Appreciative Words from the Co-Chairpersons

by Joy Lennon, M.A., CCC-SLP (top) & Shauntelle Cannon-Williams, Au.D., CCC-A

Thank you, NBASLH Family, for making the 2023 Convention a monumental success! We are glad that you were “in that number” to celebrate NBASLH’s 45th anniversary! We especially hope that you were able to CRT–Connect with NBASLH’s roots and with one another; Re-energize fervor for your work; and Transform your mindset and how you show up for your patients, clients, and students!

We give much gratitude to our OUTSTANDING Convention Planning Team for all of the hard work, from the chairs and their subcommittee members: Derek Daniels, Proposals Chair, Nia Johnson, Volunteers Chair, Garvin Romane, CEU Administrator, David Frazier, Student Representative for Audiology, Kiera Simmons, Student Representative for Speech-Language Pathology, Teaunah Moulden, Photography Chair, Lauren Hastings, Exhibitors and Sponsors, and Lauren Prather, Public Relations. A special thank you is extended to a few of our faithful Convention planning team members who always showed up and stepped up: Yaminah Ali, Ephraim Hill, Jr., and Pamela Fowler-Greene! And we especially give a multitude of flowers and the sincerest gratitude to Cathy Runnels and Linda Redmond Taylor, the curators of the NBASLH History Timeline in the Convention program.

The 45th annual Convention was full of FIRSTS, including record numbers as follows:

531 Attendees, 35 Exhibitors, and 17 Sponsors. Further analyses showed the following number of attendees: 173 Students, 8 Life Members, and 246 Professionals, including

22 Audiologists, 429 SLPs, 19 SLPAs, 222 Clinicians, 103 Professors, and 300 first-time Attendees! Amazingly, there were over 180 proposal submissions received, which culminated into over 70 actual oral sessions and 50 poster presentations, all eligible for CEUs (with 17 being audiology-related presentations and posters, securing that “H” in NBASLH!).

Important notes:

1. Over $9,800 was awarded in student scholarships;

2. There was live ASL interpretation during our Opening Session and Awards Gala;

3. Real-time feedback was encouraged and available to be received from the attendees;

4. Three official photographers volunteered to capture and memorialize this historic occasion; and

5. There was recognition and celebration of our annual Convention with several social media posts in full operation by an internationally-known educator, activist, and entertainer, Sunn m’Cheaux

All in all, the historic success of the 2023 Convention was a team effort! Y’ALL gave this year’s Homecoming so much LIFE, and we are forever grateful for your presence, positive energy, and support! Thank you for coming home to NBASLH! Cheers to 45 years!

With gratitude,

Joy Lennon, M.A., CCC-SLP and Shauntelle Cannon-Williams, Au.D., CCC-A

2023 NBASLH Convention Co-Chairs