to be made here.
Heather Ferguson, PhD ’17, CCC-SLP, BS ’92
Associate Professor, Chair, School of Communication Sciences & Disorders
Donations to support the School of Communication Sciences & Disorders are welcome www.andrews.edu/go/give/ComSciDis
White Coat Ceremony
MS-SLP Students, Class of 2022
The Pulse 2022 / 19
